By Rick Seaney | Contributor
The holiday season is approaching, and everyone is on the lookout for flight deals. Unfortunately, finding affordable flights during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s can be quite challenging. Airlines are well aware that travelers are eager to fly during these festive times, leading them to raise prices to whatever the market can bear, particularly during Thanksgiving. While you shouldn’t anticipate special sales or last-minute discounts, there are still ways to save money. Here are some strategies to help you secure the best ticket prices along with other cost-cutting tips.
No 1 | Thanksgiving
Fly during less busy days: The days leading up to Thanksgiving, specifically Tuesday and Wednesday, are the most favored for departures, and the Sunday following the holiday is the busiest return day; try to steer clear of these. Instead, look into flights leaving the weekend before Thanksgiving or on the Monday prior, and consider returning on Friday, Saturday, or Monday. The key takeaway is that being flexible can help you save money.
Travel on the holiday itself: This may not be an option for everyone, but if you can fly on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 22), you will not only find the best fares but also avoid the crowds at the airport. Departing early in the day allows you to enjoy the entire feast and football festivities.
Fly from and to larger airports: If you ordinarily fly from a small airport, explore fares from nearby larger airports; larger airports typically offer more affordable options. The same applies to your destination. If you have several airports within reach, compare prices from each; sometimes DFW has the best deals, while other times Love Field may offer lower fares.
No 2 | December holidays
Hanukkah: This year, Hanukkah falls between Dec. 2-10, making it an opportune time for travel as prices tend to drop following the busy and costly Thanksgiving period. Early December is perfect for family visits, as well as for spontaneous trips.
Christmas: Ticket prices usually rise in mid-December as the holiday (Tuesday, Dec. 25) approaches. However, it is generally not as steep as Thanksgiving since the travel span is longer. It’s advised not to delay in booking your tickets and to consider various itineraries. Typically, you may find cheaper flights on Christmas Day compared to other days.
New Year’s: While you might hesitate to fly on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day (Monday, Dec. 31, and Tuesday, Jan. 1), those dates often come with better deals. In September, I discovered that flights from Dallas to New Orleans on Dec. 31 were roughly $40 to $50 less expensive than flights on the days just before. Always check fares to ensure this applies to your travel needs.
No 3 | Post-holiday mega-deals
Suggestion: Avoid exhausting all your vacation days on holiday travel, as a significant drop in airfare prices begins about a week into January and lasts until mid-February. This period is ideal for discovering very low fares throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Happy travels!
Editor’s Note: Rick Seaney is a travel expert who enjoys helping others find great travel deals domestically and internationally. You can find more of Rick’s insights at FareCompare.com.
