Sure, fall has just begun, but make no mistake: winter is coming. So, it’s also time to make plans to go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. But how often should you make plans to get out of town? Is there an ideal date range that you should do this? It turns out that if you're looking for the cheapest time to book a holiday flight and fly, Expedia has the answer based on 2018 flight demand. "Budget is often a key factor in planning a trip, especially during the holiday season," Alexis Tiacoh, communications manager at Expedia, tells Bustle. "Between wish lists and coordinating the practicalities of Thanksgiving or Christmas Between locations, who wouldn’t love a little insight into how to get the best deals? ”
Data from Expedia studied thousands of vacation bookings to reveal how far in advance you should book your flights, as well as the best dates for departure and return. “When travelers take action in these top money-saving places we’ve identified, they’ll save themselves a ton of time and money,” Tiaco said. "And, honestly, we could all use that during the holidays."
First, she says there are three key things to remember: It's usually cheaper if you travel during the holiday itself; it's best to book at least two to four weeks before your trip; and don't start your trip on the Saturday before the holiday, because according to According to Expedia research, this day is consistently considered the most expensive day to fly.
Thanksgiving Reservation Tips
Cheapest time to buy: October 29th - November 13th
Tiacoh said those who booked 91 days or more in advance and less than a week in advance paid the most; last-minute bookers spent more than 20 percent more than average. But booking two to four weeks in advance can save more than five percent.
Best time to fly: Passengers departing on Thanksgiving last year paid about $100 less than those departing on the Saturday before the holiday, Tiacoh said. Of course, you may not be able to travel on Thanksgiving Day. In this case, she said the second-cheapest option would be to travel on the Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. Expedia found that avoid the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which, as you can imagine, is the busiest travel day before Thanksgiving.
Christmas booking tips
Cheapest time to buy: November 23rd - December 9th
Tiacoh once again pointed out that the best time to book Christmas travel is 2-4 weeks in advance, so people can save about 15%. Travelers who book 91 days or more in advance pay about 15% more than the average vacationer, while last-minute travelers pay about 2% more than average, she said.
Best time to fly: Expedia's data found that Christmas Eve is the cheapest day to fly, with travelers getting about $100 cheaper than those who start their trip on the Saturday before the holiday. Tiacoh said Dec. 23 is the second-best choice, while the busiest travel day around Christmas is Dec. 21.
Other money-saving flying tips
In addition to booking the cheapest dates for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel, Tiaco said there are other ways travelers can save money. These include: setting flight and hotel price alerts; using travel rewards; signing up for TSA PreCheck or Clear so you can get through security faster; bundling your flights with hotels if you're not staying with family or friends. ; and look into flight sale dates, such as Expedia's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, which are November 29th and December 2nd. With a little advance planning, you can save money on vacation travel and leave more money for future travel. Who wouldn't like this?
