It may only be early October, but the winter holidays will be here before we know it! Now is an ideal time to start thinking about your plans. If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, that means booking your flights. Since so many people travel during that time of year, it’s common for flight prices to be higher than usual.
Here’s why you should book your tickets soon, for the benefit of your checking account.
October is the best time to book cheap Thanksgiving flights
Google Flights is a flight price comparison tool that makes it easy to find the cheapest flights. The Google Flights 2024 Travel Trends report includes valuable flight pricing information.
Google examined historical flight pricing data to determine when travelers should book airfare to score cheaper tickets for the holidays. If you plan to travel for Thanksgiving, you may want to book your tickets in the coming days.
Want to know when is the best time to book cheap Thanksgiving flights? According to Google’s research, domestic flight prices have been at their lowest 45 days before departure. Low airfare prices tend to be available 26 to 59 days out. So, if you want to arrive at your destination on Wednesday, Nov. 27 — booking around Oct. 13 is a good strategy.
However, you will likely find prices low when booking between now and Nov. 1. Today is Oct. 3, so this is an excellent reminder to book your tickets in the coming weeks. If you wait until later in November, you may spend much more than necessary.
Based on these findings, Google suggests buying plane tickets in early October to avoid overpaying. Google Flights offers search filters to help you compare airfare across multiple carriers. Tools like the date grid and price graph allow you to find the cheapest dates to fly.
Never used Google Flights? Now is an excellent time to give this free tool a try.
Here’s how to get rewarded when you travel
Timing when you buy airfare is one way to save. Here’s another way: Pay for travel bookings with a rewards credit card. Many travelers use travel rewards credit cards to earn rewards on their travel spending.
You can earn points, miles, or cash back and redeem them for travel — making a future trip more affordable. These credit cards make it easy to pay yourself back. Ready to earn travel rewards? Click here to review our curated list of top travel credit cards that offer big rewards.
If you prefer earning cash back rewards, another option is a cash back credit card. Check out our list of the best cash back credit cards to see how easy it is to earn cash rewards.
Here’s another strategy to help you save on flights
If you’re planning to book holiday plane tickets soon, I have another tip that could help you avoid overspending. Many airlines allow customers to cancel eligible flight bookings for a flight credit — free of cancellation fees. This applies to select bookings with eligible airlines.
Some savvy travelers monitor flight prices after booking and cancel and rebook if ticket prices drop. Keep in mind that basic economy tickets typically don’t qualify, and the flight credit provided may be non-transferable, meaning only you can use them.
Southwest is one airline that never charges cancellation fees as long as you cancel at least 10 minutes before the flight’s scheduled departure. Regardless of the airline you’re flying with, confirm the cancellation rules before canceling a ticket you’ve already booked.
Travel without breaking the bank
If you love to score the best deal, consider this strategy when booking flights in the future. Every dollar you save on travel expenses can make a difference. Thanks to free tools like Google Flights, it’s easy to find cheaper flights that can stretch your vacation budget further.