It's Christmas in August! Well, not really but now is the time to start thinking about your cheap flights for holiday travel. While many of the best Fall travel deals just ended, it's time to already look ahead to Thanksgiving and Christmas. When is the best time to find cheap tickets and travel deals?
The bad news
Let's start with the bad news - you're not going to find cheap flights like you did in 2009. With airlines decreasing the number of flights, there aren't going to be as many flights available. The other side to this is that the demand in air travel is up this year and that is expected to be high for the holidays as well.
Summer travel saw a big increase in traffic in 2010. Even though the economy is down, many people are expected to take to the air for holiday travel. While many people stayed at home last year because of the economy, don't expect that this year. Simple supply (less flights) and demand (increase in holiday travelers over 2009) will mean higher prices.
With that in mind, don't expect a lot of last minute travel deals for the holidays either.
When to buy
It may seem ridiculous to talk about Thanksgiving and Christmas in August. For holiday travel, late August and early September are the best times to start looking for the cheap flights and travel deals. With the economy still struggling, budget travel is on everyone's minds.
So when do you buy?
Expect airfares for holiday travel to go on sale right after Labor Day. Tuesday or Wednesday (September 7 and 8) is when many airlines will launch their airfare deals for holiday travel. Early on, the prices will be competitive. While some of the airfares may not be as cheap as you would like, remember that airlines know demand will be up and people will pay to fly during the holidays.
As some of these early airfares begin to sell out, prices will only begin to rise. There is nothing wrong with shopping around for airfares in September. However, late October would be the latest that you want to purchase your airfares (about 3 to 4 weeks out from Thanksgiving). If you find a great deal early that fits your itinerary, book it.
And you never know - if airfares drop, you might be able to get some money back after your purchase.
When to fly
Almost all of the airlines have instituted airline fees for peak day travel. This includes many travel days in November, December, and January. The dates are generally November 19 - 29 and December 17 - January 3.
To get the airline fees and dates, check out the Peak travel day airline fees for Fall and holiday travel 2010.
Travel tips for holiday travel
Here are a few other tips for flying during the holidays:
Know when to fly - Midweek and Saturdays are the cheapest days to fly. Early mornings and late nights are the cheapest times.
Pack light - Airline fees for checking luggage are going up. Pack light and avoid them. It could save a family of four over $200 each way. Even at holidays, it can be done.
Pay attention to the weather - It may seem silly to think about winter weather now but the 2010 winter forecast says many cities will be dealing with a lot of snow. Just ask the northeast part of the US how that feels.
Busy flights and bad weather may mean getting bumped - The holidays are a horrible time to get bumped (is there ever a good time?). With crowded flights, fewer flights, and bad weather, you can expect this to happen. Check out how to avoid getting bumped.
Traveling with kids - Many of us have had to do it. Whether you are flying or driving, here are some tips for traveling with kids.
To help you plan your trip, here are some more essential travel tips for holiday travel.
2010 Holiday travel outlook
For the Fall, there are still some airfares on sale now like Southwest's 3 Days of Deals and Frontier Airlines Labor Day sale. However, now is the time to think about holiday travel plans.
Bottom line - holiday travel deals will be around but not for very long. Expect prices to higher than 2009. Cheap flights for last minute deals probably won't exist. Fewer flights, more passengers, and weather delays could mean a busy holiday travel season and long lines.
Get to the airport early, avoid long waits at airport security lines, pack your patience, and carry your holiday spirit. If all else fails, just be warned and find some comfort in the fact that flying can be annoying.
Get all of your holiday and air travel tips here:
Fall and holiday travel tips
Peak travel day airline fees for Fall and holiday travel 2010
Winter 2010 - 2011 forecast: Snow will impact travel in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest
Travel tips for packing light and avoiding airline fees
Holiday survival tip - Traveling with kids
Essential holiday travel tips
Air travel tips
12 tips to reduce your wait time through airport security
5 things that annoy passengers about airlines
Airline Passengers Bill of Rights: what travelers need to know
How to avoid getting bumped when your airline overbooks
How frequent flier programs and airline mergers are affecting passengers
Passport tips every traveler needs to know
Finding the best airline seat for your flight
Budget Travel Tips
7 tips on easy meals for budget travel
11 tips on how to save money for your next vacation
Click on the Subscribe button above to get articles delivered to your email (with no spam!)
Follow me on Twitter at @budgettravelsac or on Facebook on my Examiner Budget Travel page.
Comments
Leslie will like this article as she is always thinking ahead.
Christmas is the busies time of the whole year in Egypt and people actually start booking it in January!!
That's amazing that Christmas is that busy in Egypt where people have to book a year in advance. What is the reason for that? Where do people fly to? Seems like there is not enough flights for the demand of travelers so that should change.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!