With Thanksgiving just 20 days away, now is the time to score airline ticket deals for both domestic and foreign flights. With plenty of time to plan a last minute getaway for Turkey Day, or for those trying to plan Christmas in advance, these travel experts' tips will help guide anyone looking for a little escape this holiday season.
“The good news is there are a lot of deals happening this year, especially internationally,” Brian Kelly, CEO and founder of The Points Guy, told “Good Morning America” on Friday. “This will likely be the busiest holiday travel season ever. We were up 9% at the start of the month and since the election we've seen a huge surge in interest.”
Busiest travel day for Thanksgiving 2024, tips and deals for booking last-minute international destinations
For those traveling during Thanksgiving week, Kelly noted that “Wednesday through Sunday will be the most expensive time to travel,” but he shared some great deals tracked by The Points Guy team for anyone interested in a last minute getaway.
Thanksgiving in the Caribbean for less than $340
Points Guy Founder and CEO Brian Kelly shared tips for saving on vacation travel with “GMA.”
ABC News
With Cayman Islands airfare deals starting at just $330 from New York, Kelly suggested this Caribbean hotspot.
Tokyo for less than $800
In this undated file photo, autumn leaves of Koishikawa Korakuen and the Shinjuku skyscraper district are shown in Tokyo.
STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images.
“If you want to go further afield, I love Japan and Tokyo is an amazing destination all year round. November and December can be a little chilly, so just bring a coat,” he suggested.
Flights from Charlotte to Tokyo start at $776 round-trip on Delta Air Lines, representing a price drop of nearly 34% compared to the same time last year.
Adventure or luxury in Costa Rica
For anyone on the West Coast who wants to get away, Kelly said there are flights on Avianca from Los Angeles for “under $350 to go to Costa Rica, which is a great adventure destination “.
“New luxury resorts have opened there,” he added. “So, lots of different options.”
In this undated file photo, autumn leaves of Koishikawa Korakuen and the Shinjuku skyscraper district are shown in Tokyo.
STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images.
Last Minute Flight Deals to USA for Thanksgiving Holiday 2024
In this undated file photo, the Denver skyline is shown in autumn in a view from City Park.
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For those who think they've missed the chance to find an affordable rate in the US, Kelly said: “The deals are out there, don't assume it's all gone in less than three weeks.”
JetBlue and Southwest both offer flights from Denver to Boston for less than $200, down almost 57% from the same time last year.
In this undated file photo, a plane lands at Lihue Airport in Kauai, Hawaii.
STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images
“Even for New Yorkers who want to get away to Miami, you would think it could be very expensive,” he said, adding that right now, United offers flights to Miami for “ less than $150.
United and American Airlines also offer fares starting at $358 from Dallas to Hawaii for anyone looking for a passport-free tropical getaway.
Points Guy Founder and CEO Brian Kelly shared tips for saving on vacation travel with “GMA.”
ABC News
Track Thanksgiving Flights to Save Money with Google Flights and Discover the Most Searched Destinations
Kelly said you “need to learn how to shop” for good deals and recommended using tools like Google Flights.
“You actually don't book through Google Flights, but it will search all the different airlines,” he said. “They now include Southwest Airlines in the results.”
In this Nov. 22, 2022, file photo, passengers pass through the Delta terminal at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York.
Samuel Rigelhaupt/Sipa USA via AP, FILE
Google too analysis the most searched destinations for Thanksgiving 2024, which featured Orlando, Cancun, New York, Tokyo and London in the top five spots, with others on Kelly's list above, as well as Honolulu and San Juan.
Kelly also said now is a good time for people to use their credit card points because “airlines are opening more seats than ever.”
“There are lots of different ways to use points. I use a tool called points.me,” he said. “It will tell you if you have credit card points and where to transfer them to get the most out of them.”
When to book Christmas flights 2024: ideal price right now
“Six weeks of vacation is the sweet spot domestically,” Kelly said of the Christmas booking window for U.S. destinations.
However, he stressed that “these are only rough rules” and that one should never assume that there are no more agreements.
“Often, airlines still open seats at the last minute. Even the same week,” he said. “If you find out you can quit your job, don't assume it's going to be ridiculously expensive.”
How to use the Google Flights Explore map to find cheap plane tickets for your vacation
Kelly also “highly recommends” people use the Google Flights Explore map. “If you know the dates you can go, put, say, New York in the Caribbean, and it will show you a map of all the Caribbean islands so you can choose the one with the cheapest flights.”
He also suggests using both Google Flights' calendar and map features to see which airports, dates, and destinations have the lowest fares.
From the Google Flights home page on a computer, you can click “explore destinations” and select a departure city without adding a destination. Then zoom out on the map to see the best prices for destinations around the world.
