This Is the Cheapest Time to Book Holiday Flights, According to Google Flights Data

"'Tis the season to book holiday travel. Summer may have just wrapped up, but now is actually the cheapest time to start locking in airfare and reservations in advance of the busy holiday season. With less than 90 days until Christmas and less than 60 days until Thanksgiving, travelers are entering the "low price range" to get the lowest fares, according to expert analysis of historical airfare pricing data from Google."

"To make sure travelers lock in the lowest deals, they should set price alerts on Google Flights to receive a notification when a preferred flight drops in cost. Travelers can also save by considering booking a layover, which Google said could help save about 22 percent on average compared to nonstop routes. Flying on Mondays through Wednesdays can also help the bottom line since those days are about 13 percent cheaper than the weekends."

"However, booking on specific days won't really save much since the least expensive day to purchase a flight is only 1.3 percent cheaper than the most expensive day. When it comes to destination inspiration, Google revealed Columbia, South Carolina, was the top trending destination for Thanksgiving in the United States, followed by Bozeman, Montana, and Spokane, Washington. For Christmas and New Year's, Brazil's Rio de Janeiro was the top trending international destination, followed by a beach getaway to Saint Lucia and a jaunt to Marrakesh."

Now is an advantageous time to book holiday airfare and reservations because historical pricing shows fares drop as the holidays approach. Thanksgiving fares begin to fall around 60 days out with the absolute cheapest about 35 days before the holiday. Christmas fares start becoming cheaper nearly 70 days ahead, with prime bargains around 51 days before departure. Travelers should set Google Flights price alerts, consider layovers to save roughly 22 percent versus nonstop routes, and choose Monday through Wednesday travel days that are about 13 percent cheaper than weekend travel. Day-of-purchase timing has minimal impact.

Read at Travel + Leisure