Most Expensive and Cheapest Days to Fly
The following information is the result of FareCompare’s analysis of more than 100 million historical airfares for the busiest domestic markets during the Thanksgiving holiday. Check out what we found so that you can find cheap Thanksgiving flights for 2019.
Most expensive Thanksgiving 2019 travel dates: The most expensive day to depart this year is Wednesday, November 27, 2019. The next most expensive departure date is Tuesday, November 26. Finally, the most expensive return date is Sunday, December 1, followed closely by Monday, December 2.
Cheapest Thanksgiving 2019 travel dates: Thanksgiving Day, November 28, is the cheapest day to fly this holiday. It’s cheap because no one wants to fly then but if you arrive early on Thanksgiving Day, you won’t miss a moment of the feast. A relatively cheap day for returning is Saturday, November 30.
More Ways to Save on Thanksgiving
- Don’t Procrastinate: According to historical airfare prices, Thanksgiving tickets will likely rise significantly for purchases made starting the third week of September. Then look for a second hike in the fourth week of October, and the rise will continue right on up until the holiday. Ultimately, airfare prices, on average, could rise up as much as $4 a day, every day. Bottom line: Don’t wait.
- Compare airfares: Always compare airline ticket prices. The reason: No airline always has the cheapest price on every route, so if you only visit a favorite airline site to get your tickets, you risk paying too much (maybe, way too much).
- Add a stop to the route: A connecting flight is often significantly cheaper than a non-stop flight. This isn’t always true but often enough that you should always compare prices for both non-stops and connecting routes.
- Use a carry-on: Carry on bags are free on several airlines. When you use a carry-on (even when you have to pay) it’s worth the it because the bag that travels by your side is the bag that won’t get lost. You’ll also get out of that crowded airport earlier because you won’t have to hang around the baggage carousel.
