The troubled airline industry has lowered the amount of seats available and are raising prices into the Thanksgiving and Christmas travel periods creating demand that has not been felt in years.

Airlines often raise fares during periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. With fuel prices 50 percent higher than a year ago and most carriers struggling financially, travel experts are seeing some of the biggest fare spikes in years.

A travel agency owner in the Triangle says she booked a Thanksgiving round trip for a customer flying from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to El Paso, Texas. At off-peak times, the ticket would cost 260 dollars. The holiday fare is 800 dollars.

via Myrtle Beach Online.

So if you are planning on getting out of town for the holidays, book early and plan ahead to avoid higher ticket prices.