Thanksgiving Airline Tickets Are Cheaper Starting Now

HANOVER, MD — Planning to head somewhere warmer during the holidays or celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with family out of state? Then now is the time to buy your plane ticket and cash in on significant savings.

An analysis of AAA Travel’s flight booking data from the last three years reveals that Sept. 25 marks the start of the best booking window for air travel around both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

“Holiday travelers should make their plans now and begin booking their flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas as early as Wednesday, Sept. 25, for the best deals and availability,” said Paula Twidale, vice president, AAA Travel, in a statement. “Procrastinating travelers may be able to find last-minute deals on flights close to the holidays, as airlines look to fill their last few remaining seats, but flight availability for these peak travel weeks will be very limited by that time.”

The Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year’s holiday periods are among the busiest long-distance travel periods of the year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Both holiday travel periods are known to produce crowded airports, particularly at the region’s Big Three: the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Dulles International Airport and the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

“Now is the best time to book your holiday flights. It might seem a tad counter-intuitive, but if you are a budget conscious traveler and not beholden to the calendar, it will be cheaper to book your holiday flight on the eve of the holiday or on the actual holiday itself,” said Jazmine Coleman, AAA Travel, AAA Mid-Atlantic, in a statement. “A case is point is Thanksgiving Day, which has the cheapest ticket prices of the holiday week. In contrast, if you have travel plans for Christmas, the best day to travel is Christmas Eve. It consistently has the lowest average price per ticket and, as an extra bonus, it is the lightest travel day of the holiday week.”

During 2018, AAA projected that 4.3 million Americans, including 95,500 Washington area residents, would fly to their Thanksgiving Day holiday destinations. It represented a 5.4 percent increase in the number of airline passengers during the busy Thanksgiving Day holiday travel period over 2017. During 2018 most travelers booked their Christmas flights between Oct. 26 and Nov. 27, paying an average ticket price of $561 round trip, explains AAA Travel. During the Christmas and New Year holiday period a year ago, some 6.7 million people traveled by air, the highest level since in 15 years, and it represented a 4.2 percent increase in the number of airline passengers for the year-end holidays over 2017.

Tips For Purchasing A Ticket

Most travelers book their flights for Thanksgiving between Sept. 25 and Oct. 27, which is 28 to 60 days prior to the holiday and offers relatively good prices ($491 on average). Surprisingly, AAA’s analysis found that travelers can find some of the best pricing ($482 on average) seven to 13 days before the holiday, Nov. 11-17 this year. However, limited availability will make seats hard to come by at these discounted rates.

Flying Monday of Thanksgiving week is the best option for travelers to arrive at their destinations before the holiday. It has the lowest average ticket price ($486) prior to the holiday, and is a lighter travel day than later in the week. For travelers more concerned about crowds than cost, the Sunday before the holiday has the highest average price per ticket ($564) and it is consistently the lightest travel day. Travelers can save by traveling on Thanksgiving Day, which has the lowest average price per ticket ($454).

While many travelers are focused on Thanksgiving, they would be wise to consider Christmas now, as well. AAA found that 61 to 90 days prior to the holiday (between September 26 and October 25) is the sweet spot for Christmas flight bookings, with prices lower on average ($551) than more advanced bookings. However, most travelers book between 28 and 60 days before Christmas — between Oct. 26 and Nov. 27 — and still get a relatively good price ($561 on average). Like Thanksgiving, last-minute Christmas travelers can find the overall best pricing ($488 on average) seven to 13 days before the holiday week, but flight availability is likely to be very limited by that time.

Regardless what day of the week Christmas falls on (a Wednesday this year), most travelers depart two to four days prior to the holiday. These travelers, on average, pay ticket prices of $593 on Dec. 21, $639 on Dec. 22 (the busiest air travel day of Christmas week), and $603 on Dec. 23. However, AAA found that Christmas Eve is the best day to travel. It consistently has the lowest average price per ticket ($527) and is the lightest travel day of the week. Many travelers opt to travel after the Christmas holiday leading up to New Year’s, and they pay a premium to do so. Dec. 26 has the highest average ticket price of the week at $692.

“Last year, AAA projected that 54.3 million Americans would travel over the Thanksgiving holiday and a record-breaking 112.5 million during the longer year-end holiday season,” continued Twidale. “If those trends hold again this year, travelers are in for crowded airports and, possibly, longer wait times. Pack your patience and plan ahead, giving yourself plenty of time at the airport to maintain that holiday cheer.”

When it comes to getting the best value for your travel this holiday season, AAA recommends:

• Start researching holiday travel options now and book flights by Oct. 27.
• Consult a knowledgeable travel agent; they can take the guesswork out of researching and evaluating the many available options, saving time, the hassle and the headache.
• Consider purchasing travel insurance for your flight to protect your trip from life’s unexpected surprises that can throw a wrench in your plans.

Holiday Travel Tips

The Transportation Security Administration has some advice for you before you catch a flight during the busy winter holiday season at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, and that means it's best to come prepared to avoid delays in boarding your flight.

TSA officials suggest you arrive at the airport at least two hours in advance of a domestic flight and three hours in advance of an international fight to ensure that you have ample time to park your car or return a rental car, check your bags with your airline and get your boarding pass before heading to the security checkpoint.

But it's more than about arriving early. You should also prepare ahead of time by following the 3-1-1 rule: when packing toiletries, have no more than 3.4 ounces of liquid in a 1-quart plastic bag, and no more than one bag for every person. Wear shoes that are easy to get on and off as you go through security screening. Prepare by emptying your pockets before heading through the checkpoint screening equipment. Also, make sure you don't have any prohibited items.

Travelers are encouraged to follow these tips:

• Arrive early. Up to two hours before a domestic flight and three hours in advance of an international flight.
• Prepare for security when packing. Put large liquids, gels, creams and aerosols into checked bags — think shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream and anti-perspirant. If you've only got a carry-on bag, make sure all of your liquids follow the 3-1- 1 rule.
• Follow 3-1- 1 liquids rule for your carry-on bag. Liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes must be 3.4 ounces or less and all bottles must fit in a single quart-size plastic bag and placed in a bin for screening. Let the TSA officer know right away if you're traveling with larger quantities of medically necessary liquid medications or breast milk or formula for an infant.
• Documents ready: When you enter the checkpoint line have an acceptable ID and boarding pass out of your wallet and ready to hand to the TSA officer. Once you get to the screening tables, remove large electronics including laptops and the 3-1- 1 liquids bag, from carry-on baggage.
• Less accessories: Consider minimizing items that you wear to the airport such as bulky jewelry, scarves, hair accessories, large belts and other bulky items that are likely to require additional screening. Remove all items from your pockets and put them into one of your carry-on bags so you won't lose them.
• @AskTSA: If you have questions on what is allowed through the security checkpoint, contact a TSA employee for live assistance 365 days a year via Twitter. Tweet your questions and comments to @AskTSA from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends/holidays. Call the TSA Cares helpline toll free at 1-855- 787-2227 with any questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint 72 hours prior to traveling.