Air fares have been pretty reasonable this summer, as I’ve mentioned in a previous posting. But reason goes out the window when the holidays come around, so early fare shoppers will be rewarded with less exorbitant prices. That’s the conclusion of research conducted by Farecast, which advises holiday travelers to start shopping for Thanksgiving tickets as early as next Wednesday.
Aug. 22 is a key date to start shopping for Turkey Day plane trips. That’s a full 90 days before the American holiday.
But the deals won’t last. Farecast predicts the best fares will be found during the last two weeks of August and early September. And then they’ll probably go quickly.
Farecast recommends staying away from Wednesday-to-Sunday itineraries, since they tend to be the priciest. The average fare for that type of itinerary was $414.
To save money, Farecast recommends either extending your trip to return on Monday or Tuesday, which can save you as much as $100 per ticket. Returning early on Saturday could save you $60 on average.
The date of departure is less significant than the date of return, according to Farecast. Leaving on the Monday before Thanksgiving will only save you an average of $30.
My advice? Our family celebrates what my son likes to call “early” Thanksgiving during the Veterans Day weekend. The airports are far less crowded and the fares are pretty decent.
How do you save money on airfares during the holidays? Shoot me an e-mail or leave your comments here.
Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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