Best Time to Book Christmas Flights: Save Big With This Simple Guide

One of the busiest seasons to fly is during Christmas. When you wait, the prices tend to increase. Nevertheless, when you know when to search and when to book, you can save a lot. Now, in this easy-to-follow guide, I will tell you when to book your flights in plain English and also provide some tips that you can apply immediately when it comes to booking your flight during Christmas. 

Quick headline answer

The majority of travel gurus recommend: begin to monitor prices at the end of summer, place price alerts at the beginning of fall, and book at the end of October or mid-November to find the best combination of options and cost. With most domestic flights, 4-7 weeks before travel is the sweet spot, with international travel, the target is earlier. 

Why that window works

Airlines monitor demand and gradually increase fares as seats are filled. Once the booking starts in September-October, the prices tend to skyrocket. According to big travel tools (Google Flights, Hopper, Skyscanner), the price of flights during Christmas is the cheapest a few weeks to a few months before the holiday, and then it rapidly increases as the seats are sold out. So early viewing and reserving within the suggested time frame prevents the price spurt at the end of December. 

Domestic And International Rules Are Different.

• Domestic (within the country): The best deals are usually made 4-7 weeks before Christmas. That is to reserve in October-November to travel in December.

• International: These flights normally require additional lead time. In the case of popular European flights, the specialists suggest reserving months before (3 to 9 months) to secure a lower price and receive favorable schedules. When you are flying long-haul, you should not wait until the last month. 

Day-Of-Week And Time Tips

Midweek (Tue-Thu) flights are usually cheaper than Friday-Sunday flights. You can save money by flying in the morning or evening. Others indicate that booking on particular days of the week (such as Monday or Tuesday) can be slightly cheaper, but it is not as significant as booking at the appropriate time window. There is no need to over-emphasize the best weekday, but make emphasis on the booking window and price alerts.

Practical Things That You Can Do

When you need a ticket, these are the steps you can take: 

• Begin monitoring prices immediately - Google Flights, Hopper, or Skyscanner can be used to make alerts. They will send you emails in case fares change.

• Search flexible dates - In case you can leave a day sooner or later, you will frequently save a lot. Whole month search or calendar view.

• Keep an eye on sales - Travel sales (Black Friday / Cyber Monday / Travel Tuesday) can be good, but sales alone should not be counted on when it comes to holiday travel. 

• Book when the price is within your budget - When the prices reach a point that you are comfortable with in the sweet spot (late Oct -mid Nov), book it. Holding on to a marginally low fare is a gamble. 

In Case You Have To Travel On Specific Dates

When you have to fly on specific dates (such as Christmas Eve to be home by Christmas morning), you should book earlier in the window or even earlier. The seats in the most convenient flights get sold out, and prices increase the most in regard to prime times. 

Last-Minute And Other Tricks

Last-minute may occasionally be the way to go when an airline has unsold seats, but that is not very safe in holiday travel. You can not rely on last-minute deals on Christmas.

Search nearby airports, divide journeys, or multi-city search - in some cases, it can be less expensive to travel into a nearby city and use a short train or bus. Also, think about one-way tickets of other airlines.

Short Checklist Before You Hit “Buy”

Before you hit the buy button, you should know the following weeks:

• Place a price alarm (Google Flights, Hopper, Skyscanner).

• Compare round-trip vs one-way prices.

• Check baggage charges and change policies - a low fare can be quite expensive with change fees

• When the price fits your budget in the suggested time frame of booking, book it.

Final thought

It is not an ideal guideline that works all the time, but when you begin watching in late summer, you set the alerts, and you book between the late-October and mid-November timeframe of most Christmas trips (earlier in the case of international trips), you will have the best opportunity of saving money and securing the flight you desire. When you search with the keyword Best time to book flights to Christmas, you will remember this guide, and you will be happy with your planning. 

FAQ 

Should I book Christmas flights in advance?

To avoid the escalating prices, you are advised to book the Christmas flights 610 weeks ahead of the travel in case of domestic trips and at least 2-4 months ahead in case of international trips.

Are tickets cheaper closer to Christmas?

The closer to the holiday, the less the Christmas flights tend to become cheaper. The prices tend to increase as seats are filled. Deals that come at the last minute are not very common and are very risky during the high season of holiday travel.

What can I do to get cheaper flights during Christmas?

To secure low-cost flights during Christmas, make early reservations, flexible dates, mid-week flights, price alerts, airport comparison, and early morning or red-eye flights are some of the suggestions that would save more money.

At what time should I buy a flight ticket during and around Christmas?

Most destinations are most stable in terms of prices, and the best time to purchase a Christmas flight ticket is during late October and mid-November.

Will Christmas offer lower airline prices?

Airline rates do not tend to decrease as Christmas approaches. The demand is high, and most of the cheaper seats are sold, hence flights tend to be more expensive during December.

Why are flight tickets cheapest on December 3rd?

There is some travel data that indicates that the 3rd of December has historically experienced price dips, probably because of the algorithms and low early-December demand, but it is not always the case or across all routes.

How do I know that the flight price has dropped?

Follow price prediction and set fare alerts. When the prices increase or decrease, the fare alert will help you navigate properly. 

Can I get a cheap flight ticket during Christmas by using Travofinder?

To get a cheap flight ticket during Christmas, you need to contact our customer support team on +1-888-439-7919, and one of our agents will guide you forward.

Is it possible to compare the airfare of several airlines using Travofinder to travel during Christmas?

Yes, you can compare the prices of various airlines with the help of Travofinder; hence, you can select the cheapest or the most convenient option of traveling during Christmas.

Does Travofinder provide customer service or a change of booking in case of a change in Christmas travel plans?

Yes, Travofinder provides customer support and service, and offers a flight change in case of a change in Christmas travel plans. Just contact our customer support at +1-888-439-7919.