Searching for holiday tickets is painful. We don’t need to tell you that. The longer you wait to get a last-minute ticket for Thanksgiving or Christmas, the more money you’re going to spend. If you’re waiting 1-2 weeks before the holidays, the tickets go up to $1200 or more. That’s ridiculous.
Paying that much money to sit through stops, layovers, and deal with bad service is absolutely inexcusable. You’re probably already thinking this, and we agree with you whole-heartedly.
That’s where smart shopping comes in.
There are ways to deal with holiday travel that are a little less expensive and painful. They aren’t going to be for everyone, but if you’re looking to avoid the unpleasant commercial flight experience, you’ll benefit from some of these.
Take a Train
Fun during the holidays? Not necessarily, but hear us out. Amtrak actually offers overnight cabins for fairly reasonable prices. It will take a little longer to get where you’re going, but the cabins are actually comfortable and far more accommodating than squishing into a plane. It’s definitely something to consider – particularly if you can take a little time getting there and need a little “alone” time.
Discount Sites
Even if you typically book with one airline and rack up on miles, it might make sense to check online for cheaper plane tickets using sites like Kayak.com, Travelocity.com or Priceline.com. There are a few places you can look. It might make sense for you to check out these sites for lower priced tickets as opposed to relying on frequent flyer miles.
Ask for Discounts
Many airlines run discounts around the holidays that you don’t even know you can take advantage of. AAA discounts, and situational discounts are always possible, and it’s worth making a call to the airline. If you’re experiencing a personal emergency that requires a bereavement ticket or discount, you can ask about that as well. It doesn’t hurt to take a few minutes of your time to see what else might be available.
Consider Luxury Travel
Traveling coach is terrible, and first class isn’t always the best experience during the holidays. Chartering a plane can often be a time consuming and expensive enterprise. Fortunately, there’s Kavoo. Luxury travel that you can book just like an air taxi can be a really convenient alternative to jam-packed holiday travel. Looking into something that will save you time and provide a luxury experience just makes sense.
Holiday travel is not any fun, but there are steps you can take to minimize the cost and the pain. Think about time-saving alternatives that can get you there faster and help you ride in style. After dealing with the stress of the holidays, you definitely deserve a break.
