When making a budget for your holiday travel, be warned: Holiday flights are far more expensive in 2026 compared to last year.
Domestic round-trip airfare is averaging $402 per flyer for Thanksgiving, which is up 31% from last year; meanwhile, Christmas round-trip flights are running $452 on average, up 23% from 2025, per Hopper’s 2026 Holiday Travel Index. Hopper reports that elevated jet fuel costs linked to the conflict in Iran have helped push airfare to a 10-year high.
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Switching up your travel dates, though, could make a difference of hundreds of dollars – especially around the Thanksgiving holiday. Christmas travelers can also avoid the priciest departure and return dates, while anyone still shopping for tickets should move quickly.
Save on Thanksgiving Travel by Skipping a Sunday Return
The most expensive Thanksgiving travel itinerary is to leave on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and fly home on Sunday, Nov. 29. Hopper estimates domestic round-trip tickets for this schedule (especially with that Sunday return) averages $604.
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If you return on Monday or Tuesday instead, that average drops to about $350. That’s a potential savings of roughly $250 per round-trip ticket. If you can’t stay into that following week, returning on Black Friday averages $420, which could save you approximately $160.
Also, if you don’t mind flying out early (say, on Monday, Nov. 23), round-trip fares average around $370. Flying on Thanksgiving Day, while hectic, averages around $371 for a round-trip ticket.
Avoid Weekend Rush If You Want To Save on Christmas Travel
For Christmas, Hopper identifies Friday, Dec. 18 through Sunday, Dec. 20 as the most expensive departure window for holiday flyers, with fares running just under $500. Leaving on Monday or Tuesday of Christmas week instead brings the average down to about $440.
Sunday, Dec. 27, fares are just about 20% higher than early-week returns. If your schedule allows for a longer visit, midweek flights after Christmas are far cheaper. Be sure to avoid Jan. 2 if you can, as that’s when fares are expected to rise above $560 because so many holiday travelers are headed home.
Book Soon If You Can (And Compare One-Way Fares)
The Washington Post’s holiday airfare guide reports that, with five years of flight data, the lowest fares typically appear about 34 days before Thanksgiving and 56 days before Christmas. The week of October 19 is a typical low-price period for Thanksgiving flights; Hopper advises definitely booking holiday flights before Halloween, as fares may rise as departure dates approach and seats fill.
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You can set price alerts for routes you’re considering and then compare two one-way tickets with a round trip. Also consider that separate one-way tickets, even on different airlines, may be more than 20% cheaper for some trips to certain cities like Washington, D.C., San Diego and Chicago. If you have airline miles or travel rewards, check whether using them beats paying the current cash fare.
The Bottom Line
Adjusting your traditional holiday travel dates may be worth considering before you accept the increasing Thanksgiving and Christmas travel costs. Waiting for a dramatic last-minute drop in prices is a risky plan with prices already elevated; your best bet might be to pick different departure and return dates in order to save hundreds of dollars for the holidays.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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