The time to book your flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas is right now. The 2026 holiday travel season is on track to be the most expensive in a decade, according to travel experts.
Months of elevated jet fuel costs due to the conflict in Iran have contributed to Thanksgiving and Christmas airfares reaching 10-year highs, economist Hayley Berg explains in Hoppers 2026 holiday travel index.
Hopper is an online travel agency. Round-trip domestic airfare around Thanksgiving is averaging $402, up 31% from last year. For Christmas, domestic airfare averages around $452, a 23% increase from 2025.
Bookings for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel have increased compared to this time in previous years, as travelers have begun to book trips weeks earlier than they have historically, Berg says.
Hopper recommends booking flights and hotel stays before Halloween to get the lowest prices for holiday season travel.
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Passengers walk through the McGhee Tyson Airport in Alcoa, Tenn., on Sept. 24.
Stretching your holiday travel budget
Hopper shares tips for saving money on holiday travel this year:
1. Rethink your Thanksgiving travel dates: Depart Monday, Nov. 23, or Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26 this year). Skip the Sunday return and fly home early in the week after the holiday.
2. Avoid peak Christmas dates: Depart a few days before Christmas instead of Dec. 18-20. Return midweek rather than Dec. 27, and before prices are expected to jump on Jan. 2.
3. Book before Halloween: Start monitoring prices now and aim to lock in flights and hotels before Oct. 31 for the best prices and availability.
4. Build in flexibility: Consider flexible booking options like Cancel for Any Reason and Disruption Assistance and review refund terms.
5. Use available rewards: Put travel credits, points or miles toward holiday bookings to offset higher costs.
In general, Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly domestically, according to Expedia. Sunday is typically the most expensive. Booking 15 to 30 days before departure can save an average of $130.
Best days to fly for Thanksgiving
Holiday travel is highly concentrated, with millions of people flying to and from their destinations on the same dates. Being flexible when you fly for the holidays can save you a few bucks.
Monday, Nov. 23, is the most affordable day for travelers to depart, with fares about $50 less expensive than flights departing the day before Thanksgiving, according to Hopper. Departing on Thanksgiving Day itself is the next best option.
Sunday, Nov. 29, will be one of the single most expensive days of the year to travel. So avoid that date, if you can.
Best days to fly for Christmas
Christmas is on a Friday this year. The best dates to go on a Christmas trip this year are Monday, Dec. 21, and Tuesday, Dec. 22. Returning mid-week after the holiday also offers lower prices, according to Hopper.
