Thanksgiving air fares are up this year

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Average air fares for Thanksgiving travelers on domestic U.S. flights are expected to rise 10 percent this year compared to 2009, a market researcher said.

Travelocity, an online travel agency, said the average airfare for the Thanksgiving holiday for domestic flights was $384 this year, USA Today reported Wednesday.

Genevieve Shaw Brown, the Web site's senior editor said travelers should book flights early and have several travel options available. For example, the average fair drops to $293 for travelers who fly on Thanksgiving day with a return flight booked for the Tuesday after the holiday.

Airlines often demand a surcharge on peak travel days, as well. "You're going to pay more to travel on a desirable day," Brown said.

Rick Seaney, chief executive officer of FareCompare.com said airlines, which have added 2 percent of capacity for the holiday, are "very reluctant" to add flights in an uncertain economy.

"They really don't know what's going to happen in the general economy and in travel," he said.