Though we want to pretend that the cold, harsh winter is light years away, the first frost in NYC is steadily approaching and so is the time to book your holiday flights before they jack up the prices!
We’ve all been there. It’s September and you’re still grasping with the fact that summer is ending. Then comes October, when you’re stressed out about your Halloween costume and plans. Next thing you know, you’re sitting at the Thanksgiving table and now you’re scrambling for last minute holiday flights in December. So, let’s try and not do that this year—especially since NYC has been known to be one of the worst U.S. cities for holiday travel.
According to annual travel trends from Google Flights, the smartest time to book, of course, is usually well in advance. This goes for both Thanksgiving and Christmas fares. However, since flights change by the day, prices can vary at any time. Therefore, Google took a deeper look into four years of their historical flight data to determine some trends in cheap holiday travel.
When should you book your flights for Thanksgiving?
Google Flights say the ideal time to book your domestic flights for Thanksgiving is 45 days before your departure date, as they’ve historically seen the lowest airfare prices at that time. This trend of low prices typically occurs within a 26-59 days out range. This means that for those looking to travel a few days before and after Thanksgiving, early October is your best time to book.
When should you book your flights for Christmas?
As for Christmas, Google Flights found that the cheapest domestic flights can be booked 58 days before your departure date. However, the trend of low prices can be found anywhere within a 36-72 days out range. So just shortly after booking your Thanksgiving flights, you’ll want to secure your Christmas airfare too at the end of October.
Of course, if you celebrate holidays other than Christmas, like Hanukah (which begins on Christmas Day) or Kwanzaa (which begins the day after Christmas), you can apply the same strategy, as they’re all around the same dates.
What is the cheapest day to book flights?
Tuesday has been known to be the cheapest day to book flights. However, Google Flights noted that it’s only 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day to book, which is Sunday.
What are the cheapest days to fly?
Historically speaking, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are the cheapest days to fly out. Passengers can save 13% by flying out on those days, rather than a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
What are other tips for scoring cheap flights?
Additional tips for scoring the best price on your flight include choosing a layover instead of a direct route. Nonstop flights average about 25% more expensive than trips with layovers.