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Why October 6 is the best day to book Thanksgiving travel

By
Benjamin Snyder
Benjamin Snyder
Managing Editor
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By
Benjamin Snyder
Benjamin Snyder
Managing Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 6, 2015, 2:54 PM ET
U.S. Skies and Roads Busy Ahead Of Memorial Day Weekend
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 23: Passengers wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare Airport May 23, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago's O'Hare and Midway International Airports expect 1.5 million passengers over a six-day travel period covering Memorial Day weekend beginning Thursday, May 22 and running through Tuesday, May 27. AAA forecasts the number of drivers taking to the roads for the holiday will hit a 10-year high, with roughly eight in ten Americans taking road trips during the long weekend. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)Photograph by Scott Olson — Getty Images

An Orbitz.com report says that the best day to book holiday travel for Thanksgiving is Oct. 6. Christmas and New Year’s booking shouldn’t be made much later, too.

“This early week in October is when prices are are dipping the most before they head back up as we get close to the holidays,” said Jeanenne Tornatore, senior editor for Orbitz.com, in an interview with NBC.

The report says that flights for Thanksgiving are on average 5% cheaper on Oct. 6 than on other days. How about for Christmas? The report dates Oct. 9, while New Year’s tickets should be purchased on Oct. 10.

“Book your holiday airfare sooner than later because once you hit mid-October you are only going to see those prices continue to rise,” Tornatore said in the interview.

In other news gearing up for the upcoming holidays, Macy’s said it would be cutting hiring plans for seasonal workers. The same goes for Toys ‘R’ Us, too. Meanwhile, online holiday shopping sales are expected to see a near 10% boost this year.

About the Author
By Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor
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Benjamin Snyder is Fortune's managing editor, leading operations for the newsroom.

Prior to rejoining Fortune, he was a managing editor at Business Insider and has worked as an editor for Bloomberg, LinkedIn and CNBC, covering leadership stories, sports business, careers and business news. He started his career as a breaking news reporter at Fortune in 2014.

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