Question for Beverly-Again a Thanksgiving question!!!!!

[pnelson]

I know this has been asked before and I know you stated that for Thanksgiving travel people should plan on booking 330 days out and not waiting for sales. Since I am planning for Thanksgiving 2002 I am looking at what is happening this year. I notice that on some major airlines-Delta and United-their Thanksgiving flights for this year are not sold out yet. Do you think this is unusual? If I have to book 340 days out, I would have to book sometime in January 2002. But since I noticed there not sold out this year, I would rather wait and book my flight later in 2002. Also, I am flying out redeye-Maybe that makes a difference?????

Am I making sense? By the way, be prepared for tons more questions when it gets closer to booking my trip!!!

 

[Beverly Lynn]

there are people that travel every year for thanksgiving. these people book the day they are allowed to by the carrier. they pay whatever fare is there on that date and then when the fare goes down they get the refund voucher. now I am not saying everyone does this but 75% do. the first date to sell out is the sunday after thanksgiving. if you are going to be traveling during the time of the whole week of thanksgiving and that sunday I would suggest getting your tkt asap. which for 2002 you still have a lot of time and those flights aren't even in yet. if you were able to get actual bookings on those carriers mentioned you would find how booked they already are.

 

[AllanJ]

People book 11 or so months in advance for Thanksgiving to get the cheapest fares. I suspect some of these folks are college students, they often pretty much know their schedule and travel plans that far in advance.

In many areas the Sunday after Thanksgiving is far from full, just the cheapest seats are all gone ten months in advance. From Boston on Delta, for example, based on seat selection charts, nonstops on Saturday evening after Thanksgiving is much fuller than Sunday evening as we speak (both now have the prevailing fare twice the cheapest).

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[Beverly Lynn]

actually if you want to buy now for something 330 days out you will not get the best fare. you will get the lowest available for the time that you book. meaning the day you buy it. for example I I were to book now for say next april or may pit to mco it would be 196.50 - 204.50 while the sales will come out closer to that time frame and the fares will be anywhere from 129 - 150 round trip. that is the lowest price as well as the best. buying early will get you the seat. and the sunday after thanksgiving has been historically the most single heavily traveled day of the year and the day that each and every carrier gives out the most DBC's. in fact this info has even been on the news and 20/20 etc. and having had the wonderful chance to work at the airport and reservations for over 14 yrs I have had first hand experience as well.( my 15 yr anniversary is soon coming up now that I think about it! wow!)

 

[AllanJ]

Getting the ultimate lowest fare for really popular dates is a matter of luck. If you are flexible on travel dates on the other hand, it is better to wait until fares "go on sale" a.k.a. a fare war has started.

When I booked for Thanksgiving 2001 on Delta in early January my planned trip returning from Disney to Boston Sunday after was $280 while returning Saturday after was $230. which was then their "everyday low price" but not "on sale", for any dates. (I booked Saturday). Since then Deta fares have bounced up and down a number of times, however neither the Sat. or Sun. after Thanx. was included in the fare sale. (or maybe they were for five minutes when someone snagged the one or two seats in the lowest class that someone else had just cancelled.) Today's lowest fare for other dates, for example is $169. Boston to Orlando nonstop.

I could get a voucher if fares drop below $230. for my trip between now and Thanx. but I kinda doubt I will be that lucky.

 

[caitycaity]

I always fly to Syracuse for thanksgiving, and for the past 5 years I have always waited to book until mid-Setember. I always seem to find something good. I'm not saying this will work for everyone, but USair, United and other airlines have a lot of stuff open still. I've never encountered exorbitantly high fares or sell-outs. Perhaps it is just my luck.

 

[Tiffany]

Hi,

I just read through this thread. I have a question. My husband and I have just decided that we want to go to WDW from Thanksgiving Day 2002 through Sat Dec 7th, 2002.

How is travel on Thanksgiving Day?

Do you think we will be able to use our Skymiles? I checked the Delta Web Site and Thanksgiving Day is not a blackout date.

We usualy book as far our as possiable so booking 330 days in advance is not an issue for us.

Any and all opinions wanted.

 

[AllanJ]

When using SkyMiles (or any other frequent flyer plan) you should book as far in advance as you can and as is permitted. (Usually 330 days is as many as the airline permits.)

While a date might not be blacked out, there may still be a very small number of seats on any given plane that award travelers may reserve. If you are too late to get in on this allotment, additional seats may be allotted later a few at a time and then you get into the game of checking back every "coupla" days which is a hassle.

 

[Tiffany]

Thanks AllanJ.

Have you ever traveled on Thanksgiving Day? We are a little concerned about this. We have never traveled on a Holiday before.