Tips For Thanksgiving Travel, When Is The Best Time To Buy Airfare?
Pumpkins and Halloween decorations are suddenly everywhere, and that means that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so it is time to start booking your travel plans if you haven't already.
Trying to make sense of airfare fluctuations and fare rules is a tough game to play, especially around the holidays, and Thanksgiving is usually the most expensive time. As usual, though, Kayak.com has parsed a mountain of data around Turkey Day airfares to show when the right time to buy might be. Once again, mid-October looks to be the deadline for getting a good deal locked in, so start looking now!
Kayak analyzed hundreds of millions of queries performed on the site last year to predict the cheapest times to book and travel for this year's holiday season.
As expected, fares increase drastically in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, which is on Thursday, November 28 this year. The cheapest times to book airfare for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve travel were found to be from September to mid-October, and airfares for Thanksgiving increased up to 17% after that time (and 51% for Christmas and 25% for New Year's Eve).
So while it is not too late to get a great price, the clock is ticking and you need to act fast and be flexible. Traditionally, the busiest - and therefore most expensive - days are the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2013) and the Sunday after (December 1, 2013), so avoid flying then if possible.
Thanksgiving Domestic Travel
This table from Kayak based on 2012 rates shows the rolling fares from the date of search. Surprisingly, fares were high in July when people rushed out to get ahead of the game with holiday travel, but then dipped in August and September before creeping back up again in October. From now onwards they begin to rise apart from a brief dip the second week of November, after which they escalate steeply.
Average US Domestic Fare
Of course, when you travel - not just when you book - greatly affects flight prices. The best day to depart if you are flying domestically is Monday, November 25 or Tuesday, November 26, when prices are 15-23% below average, according to Kayak. Then try to either have a shorter trip or a longer one, returning on Friday or the following Monday (December 2) after the rush. By being flexible, you can save up to 20% on your airfare!
As you can see from the table above, the average US domestic fare ranges from $303 to $613 (based on 2012 prices), with the darkest green being the cheapest and the lightest red the most expensive, while it is hard to predict how much your trip will be depending on your destination, this gives a good idea of the ranges and percentage difference, with some as much as 30% higher than the average fare.
While the cheapest day to depart by -36% is Thanksgiving Day itself, many of us can't cut it that close in fear of missing out on Mom's famous roast turkey or the big football game of the day. The data on these tables is based on 2012, so the dates for the holiday are different, and be sure to check your calendar carefully before booking.
Thanksgiving International Travel
With Thanksgiving being such an American holiday, global travel is not as common, but many people do want to take advantage of the four-day weekend and go abroad. The fare patterns differ to domestic in that when booking in July through September they remained low, then rose steadily from mid-September all the way up to the week before the Thanksgiving holiday.
If you are flying internationally, try leaving close to or on Thanksgiving Day and stay through the weekend to save on airfare.
Remember that while Americans can't imagine life without it, Thanksgiving isn't celebrated around the world, so don't land in London or Paris and expect to be able to get a turkey dinner and pumpkin pie there - it is just a regular Thursday for them!
Personally, I don't know why everyone freaks out so much about Thanksgiving travel – yeah, it's a little crowded, but it's no different than many other peak travel periods. A packed plane is still a packed plane whether it's a day before Turkey Day or a busy spring break weekend.
I hope this helps keep the holidays stress-free, and stay tuned for more tips from TPG and Kayak on Christmas and New Year travel in the upcoming weeks!
[card card-name='Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express' card-id='22034414' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.