I have to fly home, and booking in advance is important. If you can be flexible, you'll find that midweek days are cheaper versus the weekends, and certain times of day are often cheaper too. Try to avoid travelling during the week leading up to Christmas, as flight prices are sky-high then, and similarly if you can wait to come back after the New Year period you'll save a packet. I booked my Christmas flights home a few weeks ago, and am travelling on a Wednesday evening, and coming back on a Tuesday evening. Round trip, the flights cost £32, through booking early and being flexible with dates.