Buzz
If you're planning a Christmas trip and haven't booked your flight yet, you still have a few weeks to catch a great deal, according to travel app Hopper.
While the best time to book for the winter holidays was last week, Hopper tells the New York Times that if your plans aren’t final yet, you should act quickly and book as soon as possible—you may still find a decent deal. “If you need to set a deadline, aim for at least two weeks before departure.”
To save money, try to avoid booking your flight home on December 21, as it will be the most expensive day for flights. If you can afford an extra day or two off, being flexible with your dates could lead to a better price. Set a fare alert with services like Hopper to help you track lower prices.
Your choice of airport can also make a difference in the price. Hipmunk, another travel booking site, found that booking round-trip flights with different airports could save travelers up to 14% on Thanksgiving weekend and 17% during the Christmas week. Consider flying out of a regional airport farther from home. Use this tool from Google to compare holiday travel prices at nearby airports and find the best deals.
Make sure to use all of your rewards card benefits before the year ends—it could save you around a hundred dollars or more on your total expenses.
