{"id":166559,"date":"2026-10-07T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=166559"},"modified":"2026-10-06T23:15:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T04:15:40","slug":"news-you-can-use-holiday-travel-does-not-have-to-break-the-bank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/news-you-can-use-holiday-travel-does-not-have-to-break-the-bank\/","title":{"rendered":"News You Can Use: Holiday Travel Does Not Have to Break the Bank"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Ole Miss economist offers cost-saving tips for those concerned about expensive holiday flights<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>by Cain Madden<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The holiday season is a time for getting together to celebrate; but if that get-together involves traveling by air, ticket prices may become a major barrier for holiday cheer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">November through early January is a peak travel season in the U.S. That means airlines can charge significantly more for tickets than during other times of the year, said <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tracking.us.nylas.com\/l\/5f0052066dd54b61bb18b7e7fd7799fd\/1\/6e2c01983c1a8e233862b67801e9e9955d50dc56418811512ba149f9898a3a6a?cache_buster=1791301884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Garrett Scott<\/a>,<\/strong> assistant professor of <a href=\"https:\/\/tracking.us.nylas.com\/l\/5f0052066dd54b61bb18b7e7fd7799fd\/2\/269ee51ccce65811f6586f16dfc4cebec396b3abb6cf16dc7ba03a12dc304b57?cache_buster=1791301884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">economics<\/a> at the <a href=\"https:\/\/tracking.us.nylas.com\/l\/5f0052066dd54b61bb18b7e7fd7799fd\/3\/8676a8814579418adcccc67f6c59c6b1db82957d38a247d12d8424179e63cb88?cache_buster=1791301884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>University of Mississippi<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;You can track the average price of tickets over time, and you will see that they peak in November and December,&#8221; he said. &#8220;From the airline&#8217;s perspective, the ticket is priced well for the demand that exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Of course, we don&#8217;t like that but blame the people who are willing to pay that price.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scott recently published <a href=\"https:\/\/tracking.us.nylas.com\/l\/5f0052066dd54b61bb18b7e7fd7799fd\/4\/02fc2ca06b6faf6c1a3e90dfadfd328dc29275f24a9147c1da579256487b52d2?cache_buster=1791301884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>&#8220;Uncertainty in Dynamic Pricing Environments&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/tracking.us.nylas.com\/l\/5f0052066dd54b61bb18b7e7fd7799fd\/5\/03313b0fbfbdd66a937568f3d46a00ea5c745e523e109df7cdcb6d96e287d59f?cache_buster=1791301884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Southern Economic Journal<\/strong><\/a>. In the paper, Scott and his co-author <strong>Richmond Woblesseh<\/strong> explore a pricing model of consumer choice concerning airline tickets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While ticket prices peak during the holiday season, smart travelers can find bargains, even among the highest prices. Scott offers a few basic tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Book early, as soon as you are confident of your travel dates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be flexible on how long you plan to stay at your destination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explore different arrival and departure times, including less popular options<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shop for tickets online outside regular business hours<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check out prices for basic economy seating.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first, and most important, checkpoint is to book as early as possible. Scott recommends booking most flights two or three months in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;That is the time when the ticket is priced accurately for what the demand is,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But it is usually the case that if you buy a ticket further in advance of that two- to three-month window, you can get a better price.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Garrett-Scott-rotated-1-edited-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"814\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Garrett-Scott-rotated-1-edited-805x1024.jpg?resize=640%2C814&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-166562\" style=\"width:464px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Garrett-Scott-rotated-1-edited-scaled.jpg?resize=805%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 805w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Garrett-Scott-rotated-1-edited-scaled.jpg?resize=236%2C300&amp;ssl=1 236w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Garrett-Scott-rotated-1-edited-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C976&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Garrett-Scott-rotated-1-edited-scaled.jpg?resize=1208%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1208w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Garrett-Scott-rotated-1-edited-scaled.jpg?resize=1611%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1611w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Garrett-Scott-rotated-1-edited-scaled.jpg?w=2014&amp;ssl=1 2014w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Garrett-Scott-rotated-1-edited-scaled.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Garrett-Scott-rotated-1-edited-scaled.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Garrett Scott. Photo by Kevin Bain\/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scott recently flew from <strong>Memphis <\/strong>to <strong>North Carolina<\/strong>, and he bought his ticket eight months in advance, which turned out to the best price available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While in some cases, prices can drop close to the departure date if demand does not meet the airline&#8217;s expectations, Scott said he would not count on that. More often, prices rise close to the flight time as seats fill up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;There is some truth to the price dropping at the deadline, due to unsold capacity,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The issue there is if the flight is full, you are not going to get the ticket, so I would not bank on that one.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Booking flights for so-called &#8220;irregular days&#8221; can yield some savings, Scott said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Think about giving up some time on either side,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Avoid the Wednesday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving, as getting there on Monday may be better, pricewise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Definitely don&#8217;t fly on Dec. 24. And consider staying a few days longer.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flight times can significantly affect ticket prices. For instance, a 6 a.m. flight will likely be cheaper than one that allows travelers to wake at a more &#8220;reasonable&#8221; hour to get to the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Don&#8217;t buy the ticket during business hours, as that is when business users shop,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Try to buy the ticket later in the evening or early in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;You and I are using our own money for the trip, while a business traveler will be using business or university funds. They also have to make the trip, whereas for us it might be a choice. So, they are not as price sensitive.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another anecdotal tip is that parents might consider having their children who are students do the booking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I have heard that sometimes airlines will track IP addresses,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So, if you are on campus Wi-Fi, there is the belief that you are more likely to be a student than an adult with a salary, so they can sometimes source cheaper tickets.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although economy seating generally is not as comfortable, it is always the best deal because airlines offer these seats close to their average cost. Where airlines profit is on first-class seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;First class is, like, close to 10% of the seats on the plane, and that accounts for more than 50% of the profit,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some cases, they might even lose money, and that can create a better experience for the traveler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve definitely flown on flights that are only at 30% capacity because it was a weird time, and the ticket was super cheap,&#8221; Garrett said. &#8220;And I preferred the experience to a packed flight.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/TheLocalVoiceLigature-25web.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"25\" height=\"16\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/TheLocalVoiceLigature-25web.jpg?resize=25%2C16\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14544\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ole Miss economist offers cost-saving tips for those concerned about expensive holiday flights by Cain Madden The holiday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123462,"featured_media":166560,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17687],"tags":[2451,7067,4740,655],"class_list":["post-166559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-university-of-mississippi","tag-holiday","tag-ole-miss","tag-travel","tag-university-of-mississippi"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Airline-Pricing-Graphic-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1434&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/123462"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166559"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":166563,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166559\/revisions\/166563"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}