The world is huge

Don't miss any of it

Travel news, itineraries, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

X

Start thinking now about holiday airfare

We’re pleased to announce the launch of SmarterTravel.com’s Tip of the Day! Check back daily for a new insider’s secret, top travel strategy, seasonal planning advice, and much more. Got your own great tip to share? Send your tip of the day suggestions to [email protected].

It’s important to book your holiday travel early. We typically recommend beginning your airfare search three to six months ahead of the fall and winter holidays. In other words, start planning today for the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas travel season if you want a shot at the best prices, flight times, and seats.

Other smart strategies:

Consider flying on a less-traveled day. It’s a near-certainty that the most expensive days to travel around Thanksgiving are the day before the holiday and the following Sunday; for Christmas, beware of December 23, 26, 30, and January 2.

Traveling on the day of the holiday itself usually affords a few bargains and less-crowded flights, but the risk lies in weather delays: You may snag a decent fare, but if there’s a storm you could end up spending your holiday at the airport.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From