The chaotic holiday travel season is just weeks away and if you haven’t secured your travel plans yet, the time is now.

But is it too late to schedule your flights back home to see family and friends?

According to experts, travelers can still grab those last-minute flight plans ahead of the holidays. Yet, they might expect higher prices as time goes on.

“It’s not too late to book your holiday flight, but travelers should remember that the longer you wait, the fewer options you’ll have,” AAA Spokesman Mark Jenkins said. “We encourage traveler to book as early as possible for the best combination of price and availability.”

According to a recent AAA survey, 55% of Florida travelers are planning a trip with at least one overnight stay for Thanksgiving. This survey also shows that majority of Floridians at 86% will have finalize their holiday plans at the end of this month.

For those who have waited until the last minute to book your flights, take a deep breath. We got you covered with tips and suggestions as you brave various airline websites.

Holiday traveling guide for 2023:Book your holiday travel now or maybe skip it this year: What you need to know

What should I know as I’m booking my flight late in the game?

AAA forecasts that 68% of Floridians plan to take at least one flight during the holiday season. If you haven’t booked your flight yet, AAA offers the following advice:

• Book early for the best combination of availability and price. 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.
• 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.

AAA also recommends travelers consider travel insurance, which provides financial compensation if your flight is affected by covered reasons like severe winter weather, which can ruin your plans.

Given recent challenges with air travel, Jenkins said they are seeing more and more passengers opt for travel insurance.

Can you book holiday flights now and change them later?

With booking late into the game, many experts advise jumping on a flight that is within your price range and has the destination you want. But what if you want to keep digging for a better deal?

At American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, you are able to change your ticket without paying a change fee. If you find a cheaper flight down the road, you can rebook and get airline flight credit for the price difference between the two flights.

Alternatively, you can go for a full refund when canceling certain higher-level tickets or when using miles in some programs, such as on Southwest Airlines. As for American, Delta and United, this typically only applies to domestic flights or flights originating within North America, depending on the airline.

Would other traveling methods be better than flying?

Driving may be more cost-effective than flying, depending on how far you plan to travel and how many people are in your group, Jenkins said. Gas prices are trending lower and will likely remain low unless geopolitical tensions trigger a spike in oil prices.

If you decide to drive instead of fly, Jenkins said that roadtrippers will often find the most congestion during the afternoon and early evening on the days immediately before and after Thanksgiving and Christmas days.

“The best way to avoid congestion is leave in the early morning or later in the evening. Please plan out your trip in advance and identify alternate routes, avoid distractions while driving and never drive impaired.”

When are the travel holidays?

The holiday travel period in the U.S. is between the last week in November and the first week in January. It includes major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. 

It’s considered one of the worst times of the year to travel, due to bad weather and high demand.

What are the busiest airports this holiday season?

A USA Today report found the airports predicted to be the busiest this holiday season using data from travel website KAYAK. Good news: There are no Florida airports on the list. But if you’re headed to one of the places listed below, be prepared.

During Thanksgiving, KAYAK anticipates the busiest airports to be:

In December, the busiest airports will be:

KAYAK officials added to consider flying to a nearby airport instead to possibly save a little money, as well as stress.