Kayak.com offers strategies for booking holiday flights

NORWALK, Conn. — Still haven’t made travel plans for the holidays? The online travel Web site Kayak.com, which aggregates airline ticket prices, has some advice:

• Don’t wait. Holiday airfare is more than 25-30 percent higher than last year. As planes fill up, remaining seats will quickly become more expensive.

• Fly off-peak days around the holidays. Avoid returning over the weekend; take Monday and Tuesday flights if you can; and, according to Kayak, see if you can save money by flying on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. Kayak.com has a search tool that allows you to compare prices up to three days before and three days after your desired date.

• Check out low-cost carriers serving alternative airports like Burbank or Long Beach, Calif., instead of Los Angeles. Airport fees and airfares may be lower.

• Track fares to jump on the best deals.

• Bear in mind that airlines may charge various fees on top of the ticket, including charges for baggage, food and even picking your seat in advance.

Kayak is based in Norwalk, Conn.