With holiday travel plans, I tend to jump on booking flights and hotels quickly (such as with a planned post-Christmas trip to Atlanta this year). Yet my method is probably not full proof. In dipping into my e-mail bag, last week I got this press release from Skyscanner about the debate over best time to book predictions for this year.

Apparently, being last minute pays off.

Based on data compiled from more than 50 million users’ booking habits during the 2015 holiday season, Skyscanner’s findings apparently show that the highest savings are available no more than four weeks prior to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, with potential savings even available to those booking flights the very same week.    

 In breaking down the results, Skyscanner listed the best time to book travel for possible savings, around each of the major holidays coming up this year.

• Thanksgiving: Skyscanner found that October has the best opportunities for savings, with the week of October 17 offering savings of 5.10 percent and a mere four weeks out, the week of October 31, offering the highest potential savings of 7.7 percent. Last minute bookers will also be in luck and could find 1.98 percent in savings the week of Thanksgiving.
• Christmas: Historical data indicates that Thanksgiving week (November 21) will be a prime time for the best deals, offerings possible savings of 6.41 percent, as well as the week of December 5 with savings of 4.93 percent. After Thanksgiving will also be a peak window for booking, with savings of 2.17 percent the week of November 28.
• New Year’s: While travelers could score the highest savings of 10.57 percent the week of December 5, the holiday looks to favor last minute decision-makers with 6.72 percent of savings one week before and 6.67 percent of savings two weeks out.

 Skyscanner also did a Twitter survey, which found that 44 percent of respondents shared that their plans are made six months to one year in advance; 17 percent between three to five months out; and 39 percent said they prefer to book their travel four to six weeks ahead.

So tell me, when do you book holiday travel? Do you think Skyscanner’s study is right or not?