Flying over the holidays is going to cost more this year - And the longer you wait to book, the pricier it’s likely to get.
The average domestic airfare for the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas is $383, 4 percent higher than last year, according to Expedia.
As airlines fly fewer routes and planes to cut costs, there are fewer seats available. Flights are fuller than ever, and airlines can charge more.
Airlines have an additional reason to charge families more during the holiday season: there are fewer high-paying business travelers, and airlines need to make up for that loss of revenue.
But fliers can save money by manipulating travel websites, planning itineraries that are a little less convenient and taking advantage of airfare refund policies.
A simple but valuable strategy: If you find a good fare, jump on it. The price might drop later on, but not by much.
Here are several tips to help you save.
• Be flexible. Adding a couple of days to your trip before or after peak travel days can lower fares significantly. So can flying on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or early on the morning of New Year’s Day. These days tend to be less busy.
A flight from Chicago to Seattle, leaving the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and returning Sunday, cost $420 on a recent search. A budget-conscious traveler could leave on the morning of Thanksgiving, return the following Monday and cut the airfare to $327.
• Look for connecting flights. Flying nonstop is ideal, but that convenience isn’t free. Booking an itinerary that includes one stop could save you $100 round-trip. Just make sure to leave plenty of time to connect so that if your first flight is late, you don’t miss the second leg.
• Fly, then drive. Some airlines have a virtual monopoly at certain airports, allowing them to charge more. One of America’s most expensive airports is Cincinnati, which is dominated by Delta. To save money, many fliers instead choose airports in Dayton, Ohio, Louisville, Ky., or Indianapolis.
• Pick two different airlines. Most airlines now sell one-way flights at reasonable prices. One airline might be cheaper for the outbound flight and another for the return. You even could arrive at one airport and depart from another. Many sites automatically display these multicarrier itineraries; others require separate searches.
• Consider the 24-hour rule. Most big airlines allow passengers to cancel and rebook tickets purchased through their websites within 24 hours without penalty. After you book, check the next morning and see whether the price fell. Alaska, Continental, Delta, Southwest, United, US Airways and Virgin America all allow this.
• Search multiple sites. The cheapest flight doesn’t always show up on every website. Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity are the biggest online ticket-sellers. Sometimes better deals can be found on sites such as Kayak, Hipmunk, AirfareWatchdog, Yapta, FareCompare, CheapOair, Mobissimo and Fly.com.
Some airlines, such as Southwest, aren’t included on many of these sites. Most airport websites list the airlines serving them. Look there to make sure you aren’t missing a carrier.
• Save on hotel rooms, car rentals. Hotel and car-rental reservations typically are refundable. Check frequently and rebook if prices have fallen. Alternatively, if you’re willing to commit, many hotels offer discounts for nonrefundable bookings.
Hotels and car-rental companies frequently offer discounts to members of AAA and AARP and to government workers.
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