With the hectic summer season coming to an end, it’s time to plan your holiday trips.
While some travelers may want to take advantage of lower airfares for the fall shoulder season of travel, it’s also a smart move to start booking holiday flights in order to score the cheapest prices, according to new data released on Thursday from Google Flights.
Google Flights analyzed the past four years of data from the top 4,000 U.S. markets to determine the best time to book airfare for the high-demand holidays. For both Thanksgiving and Christmas, the search engine examined six- to nine-day trips for Thanksgiving and 13- to 16-day trips, departing before the holiday and returning afterwards.
“It’s usually a good idea to book on the early side, especially if your plans aren’t flexible or if you’re traveling internationally,” James Byers, Group Product Manager, Google Search and lead for Google Flights, said in a statement to USA TODAY. “But if your number one priority is getting the most affordable domestic flight, you can use the insights on Google Flights to see the cheapest time to book your chosen dates and destination.”
Here’s how travelers can save money on their 2024 holiday travel plans, according to Google Flights.
Learn more: Best travel insurance
Can AI find the cheapest flights?We tried Google and Skyscanner’s AI tool to book a trip.
Top travel destinations for the holidays 2024
Most-searched Thanksgiving destinations
- Orlando
- Cancun
- New York
- Tokyo
- London
Most-searched Christmas and New Year’s Eve destinations
- Tokyo
- Orlando
- Cancun
- Miami
- New York
When should I book my holiday travel?
Flight prices change daily but October is when average prices are typically lowest for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel, according to Byers.
For Thanksgiving domestic trips, prices have been the cheapest 45 days before departure, with low prices between 26 and 59 days out. Aim to book in early October.
Trips for Christmas require bit more leeway, even if you’re traveling domestically. Historically, prices for flights within the U.S. are best 58 days before the flight, with the range for low prices being between 36 and 72 days out. Start booking in the last half of October.
When should I book my international flights for the holidays?
In general, the sooner the better, according to Google Flights. Average prices for flights abroad are best 101 days – or just under four months – before departure, but booking 50 days in advance should be good. That’s because prices tend to increase starting around 50 days of the flight.
It can also vary slightly depending on where you’re going. Flights to Europe are most affordable when booked 94 days in advance, while the best prices for flights to Mexico or the Caribbean are 44 days prior to departure.
Are Tuesdays the best day to book airfare?
Yes, but the savings are marginal, according to Google Flights. Airfare booked on Tuesday are only 1.3% cheaper than on the most expensive day, Sunday. What actually matters more is the day of the week you’re flying – you could save up to 13% if you fly on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday instead of the weekend.
Tips to save money on holiday travel 2024
- If you’re eager to travel for Thanksgiving but haven’t decided on a destination, try the Explore map feature on Google Flights to peruse flight deals around the world. “Just enter your home airport and leave the destination blank,” according to Google. Hit the Explore button to be taken to a map showing flight prices, but you can also filter for factors like trip length or flight duration.
- Sacrifice flying nonstop for a flight with layovers to save an average of 25% on your airfare, Google Flights data found.
- Fly in or out of another airport. For example, if you’re flying to New York City, you could score a cheaper flight
out ofinto Newark Liberty International Airport rather than John F. Kennedy International Airport. When using Google Flights, click the plus icon to add more airports to your search to see the best deals.
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