Travelers planning to fly for Thanksgiving or Christmas may want to book soon. Average round-trip airfare for Thanksgiving is about $402, 30% higher than a year ago, while Christmas fares average $452.
Airfares could rise further as the holidays approach, particularly within two weeks of travel. AAA travel expert Doug Shupe advised travelers to stay flexible with their dates and book as soon as possible.
For Thanksgiving, flying five or six days before the holiday may help travelers avoid peak prices. Those able to travel on Thanksgiving Day could find cheaper fares and less crowded airports.
For Christmas, Shupe recommended traveling five or six days before the holiday and avoiding Christmas Eve, which he warned could bring the highest prices and heavy crowds.
