Looking for Thanksgiving flight deals? It’s going to be tough, but check out FareCompare’s Thanksgiving flight shopping tips.

1.) Act quickly. Thanksgiving flight fares are not going down – in fact, fares are up 17% to 18% over last year. It is our belief that procrastinators will get burned this year, since there are fewer flights and planes are getting full.

2.) Sign up for airfare alerts. Look for the prominent display for the When-to-Fly Airfare Alerts on the FareCompare home page, or go right to the airfare alerts sign up. Do it now, while there’s still a little time.

3.) Fly outside the most popular Thanksgiving travel dates. Let the Holiday Surcharge Chart be your guide: look for dates without surcharges, or dates with the cheapest surcharges.

4.) Fly on Thanksgiving Day. There is no surcharge on this date, and flying on a holiday is usually always cheaper than flying on surrounding dates. Travel early enough in the morning and you’ll be there in plenty of time for the turkey.

5.) Fly in and out of big hub airports. Generally, the bigger the airport, the cheaper the fare, though not always. Search for flights from your home airport and nearby hubs, and our Thanksgiving Flight Finder is ideal for a big-hub search.

6.) Use a carryon. It won’t bring down the cost of your airfare, but it won’t add $50 to your trip, either. Alternative: fly JetBlue or Southwest for free checked-bags.

7.) See our Thanksgiving Travel Guide. This is a comprehensive guide for everything related to Turkey Day travel.