12 Travel Bookings Every Smart Traveler Makes Before December 1st

2. Domestic Holiday Flights

Domestic holiday travel sees sharp price spikes for peak days, and seat selection is often first-come, first-served. Booking domestic flights before December 1st gives you access to a wider range of departure times and cabin choices. If you’re traveling around major holidays, consider midweek departures or red-eye flights to avoid the busiest travel windows. Use fare alerts and flexible-date searches to find lower fares on adjacent days, and lock in seats for long legs so your family sits together. Pay attention to checked-bag rules and carry-on restrictions, which vary by carrier and fare class and can add significant costs. If you have frequent flyer status, early booking increases the chances of confirmed upgrades. Finally, check airport crowds and TSA wait-time trends for your origin and destination to plan arrival time on travel day.