CHARLOTTE, N.C., (September 09, 2024) – The summer travel season just came to an end and South Carolinians are already planning Christmas vacation or have made travel plans for the year-end holidays.

According to the new AAA survey, well over half of residents (60%) plan to take an overnight vacation between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Almost half of South Carolinians (46%) typically begin booking their Christmas vacation trip(s) before September. Meanwhile, over a third of bookings are started from September (21%) to October (16%). A small percentage wait until the last minute to book in November (12%) and December (5%) to book Christmas vacation.

Residents are planning Christmas vacation now accoring to AAA

“If you want to have choice in holiday plans, it would be best to book before October,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “This could help ensure you get the itinerary you want at a competitive price. With two-thirds of people traveling between Thanksgiving and year-end, preferred options will book up.”

Thanksgiving Booking Trends

Three-quarters of South Carolina travelers (76%) are planning a trip with at least one overnight stay for Thanksgiving. According to the survey, 37% of them will have already finalized their travel plans before September. Meanwhile, 21% look to finalize plans in September, and 29% will do so in October. Only 11% will wait until November, while 2% are undecided.

Tips for booking flights during Thanksgiving week

The busiest travel days will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. Consider booking a flight Sunday or Monday before Thanksgiving and Saturday after the holiday. Airport lines should be shorter, and flights should have more availability.

Christmas Vacation Booking Trends

Three-quarters of South Carolina Christmas vacation travelers (74%) are planning a trip with at least one overnight stay for Christmas vacation in 2024. According to the survey, only 9% of them will wait until December to book their Christmas vacation(s). The most popular month to book is November (26%) with September and October coming in next with 20% each. Almost a quarter (22%) of South Carolinians booked in August or earlier.

Tips for booking flights for Christmas

Regardless of what date Christmas vacation falls on, most travelers prefer to be at their destination by Christmas Eve. Christmas Day falls on a Wednesday this year, so travelers should expect longer lines at the airport during the weekend and Monday before the holiday.

AAA’s Advice for Booking a Flight

• Book early for the best combination of price and availability. Most travelers want to skip layovers and get right to their destination. That means nonstop flights, especially those going cross-country and internationally, will fill up fast.
• Book a direct flight that leaves early in the morning. Afternoon and evening flights are more susceptible to delays/cancellations due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Connecting flights multiply the risk of something going wrong.

-Budget time for Delays-

• Consider traveling a day or two earlier than planned. Even if you face delays, you are still likely to arrive on time.
• If your flight has connections, build in a couple hours between flights.  This way, if your first flight is delayed, you are less likely to miss your second one.

Winter Weather’s Impact on Air Travel

Air travel becomes less predictable as weather patterns change, which can cause a cascade of flight cancellations, even affecting passengers in warmer destinations. Because of this, AAA urges travelers to consider travel insurance, which provides financial compensation if your flight is affected by covered reasons that are often whether-triggered.

“While you can’t control the weather, travel Insurance can help you mitigate the damage it can cause to your plans and pocketbook,” Haas said. “Travel insurance is such a valuable resource for air travelers, because it provides financial benefits for lost or delayed luggage, flight cancellations, and flight delays of as little as three hours.”

AAA will release its Thanksgiving Travel Forecast in early November.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov 28, 2024. Christmas is Wednesday, Dec 25, 2024

Christmas holds great religious significance for Christians as it commemorates the arrival of Jesus Christ, the divine son of God, who came to Earth as a manifestation of God. According to Christian belief, Jesus’ birth marked a momentous occasion that brought love, hope, and joy to humanity.

Here are some other reasons why Christmas is sacred:

Christmas holds a sacred significance due to several additional factors.

• Spiritual reflection: Christmas is a time for Christians to reflect on the foundations of their faith and the importance of embodying it through love, generosity, and service.
• Gratitude: Christmas is a time to be grateful for the incarnation of God into the world.

About the AAA Consumer Pulse™ Survey

The AAA Consumer Pulse™ Survey was conducted online among residents living in Florida from July 11-16, 2024.  A total of 400 residents completed the survey.  Survey results asked of all respondents have a maximum margin of error of ± 4.9% points.  Responses are weighted by age and gender to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the adult population (18+) in Florida.