The holidays are the perfect opportunity to spend time with friends and family, but if you live far away from your loved ones, it can easily add up in travel costs. To help keep your travel expenses to a minimum this Thanksgiving, we spoke with Mark Drusch, Chief Supplier Relations Officer of CheapOair.com for some tips and tricks to help cut holiday travel costs.
Search and book at the beginning of the week.
We asked Drusch if certain days of the week were better for searching and booking travel deals. He told us, “Consumers who are looking to travel on a budget and find the best deals that are available should search and book flights Monday or Tuesday morning.”
If possible, adjust your flight plans for deals and fewer headaches.
Drusch advised us, “[For the cheapest flights], the best day to fly out is on Thanksgiving day. The best day to return is Friday, Nov. 29 for cheapest flights.” If you can’t change your plans, Drusch warns that airports will become very busy November 22, the Friday before Thanksgiving, peaking on Monday and Tuesday (November 25 and 26). He also warns that return travel will become very busy on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Investigate your options with airports.
It’s possible that you could save money by flying into a regional or national airport instead of an international. Although it might not make a big difference, Drusch advised that travelers investigate their options and check to see if there are cheaper fares at alternative airports, so long as it makes sense for their travel plans.
Utilize social media to find competitive fares.
Drusch told us that Facebook and Twitter can be great places to find reduced fares. “Sign up for fare alerts, download the award-winning mobile app, and also utilize social media pages. Fare alerts instantly let you know when a price for a certain flight has changed. On social media, a lot of companies post last minute ‘fire sales’ where prices can be slashed up to 50%. CheapOair does this via their Facebook, Twitter and email newsletters.”
Check out Online Travel Agents (OTAs).
Drusch also advised that travelers utilize OTAs like CheapOair to compare prices, find special deals negotiated with airlines and contact the agents directly to get special deals that can’t be advertised online.
Remember, act quickly.
Above all else, Drusch reminds travelers that deals are short-lived, so act quickly when they find one. “If you find a deal, jump on it because it will be for a limited time and limited inventory.”
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