The Thanksgiving travel week, and in particular the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving, are typically regarded as the busiest travel days of the year for airlines and airports in the United States. As people start to think about their holiday plans, they may also be thinking about where they are going, how they can get there, and how to get the best deal on the airfare to their destination.
Many of the national news networks in the U.S. have been reporting that airfares will be considerably more expensive this year than they were last year. What makes matters worse is the fact that there will be many added taxes and surcharges that can easily drive the airfare up. Finding the cheapest Thanksgiving airfare can be a challenge.
Cheapest Thanksgiving Airfare
Travel can be expensive and there is no doubt that traveling during the holiday season can sometimes break the bank! If you are thinking about traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday, here are some tips that will help you get the cheapest airfare.
Be Flexible
One of the easiest ways to lower the cost of your airfare is by being flexible in your travel arrangements. If you are willing to travel at non-premium times, or take a very early morning or late night flight, you may be able to save a considerable amount of money over what you would have had to pay for a flight at one of the most desirable travel times.
This may work if you don’t have to worry about connecting flights because if you take a late night flight and need to connect to another flight to get to your destination, any delay in the original flight could potentially cause you to miss the connecting flight, and you may be stuck at the airport overnight, or until the airline can get you on another plane.
Plan Your Dates Carefully
The date on which you fly will have a huge impact on the cost of your airfare. If you want to fly to your destination on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the airfare will be considerably higher than it would be if you were able to fly on Monday or Tuesday.
Likewise, if you want to return home on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, your airfare will be substantially higher than it would if you scheduled your return for the Monday after Thanksgiving. If you really want to save money and avoid crowds, fly on Thanksgiving Day. An early morning flight may get you to your destination in time for Thanksgiving dinner, and you will be able to get your choice of seats, and you won’t have to pay nearly as much for your flight.
Look To Alternative Airports
Another fabulous way to save money on your airfare and possibly be able to avoid crowds and have an easier time getting a reservation is by going to another nearby airport. For example, if you are flying into Washington D.C., instead of flying to Dulles, consider flying into Washington Reagan or Baltimore. If you are flying into Chicago, consider flying into Midway instead of O’Hare. Your choice of airlines may be smaller, but the airfare will be considerably cheaper, and if you fly on a lower cost airline like Southwest, you won’t have to pay to check baggage.
There’s no getting around the fact that the cost of flying is rising all the time. Airlines are tacking on charges for everything – whether it be for checking luggage, boarding early, upgrading your ticket, or getting a blanket or pillow.
By knowing when the busiest travel days are and carefully planning your itinerary so that you can avoid those times, flying at less desirable times or going to an alternative airport, you may be able to save a substantial amount of money.
Don’t overlook checking sites like Orbitz because if someone books a reservation for the same itinerary that you booked and their cost is less, Orbitz will pay you the difference between what you paid and the cheaper fare.
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