Tips for Coping with Record High Air Fares and packed planes

(Dive Travel Business News - Nov 10, 2011) -- Pundits are warning travelers that air travel will not only be more costly this holiday season, it will also be more crowded.  The national average airfare for Thanksgiving travel is US$383, according to Priceline.com. Only once in the past eight years have fares been higher, in 2007, when it was $385. The average airfare for Christmas is projected at $444. It was only $361 seven years ago. Orbitz is reporting that some major routes are up to 30 percent higher this holiday season compared to a year ago.

News agency Reuters reports that higher prices are a reflection of lower supply. The airlines have reduced capacity this past year by cutting routes, pulling back scheduled service and using smaller planes. The Air Transport Association reports that airlines are expected to be 90 percent full. But according to several surveys, people are starting to travel again with Thanksgiving travel estimated to be an increase of 3.5% over last year.

Busiest flying days during the Christmas Season are projected to be Dec. 23 and Dec. 26. Orbitz reports that the most expensive day to fly will be Dec. 26.

Here are some tips for travelers.

DATES:  Reduce your airfare by being choosy with your travel dates. Pick days when fewer people are flying and the fares will be cheaper.  The lightest days to fly over Thanksgiving are November 22, 23, 25 and 30, while during the Christmas holidays the lightest days are Dec. 20, 21, 24, 28, 29, 31 and Jan 1, 2011.

TIME:  Travelers will find the most affordable seats departing early in the morning (5-7 a.m.) or late evening (after 8 p.m.). Most expensive times to travel are the peak business travel hours (8-10 a.m. and 5-7 p.m.).

--- Sign up for travel newsletters that offer travel deals.

--- Use the services of travel pros who have access to airline deals.

---Try to book smaller airports which are less crowded and often offer cheaper flights.

--- If you have airline miles sitting around, try to use them, although it can be difficult at holiday times.

--- If traveling with gifts, don't wrap them as wrapped gifts are not screener-friendly. Or better yet, if you can, send them ahead. Gifts add to higher baggage fees.

In the near future, the question will not be "can I get a travel deal?" but "can I get space?" Travelers need to lower their expectations, grin and bare traveling this holiday season and be thankful for a seat.

** This RSS Feed is brought to you by www.DiveTravelBusinessNews.com **