It's the most wonderful time of the year.   That is, unless you have to fly somewhere.

Data from online travel agent "Travelocity" shows domestic airfare this holiday season is 9%  more expensive than last year.  The average cost of a round-trip domestic ticket is about $414.
An international ticket will set you back $990.

But not all days are created equal.  According to Travelocity the cheapest days to fly are December 23rd, 24th and 25th.

Experts says if you want a deal, it's important to be strategic with your travel times.

Caulfield says: "Tuesday and Wednesday are typically the best days to fly out and Sunday afternoons are the worst time to come back because everybody's coming back for the work week."

Also keep this in mind, many airlines tend to announce sales on a Monday leading other airlines to match certain fares the following day.