Don’t try to wing Thanksgiving air travel.
The Vacationer, a travel company, sampled hundreds of flights across the US to determine the best and worst days to travel for Thanksgiving this year.
The report found that the worst days to get around that week are Nov. 22 and Nov. 26.
The best days to depart are Nov. 20-21 and Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23), while Black Friday (Nov. 24) and Nov. 27-28 are the optimal days to return home.
The Vacationer stresses that wannabe travelers should book their tickets as early as possible for the best prices.
Experts from the travel site suggest booking domestic flights at least one to three months in advance — meaning that Thanksgiving flights should be confirmed by late August or early September.
If you’re looking to become an international jet setter, flights should be purchased two to eight months before the desired departure date.
Trips around the holidays should always be booked further in advance to avoid headaches.
Air travel has been especially hectic post-pandemic, with flight cancellations and delays the norm, leaving weary travelers stranded.
Once you’ve coordinated your travel dates, the next step is to pick the day to purchase the ticket.
Researchers from Expedia scoured thousands of flights from the Airlines Reporting Corporation’s database to find the prime day to hit “purchase.”
Sunday is typically the best day for savvy savers to book a flight, according to the experts, with seat prices usually at their lowest of the week.
Conversely, plane tickets tend to cost the most on Fridays, as interest in travel usually soars close to the weekend.
Experts say fliers who book a domestic flight on a Sunday can save an average of 8%.
And those booking an overseas adventure can save a whopping 13% by booking on a Sunday as opposed to a Friday.
But while the Seventh Day might be the cheapest day to book a flight, it’s the most expensive day to take to the skies.