Anticipate your trip
Traveling during the holiday season is a very special experience. It's all about celebrating with joy. But at this time of the year, everything seems to be more stressful with even more crowded airports, phone services that are often saturated, long queues, longer response times, and longer delays. So plan ahead as much as possible and keep smiling, or at least try to. After the flight, you will be able to enjoy a well-deserved vacation or start your new expat life.
Make a checklist of essential documents to carry with you
Are your documents up to date? To avoid cold sweats, make a checklist and write down all the documents required by the host country. If you are planning a move abroad, you have certainly been preparing for a long time (especially to obtain a visa). Double-check that all the relevant documents are up to date.
Organize your documents: administrative ones in the red folder, health papers in the blue folder, etc. Be particularly mindful if you are on medical treatment or if you have other essential documents to bring with you (list of all medications to be taken with their generic names, copies of prescriptions, etc.).
Scan and photocopy important documents. Keep a copy on a USB drive that you will keep separately. It is always a good idea to send yourself a digital copy of the documents by e-mail and a backup one to your relatives. In case of emergency, these backups can come out in very handy.
COVID: The uninvited guest of the holiday season
COVID is still around, although we talk about it less often. Some countries have even reported new peaks, and some of them, like Japan, South Korea, France, New Zealand and Paraguay, are being cautious. Governments are reluctant to reinstate drastic measures, fearing public discontent, but insist on vaccination and are even planning for a possible return of the mask indoors. Specialists recommend the wearing of masks again 3 weeks before the end-of-the-year celebrations.
Find out more about the rules and restrictions in force in the country where you are traveling, such as the requirement to wear a mask in the airport. Make sure you have a negative PCR test, especially if you are visiting vulnerable people.
Book your tickets in advance
It is best to book your tickets 2 to 3 months in advance. You can get tickets 20 to 30% cheaper at that time than if you booked them only a few weeks before departure (about 10% cheaper for long-haul flights). As a rule of thumb, airlines raise their fares about 1 month before the flight date and generally one and a half months for long-haul flights. For the end of year holidays, ticket prices are either increased or at their usual rate.
Book on Sunday, leave on Friday: Does this still work?
According to Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), ticket prices are 10 to 25 percent lower when booked on Sundays, as compared to Fridays. However, when booking, it is best to choose a Friday flight. Traveling on Fridays could lower the bill by about 10%. But other studies speak of more expensive tickets on Fridays also (about 30% more), especially with Christmas around the corner. Keep in mind that December 21st , 22nd and 23rd are peak times for airlines and that the 24th, and especially the 25th of December, are quieter dates. In the United States, there were more than 2 million travelers on December 23, and only 1.5 million on December 25.
It's no surprise that most people prefer to travel before Christmas to enjoy the holiday with their families. But if you are going abroad with no one waiting for you, you could try the flight on December 25 to benefit from cheaper airfares. However, be aware that prices will rise again for the second wave of travelers (those of the New Year) after this date.
What is the ideal time for buying flight tickets?
A few years ago, it was popular to buy tickets at night, between midnight and 6am, on Tuesday night. Today, opinions differ. Basically, buying in off-peak hours is still a good deal. Experiment with your destination. After all, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Forget about last-minute flights
Want to save money for the holidays? Don't book at the last minute. We are often told that booking at the last minute can save a lot of money. Some websites have even made it their bread and butter. In practice, and especially if you know which country you are traveling to, there is no guarantee of a so-called last-minute deal. On the contrary, you may end up paying up to 30% more.
Most importantly, it all depends on your destination. If you're going close to home for the holidays (a domestic flight, for example), you could get the best prices by booking 15 days before departure. But under these conditions, the train might be a better solution for you. If you are going to the other side of the world, forget about the last-minute flight. It's best to make your booking 2 to 3 months in advance.
Luggage and seating options
If you have long legs, check the size of your seat. In recent years, airlines have been subtly reducing the size of economy-class seats. To stretch your legs properly, you'll have to pay more. Indeed, more comfort will cost you about 100 euros more. The same applies to luggage. Even for a long-haul flight, you will not necessarily be able to get your 2x23kg in the hold for free. Paris-Tokyo tickets, for example, are currently going for more than 800 euros, with sometimes only one carry-on bag included on the ticket.
Keep yourself busy
Time can be long on a plane, so prepare something to keep you busy, especially if you are traveling with children. Books, card games (be careful not to lose them), video games, and so on are as many examples of entertaining items that can be useful on a long-haul flight especially. There is also the airline's video program, or your tablet, if you can't find anything that suits you.
Enjoy the trip
Any trip starts as early as the preparation stage. If you are moving abroad for the long term, train to experience the local time well before you leave. Learn and speak your host country's language and get acquainted with its culture, amongst other details. If you're taking a trip back home, look forward to the upcoming Christmas celebrations with your loved ones. Be patient and positive. Touchdown is coming soon.
