Planning Holiday Travel? Experts Say To Avoid Headaches, Book Now!

Anyone who has recently flown will tell you that flying post-pandemic has become a major headache for millions of Americans as there are still serious staffing shortages leading to flights being delayed or even canceled.

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Additionally, gas prices, although they’ve gone down a touch in recent weeks, are still extremely high which has jacked up the cost of an airline ticket.

Still – in many cases, it’s not only faster to fly but cheaper when factoring in the cost of gas, lodging, food, and other incidentals. And, after the world was shut down for what felt like forever and we were literally unable to get to those who love for holidays and milestone life events, we’re not about to let anything else stand in our way of spending time with the people we cherish, especially during the holidays.

If you have been tossing around the idea of flying during the holidays, now is the time to make up your mind and if you decide it’s what you want to do, now is the time to book your flight. Now. Not the week before Thanksgiving, not the week after Thanksgiving as you might have done in the past. Now.

According to AAA, if you want to fly around Thanksgiving, you should solidify your plans now. As the holidays approach and staffing shortages mean fewer and more expensive flights, airfare will, no doubt see a massive hike in price.

By booking now for the upcoming holiday season, you will better your odds of getting the flight that you want and a price that won’t break the bank. AAA also suggests that you should look for a direct flight that leaves early in the morning if at all possible. The flights most likely to get canceled or delayed are afternoon and evening flights.

AAA also suggests that you should consider leaving a couple of days earlier than you generally would because that way if your flight is canceled or delayed, you’ll still get to your loved ones in time for the holiday rather than being stuck in an airport alone on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Additionally, if you can’t fly directly and have to have some layovers, try to book flights that have several-hour layovers so that if your first flight is delayed, you’ll have a better chance of not missing your next flight.