By Kelly O'Connell Reporter
News 3 On Your Side
Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away and Christmas isn’t far either. News 3 On Your Side
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Stumble It!The holiday season means travel time for many and this year that means paying the big bucks for flights.
Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year and with Christmas following shortly after airlines can raise the prices of their airfares because the demand is so high.
It seems every year flights during the holiday season get more and more expensive.
So what can travelers expect this year?
We went to find out.
Thanksgiving is only twenty days away and if you're planning on traveling, you might want to start saving.
“Everything now is already booked, the secret for getting a good deal, and good values for the holiday season is to book early,” says Laura Schelling of Preferred Vacations in Columbus.
And really early.
Schelling is a vacation consultant for Preferred Vacations in Columbus.
She suggests booking your flight up to 9 months in advance.
“Unfortunately the days of last minute deals and things like that are in the past,” says Schelling.
It seems prices keep going up.
Schelling says after 9-11, airfares went down because people were nervous to fly.
But now, that's not the case.
“That's been several years now, everything is going full, people aren't afraid anymore, travel is increasingly on the rise, people go, hey everyone is traveling, we're going to bring the prices back up to where they are suppose to be,” says Schelling.
If you haven't bought your ticket yet, there are some tips to get the best deal.
First travel agents say, try Monday through Wednesday, the earlier in the week, the cheaper the flights.
Also, leave before noon or after 8 pm.
And it's not always how far that matters.
“A lot of people think distance is going to affect your air and it isn't,” says Schelling.
Schelling says it's the population of the location, fuel cost and the number of passengers for the flight that affects what you pay.
Another helpful tip, track your flight after you buy it.
If the cost of your flight goes down, some airlines will reimburse you.
All these tips will help, but your best bet is to plan ahead.
“The last minute thing is very very rare anymore, it’s always, always best to book in advance,” says Schelling.
Another very helpful trip for those travelers who want to sit in first class but don't want to pay and arm and a leg… buy coach ticket and then when you get to the gate ask if you can be upgraded to first class.
If there is room, you usually only have to pay a minimal fee, much less than the cost of first class ticket.
Schelling also advices her customers to use a travel agent or the actual airline when booking a flight.
She says the internet travel sites are helpful, but when you are actually buying the ticket, you should go directly through the airline so there is not a third party involved.
