More fliers, higher fares

The Air Transport Association predicted this week that 24 million of us will fly over the 12-day Thanksgiving period, up 3.5 percent from last year.

For many travelers, the price of an airline ticket will be higher than last year; increased demand and fewer seats have allowed the airlines to boost fares.

FareCompare.com says fares to many cities are trending 17 to 18 percent higher than last year and advises travelers not to wait any longer to purchase tickets.

"Many who stayed home for the holidays last year are hopping on a plane this year," FareCompare.com chief executive Rick Seaney said.

However, Airfarewatchdog.com president George Hobica said it's uncertain whether the higher fares will stick throughout November.

"Last year, many travel experts said you'd have to buy sooner rather than later to get good fares, but on some routes fares went down just before the holidays because consumers resisted. That may be the case this year as well, especially if the job situation doesn't improve," Hobica said.

"When fares are too high, people stay home or they drive," he said. "The best advice is to search a couple of times a day, and sign up for airfare alerts."

The trade group projected that Sunday, Nov. 28 will be the busiest day during the Thanksgiving period.

The lightest travel day? Thanksgiving Day itself, even though the lowest fares often are available that day.

DMN

Holiday tips

•Try to book the first flight of the day. If there are complications, it gives you more time to straighten them out the rest of the day.

•Fly on nonstop or direct flights if possible so you don't have to worry about a connecting flight.

•If you haven't bought your ticket yet, consider flying on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day. Airlines often offer lower prices, and the crowds will be much smaller.

•Get to the airport earlier than usual. With the holiday crowds, parking will be harder to find, and lines at check-in and security checkpoints will probably be longer.

•Make sure you've given your airline the required identification data. All passengers now must provide their full names as they appear on a current government photo ID, their date of birth and their gender.