Still need airfare for Christmas? Book today!

By Dave Siff

updated 8:38 AM EST, Tue December 04, 2012

NEED TO KNOW

Kayak: 21 days out is best time to book airline tickets
If you're willing, Christmas is a good day to fly

Now is the time to score a good deal on holiday travel.

Good news for all you holiday travel procrastinators -- today could be your day to score a deal on airfare.

According to a recent survey from travel website Kayak, the best time to book domestic airline tickets is 21 days before you want to leave. On average, Kayak found travelers saved $28 per round-trip ticket if they booked three weeks out, as opposed to six months.

Well, today is precisely 21 days before Christmas, which historically has been a favorable, if non-traditional day to fly. The holiday falling on a Tuesday this year certainly doesn't hurt as far as saving money on airfare.

How much can you save flying on Christmas instead of the weekend before? We searched flights on Priceline (which recently announced a deal to buy Kayak) using a sample itinerary from Atlanta to New York, for one passenger flying in economy class.

For a round-trip departing Christmas Day and returning on December 29, the price is $243 on AirTran and $253 on Delta. Slide the departure date back to the Saturday before Christmas, and the price skyrockets -- $321 on AirTran and $350 on Delta. You can save a little more by leaving on Sunday ($277 on either airline) or on Christmas Eve ($242 on AirTran, $277 on Delta.)

Our partners:

Join the conversation...

HLNtv.com welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.