If you’re planning a vacation over the Thanksgiving holiday, you might want to skip some key U.S. cities.
Ten U.S. destinations lead the way when it comes to the highest year-over-year percentage increase in Google Flights Searches for Nov. 23-30, Google says.
While the uptick in interest might be good for local economies, it’s likely to present headaches for travelers who want to avoid packed flights, busy airports, crowded attractions and other headaches.
According to a recent Google analysis, mid-sized cities are having a moment. Here are the 10 cities generating much more interest from those looking to fly around this Thanksgiving:
- Columbia, SC
- Bozeman, MT
- Spokane, WA
- Detroit, MI
- Omaha, NE
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Panama City, FL
- Little Rock, AR
- Knoxville, TN
- Colorado Springs, CO
The magic booking window for maximum savings
Regardless of where you want to travel this holiday season — or any other time of year — there are things you can do to cut costs.
Google analyzed four years of flight data to pinpoint the sweet spots for saving money when booking various types of trips. For domestic flights, prices typically hit their lowest point 39 days before departure. That’s roughly five and a half weeks out, with the best deals generally appearing anywhere from 23 to 51 days before you fly.
However, if you are planning to fly for Thanksgiving, you might want to circle a date on your calendar 35 days before the holiday. That’s when prices have historically bottomed out, although you’ll find good deals anywhere from 24 to 59 days prior.
So, if you’re flying right around Thanksgiving week, October is your friend for finding bargains.
Christmas travelers should start shopping even earlier. The data shows the best prices appear 51 days before departure, with the prime booking window stretching from 32 to 73 days out. That means mid-October through mid-November is when you’ll want to book those December flights.
Google’s analysis extends well beyond holiday travel. Spring breakers should book 43 days before their March or April trips, while summer vacation flights actually have a shorter lead time, with the best prices appearing just 21 days before July or August departures.
The truth about booking days and departure dates
Forget what you’ve heard about Tuesday being the golden day to book flights. Google’s data shows Tuesday is indeed the cheapest day, but we’re talking a measly 1.3% savings compared to Sunday, the priciest booking day. That’s barely worth setting a calendar reminder.
On the other hand, your choice of departure days can result in real savings. Flying Monday through Wednesday knocks about 13% off your fare compared to weekend travel.
And here’s a money-saving tip that might sting for those who love convenience: Accepting a layover saves you an average of 22% versus booking nonstop flights. That’s significant enough to make even the most impatient traveler reconsider their direct-flight devotion.
Google Flights also offers several features that can surface deals you might otherwise miss, including an AI-powered Flight Deals tool that analyzes patterns to identify unexpected bargains. You can also use price tracking alerts to notify you when fares drop for routes you’re watching.
Google’s Explore map feature lets you view fares to multiple destinations at once, which is perfect if you’re flexible about where to spend the holidays.
Finally, for travelers with specific dates and destinations in mind, look for the “cheapest time to book” insights that appear under search results.
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