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(CNN) - While there are many tips on what are the best times to buy plane tickets to have a more affordable vacation, it's hard to escape from reality: flying during some of the busiest travel periods of the year usually doesn't it is cheap.
In this era of full airplanes, smaller seats and fees for additional legroom, which airline will offer cheap fares around Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year? Common commercial sense dictates that high prices will follow high demand.
What are travelers doing that extend travel in addition to driving or taking the train to reach their destinations? CNN verified with experts on air tickets on traditional ways to mitigate high prices.
- The secrets of plane tickets: how to get the best option
Buy your tickets soon
If you fly on holidays, it can be much easier to go through airport security processes. (Credit: Spencer Platt / Getty Images)
If you haven't bought your plane tickets yet, it's time to do it.
"Those who want to travel on holidays should make their plans now and start booking flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas as early as September 25 to get the best deals and availability," said Mark Jenkins, spokeswoman for AAA - The Auto Club Group– in a statement. "Knowing when to book and what days to fly can help travelers effectively manage their budget and avoid crowds."
Travelers who book between 28 and 60 days before Thanksgiving week, that is, between September 25 and October 27, can get a good price ($ 491 on average), according to AAA.
If you want to arrive before the holidays, traveling on Monday is the best option. It has the lowest average ticket price (US $ 486) before the holidays.
Actually, flying during the holidays offers the lowest average price per ticket (US $ 454) while Tuesday (US $ 521) and Wednesday (US $ 527) before holidays are expensive days and the busiest days says AAA. There is also the possibility that bad weather ruins your Christmas holiday plans.
Christmas and New Year
Generally, Christmas and the New Year work very similarly to Thanksgiving Day: high demand, high prices. Again, flying out of peak dates is your best option.
While booking a Thanksgiving trip, you can also book air tickets for Christmas and New Year. AAA says that booking between September 26 and October 25 is better for Christmas flight reservations, with lower than average prices (US $ 551) compared to the previous reservation.
Travelers who fly on Christmas Eve enjoy the least crowded day of the year, with the lowest average ticket prices (US $ 527), says AAA.
But you better buy that return ticket or a new flight for New Year with caution, since December 26 has the highest average price of the week ($ 692).
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Like the rest of the year, many fares fluctuate during the period prior to the holiday travel season, says Tracy Stewart, editor of the Airfarewatchdog.com airfare deals site.
How do you know if the price of your route will go down before going back up? The site recommends that travelers register to receive rate alerts. You can receive information about the general cost of your flights and you will receive an email when fares drop.
"If you see a good rate, take them," says Stewart. "The only thing that our data clearly shows is that if you wait until the last minute, you will pay dearly."
See alternate airports
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the largest in the city, but has other options to consider when booking a flight. (Credit: David McNew / Getty Images)
The airport you use can make a difference as soon as you spend.
Always look for optional airports: the New York / New Jersey area has five airports, as well as Los Angeles.
Houston and Chicago have two each. And remember to check Southwest.com in addition to Kayak or other search engines. (Not all airlines are on travel sites).
On some supercompetitive routes (for example Chicago-New York), there will always be "a few scattered seats and flight schedules that will go on sale," he says.
Don't forget the rates
Don't forget to consider additional fees, such as checked baggage, when calculating travel costs. (Credit: PAUL J. RICHARDS / AFP / Getty Images)
Remember to consider baggage fees, additional leg room rates and food purchases before booking flights. Airline credit card holders can get free checked luggage and other benefits.
Be sure to consider your ground transportation costs as well, considering that public trains often take people faster to cities than private cars (for example in Washington, Atlanta, San Francisco) and Lyft and Uber fares They may vary depending on when you book them.
The impact of 737 Max
The grounding of Boeing 737 Max airplanes may not have a big impact because those airplanes do not represent a large percentage of global capacity. But Hopper travel application expert Hayley Berg says that there may be less capacity and therefore less competition from carriers, on a particular route.
Other tips
Check the status of flights - It is quite easy to download your airline and airport applications for your trip. You can detect weather delays and even rebook at some sites. (Have a phone charger and an additional battery to call your airline).
Insurance - Travel insurance is good business if you are worried about the weather or the unpredictable diseases of winter (read the fine print to see what it covers you).
Early risers - It is less likely that there will be delays in the early hours of the morning, but you also have more options if your flight is canceled. You will sleep less by getting up earlier, but you can also avoid crowds and misery.
Delay per week - Orbitz also notes that rates, along with hotel rooms, often drop a lot the week after Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
Gifts - If you fly to see your family, you can send your gifts instead of taking them on the plane. That saves discomfort and additional fees (You can even wrap them in grandma's house).
Be global - International air fares can be a good deal for Americans at this time of year. So, if your family can move the Christmas celebration to spring, then you can travel on these dates.
Airlines