Over the River and Through the Roof . . .

Planning to travel this holiday season? You better watch out.

Here are some ways to make travel during the busy months ahead a little more bearable.

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Booking Holiday Travel

* Buy sooner rather than later. To snag Thanksgiving deals, you should have booked by mid-September; for Christmas and New Year's, purchase no later than mid-October. "The best deals are long gone," says Keith Melnick, a vice president at Kayak.com, which scans the Web for the best airfares. "But you can still save money if you book smart."

And be prepared in case the carriers decide to have last-minute sales: Sign up for e-mail specials from the airlines, download Southwest's Ding software and get e-alerts from such travel sites as Airfarewatchdog.com, so you will be notified immediately of a promotion.

* Fly off-peak. According to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the busiest and priciest days to fly over Thanksgiving are the Wednesday before and the Sunday after the holiday. For Christmas (a Tuesday this year), John Rauser, an analyst at Farecast.com, which uses historical data to compare airfares, says the most expensive day to fly is the Saturday before the holiday. Dec. 29 and 30 also will hurt your wallet.

"The whole key to cheap holiday travel is to be flexible and go when no one else wants to," Melnick says.

Farecast.com, for example, shows the cheapest round-trip Thanksgiving fare departs on the Monday before Turkey Day and returns the day after the holiday. (Traveling late on Thanksgiving is also good.) At press time, the round-trip fare between Reagan National and Chicago's O'Hare airport for that Monday-Friday schedule is $169, a savings of $81 over a Wednesday-Sunday trip. Around Christmas, fares are cheapest with a Christmas Eve departure and a New Year's Eve return. We found a $170 fare from D.C. to Chicago for those days, a savings of $90 over peak travel days.

* Go regional. Fly into or out of smaller regional airports and you'll often find shorter lines, cheaper parking and lower fares. Most travel Web sites, such as Travelocity, CheapTickets and Orbitz, will search for fares at airports within 50 or more miles from your home and destination. (If you don't see the option on the main page, click on "advanced" or "extended" search options.)

* Park smart. Many airport parking lots fill up quickly over the holidays, forcing you to leave your car in an expensive spot. For BWI, save time and money by booking in advance at http://www.parknfly.com, or find discount coupons at http://www.longtermparking.com. Check Reagan National's parking status at http://www.metwashairports.com/reagan/parking_transportation_4/parking_2 and reserve valet parking spots at 703-417-1234. If you have an early flight, or just want a jump-start on your holiday, book a room at an airport hotel that offers a "park and sleep" program ( http://www.parksleepfly.com), which often includes accommodations and parking for the duration of your trip. BWI also has several private off-campus lots, such as Econopark Express (866-411-7275, http://www.econoparkexpress.com), that take reservations and guarantee spots for members of its frequent parker program.

Dealing With Delays

* Fly early. Early-morning flights often escape the domino effect caused by delayed flights that can wreak havoc on flight patterns later in the day. Also, if you do get held up or your flight is canceled, you'll have more rebooking options with an earlier start. Additionally, fly nonstop when possible, so you won't get stuck eating your turkey alone in a connection city.

* Check in online. Twenty-four hours before departure time, check in for your flight on the airline's Web site and print out your boarding pass. This way, you can skip the ticket counter line, select or change your seat assignment, and avoid getting involuntarily bumped. If you're checking bags, use the airport's baggage-only kiosks or curbside check-in.

* Stay updated. Sign up for your airline's free automatic flight update feature, which sends itinerary changes to your phone or e-mail account. Also, double-check your flight status before you leave for the airport, by phone or online. AAA spokesman Michael Pina recommends programming your airline's customer-service number into your cellphone. If your flight has been canceled or you're at risk of missing your connection, call an agent immediately, even if you're still sitting on the tarmac.

* Zip through security. Know the Transportation Security Administration's rules for carry-on items: up to three ounces of liquids packed in one clear, quart-size zip-top bag -- so no large, turkey-shaped Jell-O molds or quart of homemade eggnog. Leave gifts unwrapped, wear easy-to-remove shoes and streamline the metal accessories. For more guidelines, see the TSA's Web site, http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers.