Technically, it's still summer and fall vacation may still be far away. But if you're planning on traveling this holiday season, you'll definitely want to know when to book your Thanksgiving 2018 flights to ensure you get the biggest savings. Travel site KAYAK recommends booking Thanksgiving flights between Sept. 12-17 to save an average of $300, while travel site Hipmunk recommends not waiting longer than Oct. 23 to take advantage of flights for $387 or less, depending. to your destination.
What's more, if you fly on Thanksgiving, Hipmunk notes, airfares tend to be 21% lower on average, and you'll miss out on the chaos of the day before Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel days of the year. Because airfare prices fluctuate based on the popularity of the destination, how full the plane is, and the time of year you buy your ticket, it can be difficult to know which dates offer the best prices. While it's possible to score last-minute deals, CheapAir.com recommends booking your Thanksgiving travel as early as possible. The travel site revealed in its 2018 airfare study that "fall is a great time for leisure travel. It's the off-season for many destinations, with most people completing their big trips in the summer."
"So you can usually find reasonably priced air tickets in the fall. The only exception is Thanksgiving week, when air tickets are more expensive and sell out quickly. You should definitely buy your Thanksgiving air tickets early to get the best deals prices.” If you want to try waiting until October to book your Thanksgiving flight, you can create a reminder on KAYAK and other travel sites.
Simply enter your destination, preferred price and desired travel dates. Additionally, if you have flexible travel dates, are willing to fly out of another nearby airport, and don't mind taking a connecting flight, you may be able to get a cheaper ticket. After you create an alert, you'll receive an email or notification when a flight that matches your specifications becomes available.
However, sometimes when you wait for something better to come along, you end up missing out on the good things that are right in front of you. CheapAir.com notes: "If you have a trip in mind, you have to be ready to buy when you see a good fare. Walking away and 'thinking about it' is risky." "Other travelers are looking at fares, too, And when you think about it, others may choose low-price tickets. ”
Unfortunately, there's no exact science to booking the cheapest flights. I got a cheap ticket the day before my flight and paid $11 million in advance booking. If you're on a budget and want to make sure you have Mom's stuffing and Aunt Dottie's donut salad appetizer dessert combo on your Thanksgiving table, it's a good idea to start looking for deals as soon as possible. Good luck my friends and may the odds always be in your favor.
