In its study on best days to book holiday travel, Orbitz researchers found:
We analyzed a big chunk of Orbitz booking data to determine the three best days to book holiday travel for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. The results? Looks like your magic numbers this year are 6, 9 and 10 (of October, that is). So you’d better hurry: This year’s secret week to book is coming up fast.
The lower fares were 5% below average fares. The average fares were in line with the average for those booking for the three holidays. The higher fares were 5% above average.
The worst days were those clustered closest to the holidays. The longer people wait, the more they pay.
If Orbitz takes a portion of every ticket price, and its main alliances are with the airline carriers, a release of the data would seem to be bad for business. On the other hand, a rush to book tickets soon does lock people in to travel by air. People who wait until closer to the holiday may elect to drive, take buses or trains, or walk. The risk of letting travelers know when to get the best ticket price may offset the low yield from lower fares.
Methodology: In a 2015 Orbitz Holiday Travel study, 71% of adults 18 to 64 said they will travel for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s. That’s 6% more than last year. Of those who are traveling, about 30% said they already have booked a flight or hotel for one or more of these holidays.
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