Google Flights shares timing and route tips to lower holiday airfare

Google Flights released five recommendations for saving money on holiday flights, focusing on when to book and which days to travel.

The data shows Thanksgiving fares are typically lowest in October, while the optimal booking window for Christmas flights is about 56 days before departure. Connecting flights average 20 percent cheaper than nonstop tickets, and departing on a Monday can save up to 20 percent on domestic routes compared with Sunday departures. Traveling on a Monday and returning on a Tuesday or Wednesday may reduce costs by roughly 14 percent versus weekend trips, and booking on a Wednesday can shave about 1.4 percent off fares compared with Sunday bookings.