During the bustling and often pricey holiday season at the year’s end, savvy travelers can save as much as 25% on airfare by strategically avoiding peak travel times around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. A report from Travel and Leisure highlights recommendations from Going.com and Travel + Leisure, suggesting that budget-conscious fliers should stay clear of flying on the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving, along with the Sunday and Monday leading up to Christmas. It’s worth noting that the Sunday following Thanksgiving is frequently recognized as the busiest travel day of the year. Instead, travelers might find significant savings by opting to fly on the actual holidays, like Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Scott Keyes, founder and chief flight expert at Going, shared insights on the favorable flight prices this year compared to previous ones post-summer. He encourages travelers to maintain flexibility in their plans for even greater savings. For instance, Keyes points out that returning on December 31st instead of January 1st can lead to both lower costs and less crowded airports during New Year’s.
For those planning to travel during Thanksgiving or Christmas, Keyes recommends booking tickets before October 14th. He emphasizes that securing flights at least 21 days in advance can be a wise strategy, as procrastinating may lead to increased prices.
Google has released its findings on popular destinations for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. James Byers, a product manager at Google, noted that data shows the cheapest domestic flights for Thanksgiving tend to emerge in early October. Likewise, for Christmas travel within the U.S., prices are generally at their lowest when bookings are made by the end of October, although this can vary based on the chosen destination.
Among the top ten Thanksgiving locations, Orlando, Cancun, and New York claim the top three spots. Other U.S. cities also feature prominently on the list, with London and Paris ranking fifth and seventh, respectively. When it comes to Christmas and New Year’s, Tokyo stands out as the number one destination.
