Need to book your holiday travel? Here’s the scoop on all you need to know on booking flights, hotels for your upcoming Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel.
Here’s the breakdown of dates and times to keep in mind when booking your holiday travels this year and beyond.
Thanksgiving Holiday Travel
Your best bet is to book by mid-month in October for best pricing and availability. Prices will be the lowest the first 2 weeks of October. Flights and accommodations begin to increase in price after this point, especially for high-demand destinations.
If you are flying in the US, the cheapest days to fly for Turkey Day are Thanksgiving Day and the Monday after Thanksgiving, while the priciest is the day before or the Sunday after the holiday. If you can, wait until Travel Deal Tuesday for a possible deal.
Based on data from Google, the prices are the lowest 45 days before you fly.
If you need a hotel accommodation, plan to book a property by the first week of November.
Christmas/Hannukah Travel
If you are traveling to spend Hannukah or the Christmas holidays with family or friends, your best bet is to book by mid-October. If possible, the week prior to Christmas you may find the best fares. The cheapest days to fly are Christmas Eve (December 24) and Christmas Day. Hopper estimates that you may save as much as $100 per air ticket if you fly on one of those 2 days. Following the Christmas holiday, airfare does spike the week after Christmas before the new year. If you can wait and return on December 30th, New Year’s Eve, or January 2nd, you may get a better fare.
November will see an increase in pricing, so act on it quickly to get a good deal! If you miss the suggested deadline you may find a last minute deal on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Travel Deal Tuesday!
If you don’t want to stay with your relatives, then book that hotel stay by the first week of December for the best pricing and availability. In large cities like New York, LA, Chicago, the prices will drop in the last week before the holiday, so you can chance waiting to book as the properties will want to sell those remaining rooms that haven’t been booked yet. If you are willing to chance it, waiting until then could get you a stellar deal. Keep in mind, the options may not be what you are looking for, so be prepared. Take note, don’t wait until the very last minute as prices will increase by double or more a few days before the actual holiday!
58 days before departure is the sweet spot for booking Christmas travel.
General Holiday Travel Tips
Fly Mid-Week– While there is no magical time or day to book airfare for the best pricing, your best bet is to fly mid week (Wednesday is recommended) for both domestic and international travel. Definitely avoid flying on peak days like the day before or after a holiday.
Book the first flight of the day– Generally speaking, flights departing after 9am are twice as likely to be delayed than departures between 5-8am. To avoid travel disruption, fly as early in the morning as possible. Bonus is you get to your destination early which is a nice way to start a holiday vacation.
Search for direct flights– Keep in mind they might be more expensive, but will get you to your destination faster and delays are minimal. Consider how much time and money you might have to spend if you have a long layover or worse stay overnight somewhere. Winter is an unpredictable season that comes with snowstorms which can cause delays. If you find a great price, book a direct flight. If you’re close enough proximity to your holiday destination, skip planes altogether and opt for a train, bus or your own car instead.
Search One Way Flights-Try searching one-way flights individually or with a stopover to see if it would be cheaper to spend a day en route to your destination. At times, one-way flights have better options, or you book one way with points/miles and then pay for the return.
Build in an extra day for travel just in case your flight is delayed or canceled.
Book with flexibility– Most air carriers have a refundable option in their air fares. You will pay more, but if you are uncertain about your travel plans changing or a possible snow storm then this is the best option for you. Travel Insurance is always a great idea too! Let me know if you have questions.
Set Price Alerts– Track pricing on sites like Hopper, Kayak or Google Flight Aware. Airlines often release cheaper seats during off peak hours, early in the morning (try 6am) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Grab a cup of coffee and check for airfare.
More Insider Extras for Holiday Travel
Take a Red-Eye– If you can handle flying overnight, take a red-eye flight as those are less desirable. Be prepared to have jet lag the day you arrive, especially if you can’t sleep on an airplane.
Use Points or Miles-Use your points or airline miles for a last-minute ticket. Never hurts to check that option. I recently booked a last-minute one-way flight for 5,000 miles. Thanks American Airlines!
Research other options– Before you book air, research other options in the area. For example, a smaller regional airport for air flight options. If booking a car rental, it is recommended to book your car when you book your air. Check both the airport rental car companies, but also a neighborhood or off sight location that may be faster and cheaper. Keep in mind, though, that holiday travel will reserve loads of cars, so airports may run out of rental cars. Booking sooner rather than later is always best!
Always, have a backup plan– Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, especially during the holidays. Think a snowstorm! Insurance is always a smart option which can be bought through the airline or a Travel Insurance provider. Check with your credit card provider first to see if it’s already included in your purchase. Definitely look at all the inclusions (read the fine print) for the policy, including “cancel for any reason,” which covers everything from canceled flights to lost baggage, etc. This is when using a travel agency is a GREAT idea! (use my book now link here)
Add a reminder to your Calendar– December 3, 2024 is Travel Deal Tuesday! If you are a last-minute shopper, then you may find a great deal for Christmas or New Year’s travel or better yet your 2025 vacation plans! Let me help you!
In a nutshell, if you haven’t booked your holiday travel, DO IT NOW! Mid-October is the sweet spot for booking. “Hopper says the general rule is to book flights between 25 and 150 days prior to takeoff and international flights should be booked 3 to 5 months prior to the trip.”