Airfare Expert: Is it crazy to shop for Thanksgiving now?

— -- Believe it or not, the holidays are coming; but forget the turkey - now's the time to get your ducks in a row.

Is it crazy to start shopping for Thanksgiving airfare now?

It's not too early to start comparing prices but it is a little early to buy. Start purchasing Thanksgiving airfare when the kids go back to school - from the very end of Aug. through early Sept. - and your shopping window is good through mid-Oct. The earlier you buy this year, the better. In the meantime, plan out the rest of your holiday shopping strategy.

What else can be done to save on holiday airfare?

Determine the best days to fly; figure out the best use of any remaining vacation time; find the 'right' destination; and learn the best time-of-day to fly. Let's take these in order.

1. Best days to fly

This is where flexibility means savings.

Most expensive days to fly are the Wednesday (Nov. 21) before Thanksgiving, plus the Sunday (Nov. 25) and Monday (Nov. 26) after the holiday. Not coincidentally, these are also the busiest days to fly.

Cheaper days to fly are all the other days around the holiday which run about 10-20% less but the cheapest Thanksgiving travel date of all is Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22) which is about 30-50% cheaper than the most expensive days.

For perspective, these are one-way prices (as of this week) from Los Angeles to New York:

•Flights in early Nov. $165

•Flights Sunday/Monday/Tuesday before Thanksgiving $235

•Flights Wednesday before Thanksgiving $255

•Flights Thanksgiving Day $165

•Flights Sunday after Thanksgiving $310

•Flights Monday after Thanksgiving $265

2. Vacation time

If you were going to burn any vacation days this fall, consider saving them for Thanksgiving travel. Use them on the run-up to the holiday or afterwards so you don't have to travel on the most expensive days, but get your request in early as everyone will be asking for the time off.

3. Find the right destination

The closest airport to your destination isn't always the cheapest. If you're flying to Cincinnati; check prices to CVG and Dayton, and maybe even Columbus and Indianapolis. I recently looked at airfares from Los Angeles and noticed Thanksgiving flights to Dayton were $130 cheaper than Cincinnati. If you're flying to Los Angeles, compare LAX prices with Long Beach; the latter is a focus city for JetBlue and often has good deals. Of course, prices can and do change so comparing airfares is a must.

4. When to fly

Save by flying at dawn or on a red-eye and skip the nonstop in favor of a trip with two or three legs. If you're traveling with children, I don't recommend this, but if you're flying solo or as a couple, the minor endurance contest could be worth it. Don't pay for extras like checked-bags or airline meals; as I said in a recent column, you'll save if you " fly hungry."

Any final advice?

When it comes to the holidays, it's all about getting the best of the bad deals. Shop smart and compare prices and dates, and you can save money.

FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney is an airline industry insider and top media air-travel resource. Follow Rick ( @rickseaney) and never overpay for airfare again.