CHRISTMAS is a time when some Britons choose to jet off to warmer weather and make the most of annual leave. So when is the cheapest day to fly over the festive season?

Christmas is a popular time to head off abroad and enjoy the holidays elsewhere. December holidays can mean enjoying winter sun away from the biting cold of the UK. But when is the best time to fly over the festive season? Many people end up paying much more than they should due to confusion over the cheapest days to travel. Many Britons consider this an unpopular day to travel so assume it must have low-cost flights.

However, research by Skyscanner shows prices on Christmas Day are 24 per cent higher than the average flight price for flights from the UK to all destinations between 16 – 31 December 2017. However, flying out just a day before could make all the difference. The cheapest day to travel in the lead up to Christmas is Christmas Eve, saving 19 per cent compared to Christmas Day.

“With this in mind we wanted to make sure travellers were armed with the latest Christmas flight data to make the best decisions,” said Lisa Tyndall, Senior Growth Manager from Skyscanner. “Travelling on Christmas Day has long been believed to be the cheapest day over the festive period.” “However, our data is showing the reverse to be true and it is, in fact, the most expensive day.”

The busiest day to travel over the festive season is the Saturday before Christmas – this year 22 December. More people travel out on this day than any other between 16 – 31 December. According to data from travel website Kiwi.com, the most popular dates for flight bookings are the 18, 19 and 20 December and this has been a consistent trend year-on-year. If you are looking for a quieter flight, Skyscanner recommends flying out on 17 December as this is the quietest day for travel.

Flights on Boxing Day can depend on the location when it comes to bargains, Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has said. When he was asked about flying to Spain on 26 December on This Morning, he said: “It’s an impossible question but because it’s Spain, you’re in budget airline territory.”  “With budget airlines, you are generally better off to book as early as possible.”

However, the answer was different for a far-flung destination. “If it was long haul, you might want to wait for sales, if any sales come out,” the expert advised.

Original article: https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1041657/cheap-christmas-flights-holidays-2018-december