Cheap flights and flight deals for the Thanksgiving holiday are often posted on sites like Airfare Watchdog and Farecast. Travelers can also bid on cheap Thanksgiving flights and Thanksgiving flight deals on Priceline, or save money by comparing fares on SideStep or Hotwire.

Fodor's recommends booking flights outside the "normal date range," like flying in on Thanksgiving and leaving on the Monday after. Rick Seaney of ABC News recommends booking flights early and, like Fodor's, asks travelers to consider taking a few extra days off to fly outside the typical Thanksgiving break.http://www.fodors.com/news/story_3200.html http://abcnews.go.com/Business/BusinessTravel/story?id=5762697&page=1

When checked baggage fees are paid online instead of at the airport, some airlines may be willing to offer a discount.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704533904574543642283583488.html

When it comes to flying on the cheap, there are certain tips that will apply throughout the year. First of all, it can pay off to be flexible about the travel dates in most cases. If a traveler is open about which specific days they take off and return, they may have more fare options and will have the luxury of choosing the lowest one. In addition, using an airport that is located just outside of a major city can help avoid congestion. For example, time and money can potentially be saved by heading to the Burbank Airport instead of LAX within the Los Angeles area.http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-tips/how-to-find-a-cheap-flight/

• • The Mahalo Guide on How to Successfully Bid on Travel
• Priceline
• Bidding Guide: BiddingForTravel.com
• Bidding Guide: BetterBidding