With Labor Day fading in the rearview mirror, it's officially time to worry about holiday travel, and experts are predicting an expensive season. The first such prognostication comes from
Farecast
, which, according to the
AP
, is expecting a 31 percent increase for Thanksgiving fares compared to last year, and a 30 percent increase for Christmas.
Given that 2008 has been dominated by fare hikes, new fees, and capacity cuts, it should surprise no one that travel around the holidays—the busiest time of the year to fly domestically—will be pricey. Travelers who need to fly home should stick to the conventional holiday-travel wisdom of flying on off-peak days (for example, traveling home on Thanksgiving Day and returning the Monday or Tuesday after). Farecast also notes that Christmas fares often drop during the first few weeks of October, so keep an eye out around that time.
Have you booked your flight home yet? Are you looking at fares, and can't believe your eyes? Leave a comment below and share your experience and any tips you have.