Travelocity Tells Travelers How to Win at Thanksgiving Travel

DALLAS, Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Traditionally, Thanksgiving marks the time of year when families gather to celebrate and reconnect. It is also the time of year when the most people hit the road or head to the airport – which can all too often mean high prices and undue aggravation for those travelers who have not planned ahead. By leveraging its data and travel expertise, Travelocity® is helping people to navigate this challenging travel season with information and tools designed to help expert and novice travelers alike.

Best Days to Fly 
Looking back at the 2014 Thanksgiving travel season, Travelocity data shows that the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest day to fly, followed closely by two days before Thanksgiving. However, travelers with some flexibility in their schedule can beat the crowds by looking at alternate travel dates. If vacation schedules allow for it, look to travel three days before Thanksgiving, when 2014 Travelocity data suggests that about two-thirds fewer people travel than on peak travel days.

Another great option to avoid the crowds is to travel on Thanksgiving Day. With only about one third as many people traveling on Thanksgiving Day versus the peak travel days earlier in the week, it is a less obvious day to travel, but with a little advance planning, travelers can enjoy a low-stress journey and still make it to their destination in plenty of time for a Thanksgiving Day feast.

Finding the Best Travel Deals
While airfares can change rapidly – especially during peak travel times like Thanksgiving – current Travelocity airfare data shows that, on average, the least expensive days to book during this year's Thanksgiving travel season are for a departure on November 24 and a return on November 30, closely followed by a departure on November 25 and return on November 30. According to Travelocity data, a round trip for these dates is currently about 30 percent  less than the average itinerary during the Thanksgiving travel season.

To make it easier for travelers to find the best fares for their specific origins and destinations, Travelocity is introducing its Travelocity Thanksgiving Fare Finder tool at travelocity.com/thanksgiving-flights, which allows travelers to find the best priced itinerary for popular origin and destination choices. For the best fares to and from other destinations, visit travelocity.com/thanksgiving for all of Travelocity's best Thanksgiving deals.

Thanksgiving Survival Guide
The travel experts at Travelocity have compiled their top hints for a stress-free Thanksgiving journey into a pocket-sized Thanksgiving Survival Guide, which can be downloaded for free at http://www.travelocity.com/inspire/travelocitys-thanksgiving-survival-guide. Among the handy tips included on this card are:

1. Pack only a carry-on bag to save time (no waiting to check a bag or at baggage claim) and avoid baggage fees (which can start at $25 and go up from there). Check your airline's website for a full list of potential fees – some may charge for carry-on luggage. Don't forget to pack your own snacks to save money at the airport, too!
2. Check-in online 24-hours in advance and make sure that you've received a seat assignment. Also, familiarize yourself with how your airline's boarding procedure works and know your boarding zone to avoid causing traffic at the gate.
3. Stay updated with mobile apps (e.g. TripCase or FlightAware) to receive real-time travel updates in case of gate changes or delays. If your flight is cancelled, immediately get in line at the airport to talk to gate or ticket agent for the next available flight and check for availability at nearby airport hotels using booking applications on your phone like Travelocity's app in case you need to stay overnight. 

Additionally, Travelocity has created a video highlighting the best ways to pack a carry-on bag for Thanksgiving travels. This video can be found at http://www.travelocity.com/inspire/packing-made-easy. 

Contact: 
Jina Michael
Citizen Relations for Travelocity
310-698-9009
[email protected]

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SOURCE Travelocity

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