Despite the rush, there are some things you can do to make Thanksgiving travel a little cheaper — and maybe even a little less stressful. “There are plenty of other busy days during the year. It’s really not Armageddon,” says Brian Kelly, the founder and CEO of travel site The Points Guy. “If you go into Thanksgiving travel thinking it’s going to be hysteria, you’re already giving in to the hype.”
1. Travel on Thanksgiving Day
It might not always be a desirable option, but it’s usually cheaper to fly on an actual holiday than the days preceding it — and airports are often less busy then too.
In the 12-day period Airlines for America considers “Thanksgiving travel,” the least busy is projected to be Thanksgiving Day, with 1.4 million air travelers expected compared with 2.35 million the day before.
George Hobica, the founder of travel site Airfarewatchdog, suggests flying Thanksgiving morning. “The airports are like ghost airports,” he says. “It’s much more relaxed.”
Since you’ll be cutting it close to make it by Thanksgiving dinner, Kelly of The Points Guy suggests booking the first flights available on that day, which are less likely to be affected by delays or cancellations.
And though you might miss watching the Macy’s Parade, at least no one will ask you to mash potatoes or set the table.
2. Send gifts ahead of time
The holidays are a particularly good time to travel light, as some airlines charge slightly higher baggage fees during peak travel periods.
Frontier Airlines charges $5 to $10 more for carry-on and checked bags during peak travel (which includes this holiday season), depending on whether you check in online or at the airport. Spirit Airlines will charge $2 extra per checked bag this holiday season.
Frontier Airlines’ President Barry Biffle says recent criticism of Frontier Airlines for this practice was unwarranted and a “mischaracterization” of their pricing, which even including checked-bag fees is often lower than that of other major airlines.
In an emailed statement, Spirit Airlines spokesman Paul Berry attributed Spirit’s $2 charge to the added demand for checked bags during holidays and the summer months, which means added costs for airlines handling that demand. Rather than distributing that cost among all passengers, Spirit prefers to charge only those who are checking bags, Berry said.
When possible, avoid checking a bag at all to avoid having to pay checked-bag fees, says Chris Lopinto, the president and co-founder of ExpertFlyer.com. “If you don’t need to bring it on a plane, don’t bring it on a plane,” he says. “If you’re just going for the holiday weekend, you shouldn’t be packing that much anyway.”
To that end, don’t plan to bring gifts for family members in your luggage. Instead, send them in the mail before you arrive, he suggests. You’ll also avoid the risk that TSA will unwrap a present during a luggage check.
3. Turn your bag into a tiny billboard
Still, bringing a few bags is sometimes unavoidable, and if you don’t mind turning your suitcases into advertisements, a new company called Orion Travel Technologies will pay your baggage fees.
The program won’t be available this Thanksgiving, but starting in February 2016, Orion will give travelers plastic suitcases outfitted with advertisements for free, and pay the travelers’ baggage fees on $50 reloadable gift cards. More than 100,000 travelers have signed up, says Orion’s founder and CEO Gary German.
There’s no limit to how many times each year the program can be used. Customers will be able to choose what they’re promoting from about 12 different options, including insurance, cellular data and entertainment companies, which Orion will announce soon, German says.
If you’re not into the idea of having the Geico lizard as a traveling companion, Kelly also suggests looking into airline-branded credit cards because many come with waived baggage fees. And for discounted carriers that charge extra for bags during the peak season, at least pay for checked baggage online; many charge even more when you pay at check-in.
4. Choose your airport carefully
According to Airlines for America, the busiest airports for Thanksgiving travel are expected to be (in order):
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
2. Los Angeles International Airport ( LAX)
3. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
4. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
5. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
6. Denver International Airport (DEN)
7. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
8. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
9. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
10. Miami International Airport (MIA)
Avoiding these airports might be the wrong idea though, Kelly says. Larger airports are better prepared for busy days and have the infrastructure to support additional passengers, when smaller airports might not.
If you’re traveling from an unfamiliar airport, make sure you know its layout before you travel so you don’t lose time trying to navigate, according to Ed Hewitt, a contributing editor for ndependentTraveler.com.
5. Streamline your boarding process
You can also cut down on time in airport lines by completing your check-in process before you travel, whether on your airline’s app or website, Lopinto says. Because different airlines have different rules for boarding — for example, on Southwest LUV, -1.02% you must check in to secure a boarding position — check well in advance what your airline’s policy is, he says.
Frequent travelers might also want to apply for TSA PreCheck, which costs $85 and lasts for five years. If you’re approved, you’ll go through airport security faster and won’t have to remove shoes, light jackets, laptops or belts.
To apply for TSA PreCheck, travelers must fill out an application — online or in person at an application center — and make an appointment at an application center to show the required documentation and give fingerprints.
6. Upgrade your airport experience
Because business travel is less frequent over holidays, it might make sense to travel business- or first-class instead of overpaying for coach, Kelly says, especially because perks often include free checked bags and priority boarding, which can reduce travel stress.
Holiday travel can also be a good time to take advantage of access to airport lounges, which are often available as a perk for travel-branded credit cards. In addition to complimentary food and beverages, you’ll have quick access to staff who can help you rebook a flight in case of delays or cancellations, Kelly says.
7. Travel abroad
Holidays like Thanksgiving are also great times to check out fares for vacations out of the country, which may be low because of decreased U.S. demand during these times, says Airfarewatchdog’s Hobica. And just like domestic flights, if you’re flexible on dates, and even willing to leave on Thanksgiving Day, you may be able to book an international flight inexpensively, Lopinto says.
Kelly suggests looking into frequent flier discounts during this off-peak period, particularly for flights to Europe, which should be less expensive than during summer travel.
American Airlines, for example, offers a discount in miles during “off peak” travel, which will save travelers to Europe 20,000 miles from Oct. 15 to May 15.
Plus, the excitement about the destination might offset the annoyance of any baggage fees, Hobica adds. “If you’re going to get shafted anyway, you might as well go someplace exotic.”
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