4 things you really need to do now in advance of holiday travel

Believe it or not, the holiday season is truly creeping up. If you haven't locked down your travel plans yet, now is the time to do so.

If you're traveling for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's Eve or any other holidays, you probably have quite a few things on your to-do list, such as booking your flights (if you haven't already) and renewing your passport (if it's set to expire soon). These aren't the only details to stay on top of, though.

Here are four tasks to take care of now ahead of the holidays.

Book your flights

If you haven't purchased your holiday flights yet, you should do so.

Typically, according to the booking app Hopper, September and October are the best months to buy a holiday flight. From here on, prices will steadily begin to rise, so you really don't want to leave it much longer if you don't want to spend an extortionate amount on airfare.

This advice aligns with the timeline in Google Flights' booking trends report, which notes that average airfare prices around Christmas were at their lowest 71 days before departure.

It's still not too late, but we wouldn't wait much longer if we were you.

If you're able to be super flexible, we've seen some of the cheaper Thanksgiving week fares right now on both the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving and on Thanksgiving day itself.

Check your passport

If you're planning to venture abroad for the holidays, you should check your passport expiration date now if you haven't already, as you're cutting it close for renewing if its expiration date is approaching.

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Routine passport processing times are currently estimated to take between six and eight weeks, while expedited service could take at least two to three weeks. Act with haste if you need a renewal.

Processing times have been the same since last December, and the U.S. Department of State would not comment on whether those figures would remain throughout the rest of 2024.

Generally speaking, the State Department advises travelers to renew their passports at least six months before they plan to travel. Keep in mind that most countries also require visitors' passports to be valid for six months at the time of their trip. Be sure to check the requirements of each country you will visit since some prefer there to be six months left on your passport from your date of entry while others prefer there to be six months of validity from the date of intended departure.

For urgent international travel, you can request in-person processing appointments under two circumstances (these are limited):

• Life-or-death emergencies: You can request an appointment if an immediate family member has passed away, is dying or is facing a life-threatening illness or injury. You will need to provide documentation of the emergency.
• Other urgent travel situations: If you must travel abroad within the next 14 days or need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days, you may request an in-person appointment to expedite the process. However, it's better (and less stressful) to simply renew your passport before it expires.

Keep an eye on the State Department's website, which is regularly updated with the latest passport processing times for travelers.

Related: Cheap and hassle-free: What it was like getting an expedited passport via rush service ItsEasy.com

Enroll in an expedited security program

Whether or not you are planning to fly during the holidays, programs like TSA PreCheck and Clear can provide travelers with an expedited security experience all year long.

TSA PreCheck allows users to pass through a separate, dedicated security line. Unlike passengers in the regular Transportation Security Administration line, those in a TSA PreCheck line do not have to remove their shoes, laptop, liquids, belt or light jacket.

Clear users also begin the security process in a Clear-only lane, where users are biometrically identified via fingerprint or iris scans, typically sparing them from showing their ID during security screening. However, all travelers, including Clear users, remain subject to random TSA-administered ID checks.

Users are then taken to the front of the line for the security screening machines — either the front of the TSA PreCheck screening line for those with Clear and TSA PreCheck or the front of the normal TSA screening line.

A third program to consider is Global Entry, which is most helpful for frequent international travelers. It allows preapproved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival in the U.S. from abroad. Global Entry users can enter the country through automated kiosks at more than 50 airports.

Enrollment in the three programs costs money: Clear users must pay $199 per year, while TSA PreCheck and Global Entry cost $78 to $85 (depending on the enrollment program) for a five-year membership and $100 for a five-year membership, respectively. Do note that if you are approved for Global Entry, it comes with TSA PreCheck.

While these programs can be worth their retail price tags for users, some credit cards, airline and hotel elite status levels and frequent flyer memberships offer them for free or at a discounted price.

Ship your presents in advance

Although you can technically carry wrapped presents through security at airports, it may be risky depending on whether the TSA agent inspecting your packages permits them to go through without further inspection.

Instead, consider shipping your presents and other large items to your relatives' homes or wherever you will be staying. Do so well before you leave in case of mailing delays.

Bottom line

Traveling during the holidays can be stressful due to family dynamics and larger-than-usual airport crowds, but you can take steps to make it a little more bearable.

Several things you can do to mitigate the stress include enrolling in expedited security programs, submitting your passport for renewal at least six months before travel, booking your flights well in advance and shipping your presents to help make the holiday travel experience easier.

Related reading:

• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
• Best travel credit cards
• Why you should use points and miles to book holiday travel