The Best and Worst Times To Fly This Fall

The busy summer travel period is in the rearview as we move into shoulder season, an excellent time of year for travelers with above-average flexibility to save money with minimal crowds and headaches both at the airport and onboard. Although this fall is poised to present new challenges amid airline staffing shortages brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic travelers can maximize their potential for a smooth experience by knowing when and when not to fly. Here are some of the key dates to keep in mind as you plan your autumn getaways this year.

Travelers shouldn't encounter too many hectic dates for the remainder of September and into October as children are back in school and the holidays are still several weeks out. Therefore, this is a good time to book travel as carriers such as Southwest Airlines are offering discounted fares to fill seats. Right now, the low-cost carrier is offering flights from as low as $59 one-way on bookings made through October 3.

If you have the flexibility to fly during the week, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the best days to take to the skies as demand is often lower. Flying out earlier in the day or opting for a redeye could also net you some additional savings and elbow room on your trip. Flying into and out of a carrier's hub airports is another way to ensure a smooth and affordable travel experience.

Flying on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday doesn't guarantee complications but these weekend days tend to be more in demand among travelers and thus busier in terms of the airport and airplane cabins. Avoiding weekend travel isn't always an option for many 9 to 5ers so perhaps look for an early morning flight out on Saturday when many have already reached their destination.

Flying out on the day before Thanksgiving-Wednesday, November 23-will likely produce plenty of headaches as most travelers are looking to get to their destination at the last minute without having to travel on the holiday itself. The Sunday after Thanksgiving-November 27-will also be quite hectic as travelers look to return home before getting back to work on Monday morning.

Thanksgiving travelers will likely have better luck avoiding the crowds and disruptions if they can depart earlier in the week or even delay their travel until Thanksgiving Day-Thursday, November 24-when demand will be at its lowest. Flying home on Black Friday-November 25-isn't a bad idea either as airport congestion is likely to increase later in the weekend. If a shorter trip isn't an option, waiting until Monday, November 28 or even Tuesday, November 29 could make for a more pleasant experience.

The period after Thanksgiving and before December holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa is typically another sweet spot for pain-less air travel. As business travel continues to rebound, these initial weeks of December can be ideal for a getaway to a warm-weather destination that doesn't blow up your budget.

Christmas is a day best spent surrounded by family and friends and oftentimes that requires traveling many miles. The holiday-December 25-falls on a Sunday this year but will be an ideal time to fly for savings and minimal crowds. The same goes for Christmas Eve on Saturday, December 24 when many travelers will already aim to be settled in their holiday destinations. If those days aren't an option, consider arriving a few days in advance to avoid inescapable headaches on Thursday, December 22 and Friday, December 23. As for your return trip, it isn't recommended to fly Monday, December 26 or Tuesday, December 27. Rather, wait out the rush if possible and return later in the week.