Ah, the snow flakes falling, chestnuts roasting and visiting mother in-laws. What could be better than traveling on one of the busiest air travel days of the year, Christmas Eve (hmm wonder if i can schedule a dentist appointment …)

Many of you will start shopping for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel in October and get the sticker shock of the century.

The airlines aren’t dummies they know when you want to travel and are going to charge a hefty premium. You should be buying now for those peak days, just resign yourself to the fact that it will only go higher.

But take heart a few of you can go in first class (or better yet send your relatives to your brothers house) using Y-Ups and Q-Ups (discount first class), the airline industries best kept secret.

Scott McCartney’s column (Middle Seat) in the WSJ referenced the FareCompare.com Discount First Class Tool to help find these elusive first class seats.

As you can see above on the screen capture $390 roundtrip non-stop for first class travel on two of the peak travel days of the year (Christmas Eve and the Friday after) is a Christmas present I certainly wouldn’t mind in my stocking (don’t forget the 150% Frequent Flier First Class bonus mileage).

BTW, coach is $300 the same day on Delta (right now) and these discount first class seats are confirmed before Frequent Flyer’s get the their upgrades. Learn more about the Tips & Tricks for Y-Up and Q-Up Discount First Class Airfares at FareCompare.com.