Although the summer travel season just came to an end, many people are already beginning to lock in their travel plans for the holidays.
In fact, according to a new AAA survey, 59% of respondents are already planning to take a holiday vacation. More than half of them (54%) are booking holiday travel plans earlier this year due to higher travel prices.
"Whether you plan to book a flight, cruise, or visit a theme park, it's best to get ahead of the holiday rush and finalize your plans now," Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA, said in a statement. "This will help ensure you get the itinerary you want at a competitive price. While it's possible that those who wait until the last minute could catch a lower rate, their preferred options may already be gone."
More than half of travelers (58%) are planning a trip with at least one overnight stay for Thanksgiving. According to the survey, the largest share of travelers (36%) will lock in their Thanksgiving travel plans during September. By the end of the month, 55% will have already booked their trip.
The busiest travel days during Thanksgiving week will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. As such, AAA suggests booking a flight the Sunday or Monday before Thanksgiving and the Saturday after the holiday; airports should be less busy and flights should have more availability.
This year's Thanksgiving airfares are also trending 12% more than 2022 prices, according to CheapAir.com, which tracks 11,000 airfares for flights during the holiday season. The website suggests booking flights no later than October to secure the best deal, as fares typically increase after that.
The timing is more spread out for travelers who are planning a trip for Christmas. According to AAA, only 9% have already finalized plans, as less than a fifth will wait until September (19%), with more waiting until October (29%), and November (26%) to book.
Regardless of what date Christmas falls on, most travelers depart two to four days prior to the holiday, according to AAA. Since Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year, travelers should expect the busiest days at the airport to be Friday and Saturday, before the holiday.
With Three-fifths of holiday travelers (59%) planning at least one flight during the holiday season, AAA suggests booking early for the best combination of availability and price.
"Most travelers want to skip layovers and get right to their destination. That means nonstop flights, especially those going cross-country and internationally, will fill up fast," AAA said.
The agency also suggests booking a direct flight that leaves early in the morning.
"Afternoon and evening flights are more susceptible to delays/cancellations due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Connecting flights multiply the risk of something going wrong," AAA said.
European travel is booming this year, and the holidays will be no exception. AAA travel advisors say touring Christmas markets in Europe is extremely popular and itineraries sell out in advance. River cruises are also in high demand during the holidays, along with Caribbean cruises. Theme parks are a holiday favorite among families with kids when students are on winter break.
"I've had travelers tell me, 'I don't know what my health will be in 5 or 10 years, let's go abroad this year,'" said Jodi Abata, AAA travel advisor. "There seems to be a sense of adventure from more people now. They don't want to delay travel any longer."