When To Book Thanksgiving Flights 2018

It's never too early to start planning when turkey is involved

Friendsgiving potlucks in crowded apartments were fun the first year you moved away home, but after the third year of boxed stuffing and powdered gravy, there's nothing like traveling home to Thanksgiving food made by Mom. Thankfully, flying across the country for just the weekend doesn't always have to put you in rent-week mode for the rest of the year.

After taking a look at flight trends from the last holiday season, travel search engine Skyscanner learned that the week of August 27 is the best time to book a flight home for Thanksgiving this year. The data analyzed flights departing between the Friday before Thanksgiving and Turkey Day itself, and returning between Black Friday and the following Sunday.

Thankfully, if you're a procrastinator you still have a chance to indulge your family's famous pumpkin pie: The week of October 1 is also prime time to book tickets before they soar in price. Time to brush up on the latest politics and prepare for your annual Thanksgiving argument with your third cousin twice removed.

This article was originally published by Andrew Bui on August 8, 2017, and was updated by Abby Reisner on August 23, 2018.