The Best Time to Book Thanksgiving Travel to Save Money
It’s not even officially autumn yet, but we’re here to tell you that it’s already time to start thinking about holiday travel (it’ll be here sooner than you think). If your Thanksgiving plans are a plane ride away, here is when you should be booking that flight.
According to flight aggregator and booking site Expedia, 61 to 90 days in advance is when you should commit to your travel plans if you want the best deal.
That means that from late August through September 23 is the best time to get a good deal for Thanksgiving travel, with those who booked during this window in 2016 clocked a savings of 10 percent. But how much will procrastinating cost, exactly? Those who waited until the last minute (as in zero to six days before Turkey Day) paid a 20 percent premium.
Interestingly, Christmas and winter holidays have a a shorter deal window, with the best time to book just 14 to 20 days in advance. The savings is also lower, with 2016 travelers spending about 5 percent less during that time.
“Timing is a big factor in getting a good deal on airfare,” Sarah Gavin, vice president of global communications for Expedia, said in a press release. “People typically know pretty far in advance whether they’re going to travel for the holidays, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on prices months out. Even with holiday travel, a general rule of thumb applies: If you find a fare that seems like a good deal, buy it.”