It's the middle of September and if you're planning on traveling for Thanksgiving, booking for flights should have ideally been done at least 15 weeks before the holiday, according to the travel site Skyscanner. This is the best time to get the lowest rates as the tickets are at least 5.4 percent lower than the regular cost.
But if you have yet to purchase ticket, it's still okay to make bookings at this time, or at least two weeks before Thanksgiving. At this rate, you're bound to save 3.3 to 4 percent on ticket prices.
There are some caveats to booking so close to your Thanksgiving travel date, as availability and inventory are less than ideal. You could end up with a bad seat on a very early flight, according to Conde Nast Traveler.
You should also consider the actual dates of your travels for Thanksgiving. "Travelers booking now for Thanksgiving will find the best fares if they depart on Nov. 19, 20, 23, 24 and 26; and return home on Nov. 26 or 27, or wait until Dec. 1," Priceline said via Mashable.
While you're at it, book tickets for the Christmas break this early, too. "You want to be booking before the end of October for your holiday," Frederic Lalonde, the founder of the travel data site Hopper, told Mashable. "Sixty percent of people wait until a month before the Christmas holiday before booking, so if you book in October you'll be ahead."
Around this time would also be the best for charting your 2016 holiday plans, according to AOL Travel. "People often think that a couple of months is forward planning but sometimes six months or a year isn't enough in certain places and at certain times," said Neiell Ghosh from Original Travel, a luxury holiday travel booking service.
Take special note of the peak season when you're planning your holiday next year. "Towards the peak school holidays in July and August, prices rise as availability dries up and families scramble to get away," said Bob Atkinson of TravelSupermarket, via AOL. "Forget discounts as demand usually outstrips supply. This principle also applies to flights, car hire and hotels. The next most popular holiday dates are the Whit week half term in May, Easter (especially for breaks to Florida), Christmas, October half term and New Year. And for February half term, it is essential to book early for ski trips as these sell out every year."
