When to Buy and When to Fly for the Holidays
Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of the most traveled holidays of the entire year. With so many people traveling on the same days and the large volume of flights being booked, it can be a daunting task trying to figure out when you should travel. Fret not though, AAA Travel is here to help! We compiled the past three years of holiday travel to discern when is best to purchase or fly depending on what your priorities are when flying in the continental U.S.
Thanksgiving
Best Days to Travel:
- The Monday before Thanksgiving (November 19) historically has the lowest average ticket price and is typically a lighter air travel day, making this the best option for travelers who can arrive at their destinations well in advance of the holiday.
- The Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving (November 20 and 21) are the most popular travel days, and travelers will pay the highest average price per ticket
- Thanksgiving Day (November 22) consistently has the lowest average price per ticket and is the lightest travel day. Travelers looking to save money this holiday season can fly the morning of the holiday and arrive just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.
Most Popular Times to Book and Pricing:
- Most travelers book 28-60 days prior to Thanksgiving (between September 23 and October 25). They can expect to pay an average ticket price of $478 roundtrip.
- Booking holiday travel in advance has its pros and cons. Travelers who booked their Thanksgiving flights over the summer (between July 25 and September 22) paid an average price between $504 and $517. Travelers who book in advance may pay a bit more, but they have the best chance of ensuring that their preferred flights are available, especially for the busy travel days around Thanksgiving.
- Procrastinating travelers, those who book their flights just 7-13 days before Thanksgiving (November 9 through 15), will find the cheapest airfares, with an average ticket price of $459. However, travelers who book last minute may encounter limited flight availability.
Christmas
Best Days to Travel:
- Regardless of what day of the week Christmas falls on, most travelers depart two or three days before the holiday. This year, December 22 and December 23 will be the busiest days in the skies and at the airports.
- People who fly on Christmas Eve (December 24) consistently pay the lowest price per ticket. Few choose to do so, however, as this is the lightest travel day around the Christmas holiday.
Most Popular Times to Book and Pricing:
- Most travelers book 28-60 days prior to Christmas (October 26 and November 27) and pay an average airfare of $561 roundtrip.
- However, the best time to book airfare for the most holiday cheer is 61-90 days before Christmas – between September 23 and October 25 this year. Travelers who booked within this window pay an average ticket price of $551, up to $100 less on average than more advanced bookings.
- Travelers who book their flights six months or more prior to Christmas can ensure the best flight availability, but they do so at a cost. Tickets purchased that far in advance will cost between $641 and $659, on average.
- Last-minute planners—those who book 7 to 13 days prior to Christmas (December 12-18)—will pay the lowest average airfares, at $488. However, those travelers risk encountering limited availability and their preferred flights may already be sold out.
If you are ready to book your holiday travel or have additional questions, AAA Travel Agents are standing by and ready to help plan your flight. Call 1-888-577-9222 to contact a AAA Travel Agent or book directly online via AAA.com/Travel.
Data Source: AAA Travel