Plan Ahead for Holiday Travel

Travelers hoping to take to the skies for the holiday season should consider booking their trip next month for the cheapest flight options. Insights from Google, shared with Travel & Leisure, reveal that October is the best time to secure tickets for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Choosing the Right Time to Book

For travelers looking at Christmas flights, it’s noted that more economical domestic flights will be available in the second half of the month. James Byers, Google’s group product manager of search, advises that, “Now is a good time to think about any holiday travel plans.” It is beneficial for travelers to enter their trip details into Google Flights to discover insights on when they can get the best deals based on their destination and travel dates.

Flight Pricing Insights for Thanksgiving and Christmas

When planning a Thanksgiving trip, it’s important to note that domestic flight prices typically hit their lowest point 45 days before departure. In contrast, for Christmas travel, the most affordable tickets are generally found 58 days in advance. However, if an international holiday trip is on the agenda, travelers should not delay their bookings, as prices are unlikely to decrease as the holidays approach. In fact, average prices for international flights usually start to rise approximately 50 days before departure.

Additionally, Google has introduced a flight tracking feature that alerts customers when prices on their prospective trips have been at their lowest and estimates potential savings for immediate bookings versus waiting. With warm-weather destinations like Orlando and Cancun topping the list for Thanksgiving, and Tokyo emerging as a favorite for December, being proactive with flight planning can lead to significant savings.