How Far in Advance to Book Your Holiday Flights

October 1st, 2019

Are you hopping on an airplane to see family or friends for the holidays? While it's a great way to see loved ones who live far away, holiday travel, especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas, tends to get busy.

Booking a flight at any time of the year can be hard, but it can be especially tricky during busy holidays. If you need some help deciding when to schedule your holiday flights, read through some of our best tips.

Tips for Scheduling Holiday Flights

Last Minute vs. Planned Trips

There are some differences on when you should book your holiday flight depending on how far in advance you know about the trip.

If you go back to your hometown to spend the holidays with your family every year, you have more options when it comes to the date and time that you can book your flight. When you know far in advance that you'll be traveling around the holidays, we recommend booking holiday flights about 70 days before the trip. The price for the same flight changes a lot throughout the year, but you should get a good deal at this time before your trip.

The closer to your trip it gets, the harder it becomes to find a good price. If you find out at the last minute that you want to travel, you may need to quickly book your flight. When it gets to be around two weeks to 20 days before your trip, the cost may jump, and flights will start to really fill up.

Don't Wait Until the Last Minute

While some destinations rise in popularity at different times of the year, finding an affordable flight to any location can be a tiring process when you're planning holiday travel. There are, of course, factors that are sometimes out of your control when it comes to how far in advance you can buy tickets, but ideally, you want to book your flights in advance.

If you book at the last minute, you may not get as good of a deal. Holidays are the busiest travel days, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. Booking in advance is the best way to get a good deal and find tickets for dates and times that work the best for you.

Waiting until the last minute also runs the risk of not finding anything. Depending on where you're traveling, airports in smaller cities and towns won't have as many flights and could sell out before you buy your tickets.

Pickier Travelers Should Book Sooner

If you're the type of traveler who is a little pickier, you should definitely book sooner rather than later. The earlier you book, the more options you'll have. The chances of finding a great deal and the perfect departure dates and times are much more likely.

After you book your flight, you'll need transportation to the airport. Choose SuperShuttle to find a great shuttle option for a safe, reliable and fast way to get to the airport on time. Book your ride with us today to make traveling around the holidays a little less stressful!