Purchasing cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages will prove more difficult this Thanksgiving than last year. The average domestic airfare for people flying over the Thanksgiving Holiday is up 10 percent to $384 round trip compared to a year ago.
Departing on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and returning on Sunday could cost travelers as much as $170 more than if they were able to adjust their travel dates by a couple of days. By being flexible and traveling on Thanksgiving Day and returning the following Tuesday the average domestic fare is $293.
Travelers looking for cheap fares should purchase their airline tickets as far ahead of Thanksgiving as possible and be flexible as to travel dates. Major online travel companies, such as Cheapfares.com and Expedia.com, offer customers the ability to see fares up to three days prior and after their designated travel dates to find the cheapest available fares.
Some airlines are adding an additional $30 to fly on peak travel days such as the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving.
In response to a large reduction in people traveling in 2009 caused by the recession and the outbreak of the H1N1 virus airlines significantly reduced prices and the number of flights. Fares have been increasing this year as more passengers are flying again. The number of domestic seats will be up 2 percent this November, but heavy demand for seats is expected to push fares up.
www.cheapfares.com