The Thanksgiving holiday is undoubtedly the busiest travel time of the year.
Making travel arrangements can be very stressful. If you are hoping to make it back for a home-cooked meal, you are among the million other Americans! That means there’s no incentive for the airlines to offer any kind of deal. Additionally, the Thanksgiving holiday is notorious for transportation delays, traffic and travel snags. With a bit of foresight and some travel planning, you can simplify travel plans whether you are going home for the holiday or making a “getaway” vacation.
Regardless of your destination, you will be thankful for these tips to help navigate your Thanksgiving travel plans:
Plan Ahead
Sign up for alerts from your preferred airlines. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook where special sale notifications may pop-up before they are available to the general public.
Be Flexible
Since Thanksgiving always falls on a Thursday, you can expect Wednesday and Sunday to be the busiest and most expensive travel days. Hipmunk recommends departing on Monday and returning on Friday to avoid the crowds. Look for deals by flying on Thanksgiving Day itself. There’s no point in waiting to buy tickets because prices generally won’t go down. Google Flights is a helpful tool to see the cheapest days you can fly.
Consider Alternate Airports
Search multiple airports in the region you are traveling to and from. Generally your first choice would be your nearest airport but also check out regional airports which may be lower in cost.
Allow Sufficient Time
Travelers should allow sufficient time when going to the airport during Thanksgiving. Passengers should also check with their carrier before leaving home to make sure their flight will be departing on schedule. During Thanksgiving, Concorde Worldwide transportation suggests travelers arrive three hours before scheduled departure time on domestic flights and four hours before international flights.
Charge All Devices
Traveling during Thanksgiving may take longer than expected. Therefore, make sure all your electronics are fully charged. Alternatively, consider picking up portable charges which will provide extra power for your trip.
Prepare for Long Security Lines
Budget extra time! Thanksgiving travel has the longest security lines. The TSA has some top tips for airport security line wait-times and when TSA Pre√ are available at your airport.
Download Mobile Apps
Most airlines have mobile websites that allow passengers to check-in as well as confirm seats and keep track of their flight status. Also, take advantage of useful apps like GateGuru. This app provides gate and restaurant information in addition to ATM and shopping locations. TripIt is another useful app that forwards confirmation emails from airline, hotels and more directly to TriIt. The app will instantly organize it all into a single trip itinerary so that you can view it on your phone or laptop. To place reservations for your ground transportation, download Concorde Worldwide mobile apps at Google Playstore or Apple Store.
Reserve Airport Transportation
Another important way to make things easier at the airport is to leave your car at home. During the peak holiday travel times, long-term airport parking will be limited. To reduce stress and alleviate parking hassles, travelers should book chauffeur-driven ground transportation. Concorde Worldwide professional chauffeurs are familiar with the holiday traffic patterns. They plan routes ahead of time and know how to navigate all major and private tri-state area airports.
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Concorde Worldwide has provided worldwide car service and limousine transportation for individuals and corporate travelers for over 33 years. Our goal is to exceed our client’s expectations of reliability, quality and safety. Our wide range of services include: Corporate transportation for meetings and events, Meet & Greet personnel, Airport transportation, Weddings, Proms, Sporting Events, Concerts and more. At Concorde we only employ the most knowledgeable and highly trained chauffeurs in the industry.