Peak travel season is quickly approaching but there is still time to employ some tried and tested tricks to keep costs and stress levels down.
DailyMail.com has gathered a sleighful of top tips from the experts, with everything from the best days to fly to how to deal with delays covered.
For US travelers, the experts highly recommend spending $78 on TSA PreCheck as this will speed up wait times at airport security and as a general rule, it’s best to arrive up to 2.5 hours early for flights to take backlogs into account.
Take a trip down to see how to make holiday travel a little easier to navigate with these tips and more.
Best and worst days for air travel
December 21 and 22 will be the busiest days for departures, ‘with more than 3.7 million seats scheduled to depart from US airports’
Looking for the best day to travel around Christmas? Hayley Berg, a lead economist at Hopper, advises traveling on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day as ‘these will be the least busy and the cheapest days to fly.’
At the other end of the scale, she says December 21 and 22 will be the busiest days, ‘with more than 3.7 million seats scheduled to depart from US airports.’
She adds: ‘Airports will remain busy throughout the week following Christmas, as some holiday travelers head home from Christmas trips and others take off on New Year’s trips.’
The earlier the flight, the better
There can be lots of travel disruptions around peak times, but Hayley says planning ahead will allow you to navigate any setbacks.
When it comes to booking flights, she recommends taking the first departure of the day.
She explains: ‘It’s always best to take the first flight of the day.
‘This is because in general, flights departing after 9am are twice more likely to be delayed than departures scheduled between 5am and 8am. To avoid travel disruption, fly as early in the morning as possible.’
Traveling early also applies to road travel as more backups will happen as the day goes on.
How to score a holiday flight deal
The cheapest days to depart will be December 19, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day
When it comes to domestic travel, Hayley Berg says the cheapest days to depart will be December 19, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and travelers can save up to 20 per cent or around $114 per ticket.
To return, Hayley recommends booking a flight on December 28.
She warns not to ‘wait too close to the weekend as prices will be higher for trips returning right before New Year’s Eve.’
December 26 will also be one of the most expensive days to return as ‘travelers will pay about $30 more to fly home right after Christmas.’
Plan ahead for disruptions
Travelers should expect delays over the holiday season, Hayley says, and make necessary preparations.
When you are making plans, she advises adding trip protection ‘and some travel providers, like Hopper, offer Flight Disruption Guarantee which allows you to rebook a new flight immediately, regardless of carrier, if you’re delayed, canceled by the airline or you miss a connection.’
She adds: ‘This is a foolproof way to ensure you get to your destination as quickly as possible, if your trip gets disrupted!’
Some plans, also allow you to instantly cancel or change your itineraries without incurring any additional fees.
If you can, Hayley recommends building in a buffer day as ‘this will allow for some wiggle room, should any delays or disruptions interfere with your travel plans.’
Arrive early and sign up for TSA PreCheck
Travel pros advise signing up for TSA PreCheck or CLEAR to skip the lines at busy airports
Experts from Expedia US say there are a number of things travelers can do to make the airport experience more pleasant.
Firstly, they recommend arriving as early as possible with at least 2 to 2.5 hours to spare before your boarding time.
For international flights, they recommend adding another hour on top of this.
Secondly, the travel pros advise signing up for TSA PreCheck or CLEAR to skip the lines at busy airports.
For new applicants, the TSA PreCheck fee costs $78 and appointments can be scheduled online.
Sara Rathner, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet, also reveals that some airlines offer expedited security access for an additional fee.
She explains: ‘United’s Premier Access offers exclusive security lanes, dedicated airport check-in lines and priority boarding starting at $15 per ticket.
‘Southwest’s Fly By Lane gets you access to the front of the ticket counter and security checkpoints at select airports. You get this when you buy a Business Select Fare or hold A-List or A-List Preferred Southwest elite status.’
Lastly, if possible, try to pack carry-on only.
An Expedia spokesperson told DailyMail.com: ‘I also always advise my friends and family to pack light and take a carry-on.
‘That way, there’s less chance your luggage gets lost in situations of delays or cancellations.’
Keep alert on the day you travel
Sign up for alerts and check flight status before you go to the airport, Hopper’s Hayley says to learn about delays and cancellations as early as possible.
She reveals: ‘On most U.S. carriers, passengers can sign up for text, email, and/or in-app notifications about any changes to their itinerary including delay and cancellations.
‘It’s also advisable to know what options you have available before you travel.
‘Be sure to check airline policies, many carriers will waive change fees if there is a weather advisory or give compensation/travel credit if your flight is canceled within a few hours of departure.’
What to do if you’re stranded
If you do get stranded, Hayley recommends adopting the ‘multitasking approach.’
She says: ‘The first thing you should do if your flight is canceled, is to get in line to speak with an airline representative at the same time you call the customer support center.
‘During a major disruption there can be hundreds of other travelers trying to get support from airline representatives at one time.
‘Get in line to speak with an agent in your terminal at the same time that you get on the phone to call the support center. Oftentimes an agent can reach you in the phone queue faster than an agent at the airport!’
If there aren’t any flights until the next day, Hayley recommends skipping the airport hotels and opting for something close by for better pricing and availability.
To get to your destination quicker, Hayley also suggests checking alternative airports or renting a car could also be an option.
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