During a summer marked by a surge in travel, the Transportation Security Administration reports 227 million impressions since Memorial Day. Despite the sweltering heat and leaves that have yet to color, experts suggest that now may already be the right time to plan your next adventure.
Courtney Pohlman of Chicago is a good example. While preparing for her Labor Day trip to the Dominican Republic, she already booked a Christmas getaway to Paris.
Pohlman said, “I looked at flights and they’re cheap. So I bought them.’
Hayley Berg, chief economist at airfare tracker Hopper, advises booking major holiday trips before Oct. 14.
“It’s the right place,” Berg said. “And you have to book both Thanksgiving and Christmas travel. Not just Thanksgiving. We wait too long to book Christmas travel and miss out on the best prices.”
But not everyone plans ahead.
The Hedayat sisters, Camellia, Samira and Nadia, admit to being last-minute travelers and say they only book travel a week before a trip.
Others, like LeRoy Fletcher and Denise Brown-Fletcher, book trips around “late September,” which is what travel experts recommend.
“The idea is to delay your reservation for two months in terms of pricing,” said LeRoy Fletcher.
Airfares are on a downward trend, with 11 of the past 14 months showing a decline. Hopper reports that domestic flights for Labor Day cost an average of $226 round-trip, down 11% from the previous year and down 20% from 2019. European flights are also seeing a drop in price, with an average cost of about $1,130, down from last year. year, but higher than 2019.
Meanwhile, international airfares will also be higher for the rest of this year, Berg said.
“This holiday season, we expect international airfares to remain above pre-pandemic levels,” she said. “So for travelers who normally do an international getaway over the holidays, we can recommend looking at domestic or more regional itineraries that will be slightly cheaper.”
When looking for the best deals, experts recommend flexibility in your travel dates and destinations. Avoid bookings on traditionally busy days and consider visiting nearby airports for potential savings.
Kris Van Cleave
