Christmas Fares - Most Holding Steady or Decreasing

Sure, they're more expensive than Thanksgiving holiday flights, but Old Saint Nick doesn't have to be the only one heading to your house this Christmas. Check out our research for yourself: we're still seeing more than 80 percent of the key routes holding steady, or better still, going down year-over-year; and 75 percent of those routes have remained the same or have declined month-over-month.

Good News for Most**

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Flights departing from the East Coast aren't showing many drastic dips in prices, but at least fares on the routes aren't skyrocketing. However, flights from the West and Midwest are a little more uneven: While some routes have held steady or even dropped, others are creeping upward. The news is worst for anyone planning to skip out on the obligatory family togetherness for some Hawaiian fun in the sun: If you haven't already booked, expect to pay a premium (did your mom resentfully set these coal-in-the-stocking prices?).

Save your money for presents and grab an affordable Christmas fare before Thanksgiving Day.

Holiday Booking Strategies

Here are more tips for nailing down solid savings on your holiday fare:

• There's still time to not only book, but also benchmark your own route. Don't skip this crucial step: it's how you'll know a fair price when you see it.
• Steer clear of peak travel days, including the day before Christmas and the last day of the holiday weekend.
• Be in the know when sales come out: The sale match generally gets lit by one of the low-cost carriers on Tuesday, and by the following morning, competitors have jumped into the fray and created what we call a full-out fare war.
• Be flexible and check fares from nearby airports as well.
• Check out our previous installment on holiday airfare searches.
  
  Your Turn
  
  Have you been tracking holiday fares? If you've already purchased your flight, did you spend more money than last time you went home for the holidays? How much more?