With the holiday months just around the corner, it doesn’t hurt to start planning your trip for the next big family get-together. Travelling during Thanksgiving or Christmas can be an exhausting and stressful experience, full of equally tense crowds. The best way to get through your holiday travels is to prepare well in advance!

Plan Your Booking

The most important step when preparing for your upcoming trip is to book your flight at the perfect time. Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that can influence a plane ticket’s price. It’s unlikely that you’ll get the best deal possible, but there are ways to increase the likelihood of purchasing a ticket at the low end of the scale.

• Avoid peak travel days. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year. Everyone is taking the day to travel to their holiday destination. If possible, try to fly out early in the week or even on Thanksgiving Day, when crowds are significantly less dense.
• Shop around. Some online travel sites offer better deals than the airlines themselves. Be sure to compare multiple flight plans before committing.
• Buy on the right day. Most airports list upcoming flights on a particular cycle. Some, for example, might put up new listings on Tuesdays. Being able to predict when more tickets will go on sale gives you more options and helps avoid hefty fees.
• Travel early or late in the day. Most people will choose a flight that leaves at a reasonable time in the late morning or early afternoon. By booking a flight that leaves when everyone else is sleeping, you can avoid some of the crowds.

Pack Wisely

No matter how long your holiday trip will be, it’s always more convenient to travel with as little luggage as possible. For one, fitting everything in a carry-on means you won’t have to worry about your luggage being lost or damaged in transit. With so many people travelling at the same time, the chances of something going wrong increase significantly.

On a more optimistic note, travelling light allows you to pack extra goodies for the journey home! Just be sure you can safely transport food between your destinations.

Arrive Early

It’s always recommended you show up at the airport anywhere from one to two hours before your flight is scheduled to leave. This is the one rule you shouldn’t forget during the holiday season. The increased traffic can lead to a number of unforeseen circumstances. The earlier you arrive for your flight, the more time you have to handle unexpected problems. Best-case scenario, you’ll have more than enough time to unwind at your gate before boarding!

Hassle-Free DFW Parking

The first step to any successful vacation is getting to the airport, but airport parking can be a hassle of its own. Freedom Park Airport Valet provides a fast, friendly no-wait valet parking experience, saving you time and ensuring your vehicle is safe while you travel. We even offer a number of additional vehicle services so your car is in peak condition when you return. Contact us today for more information.