When Is The Best Time To Book All Your Holiday Flights?

I know, I know, it’s September and thinking about your holiday travel plans is like asking a 4-year-old what they want to be when they grow up—pointless, funny, and wayyyy too far in the future. But, what if I told you there was never a better time than now to get those plans in order? What if I told you you could actually save money (and time) down the line?

Thanks to Google Flights and its holiday season flight trend tracker, the answers you seek are just a few clicks away. The interactive feature allows its users to determine when the most cost-effective time to book a flight is. This particular one is Thanksgiving-centric and charts the cost of flights between various cities on the days leading up to the holiday.

Flying from New York to Miami on Nov. 22? Here’s when you should buy your ticket. Are you trying to get back to Chicago from Los Angeles the day after Turkey day? You could find a flight for as little as $170, if you book at the right time.

Holiday travels can be stressful, but that doesn’t have to be the case. “Early September is the sweet spot for booking your Thanksgiving travel,” Thijs van As, a product manager for Google Flights, recently told Condé Nast Traveler. So, if it’s a deal you chase, there’s no better time than now to start peeking around. Who knows what you’ll find?

Words by Valerio Farris at Food52

[Photo via @negin_mirsalehi]