It’s late October, and the way time is flying these days, that means it’s practically Christmas. Traveling with little ones is always an adventure and takes tons of planning, so it's really never too early to start thinking about it. Thankfully, you have a little bit of time to get travel plans in order.
Traveling during the holidays with all the price surges, crowded airports, and kids who are off their routines can feel especially challenging. This year, we got the 411 on how to make it all just a bit easier straight from the travel experts at Expedia. The travel giant recently released its Air Travel Hacks Report, featuring hints and hacks to help the holiday travel season run more smoothly for families, and we can't wait to try them out.
Best Time To Book
There’s a science to buying plane tickets. If you book too far in advance, you may miss a last-minute deal. Too close to your departure date, and you’re likely to spend way more money. Even with airfares changing from day to day, there are still ways to save.
Expedia recommends booking on a Sunday to save 15% on average. The company also advises booking tickets a month before domestic flights and six months for international ones.
Set Up Alerts
If you're a little worried about getting the best price possible and want to make sure you don’t miss your opportunity, use Expedia’s Price Tracking and Predictions function. It will automatically monitor flights around your travel date and send you alerts to help you choose the one that works best for both your schedule and your wallet.
There's a Best Day To Fly
It’s no secret that many people travel on the weekends. With work schedules and other obligations, that's often the most convenient time. But if you ever have more flexibility in your schedule, try to leave on a Wednesday.
You can save 15% on average traveling on that day. When you’re buying tickets for the whole family, those savings add up quickly.
How To Avoid Cancellations
One of the worst things that can happen when traveling by plane is a canceled flight. If you haven’t left home, there’s the potential for wasted time and disappointment. If you’re already on your way, you’ll likely incur additional transportation and lodging costs or have to deal with the uncomfortable prospect of spending even more hours in the airport. All those are bad.
Although there is no guarantee, leaving earlier in the day decreases the risk of cancellation. Flights that depart after 3 p.m. have a 50% chance of being canceled compared to flights that took off earlier.
Travel Off-Peak
Traveling off-peak also helps to reduce the likelihood of delays. If you can swing it, leave a bit earlier or later for holiday gatherings. Getting to your destination in mid-December instead of waiting until the week of Christmas can help a lot.
If you don’t mind traveling on actual holidays, flight prices can be drastically cheaper. There's a slight risk you could be a bit late to the family celebration, but you'll likely save quite a bit of cash.
