First, the lump of coal in your stocking: The cost of flying over the holidays is soaring and will cost significantly more than last year.
The average round-trip domestic flight for Thanksgiving will set you back $402, an increase of 31 percent from last year, according to the travel booking app Hopper. Domestic flights for Christmas are averaging $452, up 23 percent from 2025.
According to a Hopper analysis of holiday flight prices since 2017, airfare is at a 10-year high due in part to the war in Iran and its impact on jet fuel prices.
There are ways to ease the blow: how soon you book, when you fly, how creative you get with your search and how you pay.
Here are some expert tips on making your holiday travels less pricey.
When to book
According to Google, based on five years of flight data, the lowest prices for Thanksgiving flights can typically be found 34 days before departing. Quick math: that means the time to book is very soon.
For Christmas, the lowest price is usually 56 days before departing — five days earlier than last year. Again, it’s almost time to push the button on that purchase. Google data indicates the best deals can be found between late October and the middle of November.
Similarly, Kayak’s search data reveals the lowest prices for Thanksgiving flights typically pop up about five weeks ahead of the holiday, which means the week of Oct. 19 this year. Prices tend to shoot up within a couple weeks of the holiday.
When to fly
For the best prices, and least stressful flying experience, try to arrange your schedule to avoid the most congested days.
“Holiday travel is highly concentrated, with millions of people flying to and from their Thanksgiving and Christmas destinations on the same dates,” according to Hopper’s holiday travel report. “Travelers who are flexible when they fly for the holidays can save hundreds of dollars on their airfare.”
Want to head out the day before Thanksgiving and fly home the Sunday after? Join the crowds. Instead, opt for the Monday before and fly back the Monday or Tuesday after, the report suggests. Flying on Thanksgiving itself or the day after can also bring savings.
The weekend before Christmas will be the most expensive to depart for the holiday, according to Hopper, with lower prices the Monday or Tuesday of the holiday week. Christmas falls on a Friday this year. Avoid flying home on Sunday, Dec. 27, or Saturday, Jan. 2, when prices will carry some sticker shock; midweek flights after the holiday are lower.
Hacks to try
Set up price tracking alerts on any flights you’re considering to get a heads-up when those prices change.
Kayak suggests considering the possibility of two one-way tickets, even on different airlines, to see if that option is cheaper than a round-trip ticket. The site notes that travelers to D.C., San Diego and Chicago can potentially save more than 20 percent that way.
If you’ve been stashing airline miles, the holidays might be the time to cash them in. According to the cheap flight alert service Going, award prices haven’t risen at the same rate as cash fares, so fliers could get a better deal.
The post The best time to book for cheaper holiday flights, according to data appeared first on Washington Post.
