Holiday fares likely higher, experts say

Fees for baggage may send your travel costs even higher.

SEATTLE (AP) — Expect to spend more to fly home for the holidays this year, say the experts at Live Search Farecast.

Fares for Thanksgiving 2008 are up 31 percent from 2007, while Christmas and New Year’s fares are up 30 percent, according to the Web site.

“The combination of high fuel prices, airline capacity and route cuts means holiday travelers may easily spend upwards of $100 more per ticket than last year,” said Joel Grus, a spokesman for Farecast at farecast.live.com.

“There are deals out there for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, but they’re few and far between, and won’t last long,” he said.

Farecast’s data found that nationally, average costs for the most popular Thanksgiving itinerary, a Wednesday departure and Sunday return, is $490, up $66 from last year.

Travelers returning on Monday or Tuesday can save more than $90 per ticket.

The Web site found Christmas and New Year’s fares averaging a little less than Thanksgiving fares, at $420.

Grus noted that fees for baggage, food and other extras that used to be free may send your travel costs even higher.

Farecast offers predictions on its Web site about the best time to purchase plane tickets based on past data about when prices go up or down.

The Web site is also offering a beta version of a similar forecasting device for hotel rates.