Travelocity Says Thanksgiving Airfare up Year over Year but Down Compared to Summer Holidays

Travelocity Offers Tips on Finding Cheap Flights and The Price to Beat for the Holiday

SOUTHLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thanksgiving and the start of the hectic holiday travel season is just weeks away. According to Travelocity’s booking data people are booking closer to the holiday this year, indicating that travelers are still looking to snag a deal.

“If you can adjust your travel dates, you can save as much as $288 on your Thanksgiving airfare”

PRICE TO BEAT FOR THANKSGIVING

Travelocity’s Thanksgiving data shows that the average round-trip domestic airfare this Thanksgiving is $386, inclusive of tax, up nearly 9 percent from last year. Travelocity calls this the ‘price to beat’ and it should be used as a gauge while shopping for airfare. It’s also helpful to know the going price for flights out of a particular origination city where travelers may be able to find a cheaper flight.

“The average domestic airfare for the holiday is about $5 dollars below what we were seeing for the July 4^th holiday,” explains Courtney Scott, senior editor at Travelocity. “So while year-over-year prices are up, Thanksgiving fares are about what we were seeing this summer on popular travel weekends.”

Average Domestic Airfare Out of the Top 25 Domestic Origination Cities:
City	Fare		City	Fare		City	Fare		City	Fare		City	Fare
New York City	$	376	San Francisco	$	436	Seattle	$	424	Orlando	$	279	Houston	$	411
DC	$	366	Boston	$	392	Minneapolis St. Paul	$	371	Tampa / St. Petersburg	$	293	Indianapolis	$	388
LA	$	415	South Florida	$	300	Phoenix	$	328	Detroit	$	377	San Diego	$	410
Denver	$	349	Philadelphia	$	407	Atlanta	$	334	Charlotte	$	352	Pittsburgh	$	352
Chicago	$	372	Dallas /Fort Worth	$	360	Portland	$	328	Raleigh Durham	$	376	Milwaukee	$	356
Overall Average Domestic Airfare is $386, inclusive of tax

CHEAPEST DAYS TO FLY DOMESTIC FOR THANKSGIVING 2012

The number one rule to finding the best price on holiday airfare this season is being flexible with your dates. When booking flights on Travelocity, there’s an option to search for flights within one to three days of your ideal departure and return date.

“If you can adjust your travel dates, you can save as much as $288 on your Thanksgiving airfare,” Scott says. “We recommend leaving on Thanksgiving Day and returning home on Friday, Nov. 23, or Tuesday, Nov. 27 to see the most savings and avoid the crowds at the airports.”

Cheapest Days to Fly for Thanksgiving 2012
	Return Friday 11/23		Return Saturday 11/24		Return Sunday 11/25		Return Monday 11/26		Return Tuesday 11/27
Depart Friday 11/16	$	394	$	487	$	557	$	468	$	427
Depart Saturday 11/17	$	361	$	448	$	564	$	476	$	393
Depart Sunday 11/18	$	344	$	430	$	544	$	476	$	362
Depart Monday 11/19	$	325	$	394	$	475	$	428	$	356
Depart Tuesday 11/20	$	343	$	416	$	485	$	416	$	373
Depart Wednesday 11/21	$	334	$	401	$	473	$	418	$	379
Depart Thursday 11/22	$	269	$	350	$	428	$	383	$	316

As denoted in the chart above, travelers who choose to return Friday, Nov. 23, or Tuesday, Nov. 27, as opposed to Sunday, Nov. 25, can save up to $288. Departing dates on Thanksgiving Day also result in significant savings.

TRAVELOCITY’S TRAVEL TIPS FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL

1. Avoid the peak travel dates. Airlines impose surcharges on peak travel days around the holidays. Days to avoid this year are: Nov. 21 and 25, Dec. 22, 23 and 26 and Jan. 2. Surcharges range from $20 - $40 each way.

2. Book a vacation package. If your holiday plans require both a flight and a hotel, the smartest thing to do is book them at the same time. Vacation packages give travelers access to airline and hotel pricing not available to people who book separately. One Travelocity study showed savings of up to $525.

3. Search alternate airports. Take New York City – always one of the most popular holiday destinations – as an example. While LaGuardia might be the closest airport to your turkey dinner, flying into JFK or Newark instead may be worth the extra effort and could translate into big savings. Use the easy “Compare Surrounding Airports” feature in the advanced search options when you book your flights on Travelocity.

4. Go mobile. Use mobile apps, like Travelocity’s, to keep track of your travel itinerary or to check your flight status. Travelocity’s app also offers Mobile Exclusive Deals where Thanksgiving travelers can find savings only offered when booking via the app. There are also other helpful apps that help you find gas stations, navigate airports and keep the kids entertained during long delays.

5. Pack smart. Try not to check any luggage. If you need to be re-routed because of bad weather or delays, it will be much easier if your luggage is with you. If you do check, don’t put anything in your luggage you can’t live without – like medication, cell phone chargers or your child’s favorite toy. If your flight is delayed or canceled it could be a while before you get your bag back. You’ll also avoid checked baggage fees, which could be up to $50 per bag.

For further information on Travelocity and holiday travel, visit: www.windowseatblog.com.

About Travelocity Global

Travelocity® is committed to being the traveler's champion – before, during and after the trip – and provides the most comprehensive and proactive guarantee in the industry (http://www.travelocity.com/guarantee). This customer-driven focus, backed by 24/7 live phone support, competitive prices and powerful shopping technology has made Travelocity one of the largest travel companies in the world. Travelocity also owns and operates: Travelocity Business® for corporate travel; igougo.com, a leading online travel community; lastminute.com, a leader in European online travel; and ZUJI, a leader in Asia-Pacific online travel. Travelocity is owned by Sabre Holdings Corporation, a world leader in travel marketing and distribution.