How to Fly High on the Low

By Precious White

If you love to fly, but hate the hefty prices and the heavy crowds, then flying in the dead zone is right up your travel alley.

Dead zones are those off-peak times during the year when many people don't fly. But even during these down periods, airlines must fill their empty seats. To fill their planes during this travel lull, they lure customers with discounted ticket prices. While this dead zone presents a burden for the airlines, it's a frugal flyer's dream come true.

There are two big dead zones coming up that travelers to U.S. destinations should know about.

• Dead zone #1: The first couple weeks in December

• Dead zone #2: Last three weeks in January and early February

Dead Zones with Honorable Mention

Within holiday periods, there are a few honorary dead zone days worth mentioning. These are not as cheap as true dead zones but they are cheaper than the days surrounding these popular travel periods: the actual holidays. Cheaper holiday deals coming up include flights on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If you're not opposed to being spontaneous or showing up to the party fashionably late, go for it!

When to Shop

According to FareCompare, if you're looking for U.S. flights in the December dead zone, the time to shop is now. You can relax a bit when looking for January/February flights, but don't wait too long. When you’re flying in a dead zone travel period, the only way to be sure of getting the best deal available is to shop around and compare prices. Actually, that holds true for flying at any time of the year.

Now, everyone knows that when Grandma says, "Come home for Thanksgiving," you'd better go. But if you truly want the best deal, the simplest way to fly in a dead zone is to figure out when everyone wants to fly, then do the opposite.

Fly high my friends!