Cheapest Days to Fly for Thanksgiving and Christmas 2026

For Thanksgiving 2026, the cheapest days to fly are Monday, November 23, and Thanksgiving Day itself (Thursday, November 26). Coming home on the Monday or Tuesday afterwards is cheapest, and the Sunday return is the most expensive. For Christmas, the best-value departures are December 21 to 24, and you should avoid returning on Sunday, December 27. These patterns come from Hopper’s and Kayak’s 2026 holiday reports. Hopper puts the Thanksgiving domestic round-trip average at $402 and Christmas at $452, the highest in a decade. Your route will shift the exact numbers, but the calendar pattern holds across most routes

Where Holiday Airfare Stands Right Now

If your fare looks high, you’re not imagining it. Hopper’s 2026 Holiday Travel Index, published September 24, shows Thanksgiving fares up 31% and Christmas fares up 23% from last year. Hopper says months of high jet fuel costs tied to the conflict in Iran have contributed to the jump. CNN’s coverage also points to fewer low-cost options, noting that Spirit Airlines left the industry in May.

Hotels are a mixed picture. Hopper says domestic Thanksgiving rates average $170 a night, in line with 2025, while Christmas rates average $197, up 18%.

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With base fares this high, choosing your travel day is one of the few ways left to bring the price down.

Cheapest Days to Fly for Thanksgiving 2026

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26. Here is what the two biggest 2026 datasets say.

Leaving:

• Monday, November 23 is the cheapest departure day in Hopper’s data. It averages $370, and Thanksgiving Day is close behind at about $371.
• Kayak’s search data agrees on November 23. Its best-value domestic departure averages $420 round trip, an 18% saving over the priciest date, November 20.
• Thanksgiving Day itself is a strong pick if you can arrive late. Kayak expects it to be the quietest travel day, with fares up to 19% lower domestically and 49% lower internationally than on November 20.
• For international trips, Kayak’s best-value departure is November 25, averaging $639, which is 37% below the peak.

Returning:

• Avoid Sunday, November 29. Hopper calls it one of the most expensive days of the year to fly, with domestic round trips returning that day averaging $604.
• Monday, November 30 or Tuesday, December 1 are the cheapest returns. They bring the average to about $350, which Hopper says can save as much as $250 a ticket.
• Black Friday, November 27 is the fallback. Hopper puts returns that day at about $420.

The usual Wednesday-out, Sunday-back pattern is exactly the one the airlines price highest. Shifting even one leg earns you most of the savings.

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Cheapest Days to Fly for Christmas 2026

Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, which creates a long weekend and pushes many returns into the following weekend.

Leaving:

• Avoid December 18 to 20. Hopper says departures that weekend average just under $500. Kayak’s data also marks December 19 as the most expensive day.
• December 21 and 22 are the best domestic departures. Kayak puts them at about $469 and $466, roughly 18% cheaper than the priciest day.
• Monday or Tuesday before Christmas works on Hopper’s numbers too. Leaving then brings the average to around $440.
• December 23 and 24 suit international travelers. Kayak lists December 23 to 24 as the lower-priced international departure dates.
• Waiting for Christmas week itself pays off. Flying then instead of the week before can cut up to 18% off domestic fares and 34% off international fares, according to Kayak.

Returning:

• Skip Sunday, December 27. Hopper says prices that day run about 20% higher than early-week returns.
• Be home before January 2 if you can. Average fares climb past $560 after that.

International Christmas fares are up as well. Hopper reports Mexico and Central America up 23% and Europe up 15%, while long-haul fares to Africa, Asia and Oceania are near 2025 levels or slightly lower.

When to Book: the Timing Question

The two sources differ here, so it’s worth understanding both.

Hopper’s advice is simple: book holiday flights and hotels before Halloween, since it expects prices to rise as the dates get closer. That deadline is only days away.

Kayak’s historical data is more nuanced. For Thanksgiving, it suggests travelers still holding out have until roughly the end of this month to book. For Christmas, Kayak finds fares historically dip four to seven weeks before departure, roughly mid-November through early December.

Practical reading of both:

• Thanksgiving: Buy now. The cheapest window is closing, and last-minute drops are rare.
• Christmas: If you’re flying a peak day, don’t gamble. If your dates are flexible, set a price alert and watch for the dip from mid-November.

How to Pay Less Beyond Picking the Day

Price nearby airports. A drive of an hour can change a fare noticeably.

Compare one-stop and nonstop. Connections are often cheaper, though they carry more risk on crowded travel days.

Use flexible-date search. Tools like Google Flights and Kayak show a calendar of prices so you can spot cheap days quickly.

Check points prices. When cash fares are this high, an award seat can sometimes be the better deal.

Split your trip. Booking two one-way tickets lets you fly out on a cheap day and return on a different cheap day, even on different airlines.

Pick off-peak hours. On Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, early morning and late evening flights are often the quietest.

The Bottom Line

Holiday fares are high in 2026, but the calendar still works in your favor. Leave Monday, November 23, or on Thanksgiving Day, and come home Monday or Tuesday after. For Christmas, leave December 21 to 24 and avoid returning on December 27. Because prices are expected to keep climbing, booking in the next few days is the safer bet.

FAQs

What is the cheapest day to fly for Thanksgiving 2026?

Monday, November 23, and Thanksgiving Day (November 26) are the cheapest departure days in the 2026 Hopper and Kayak data. Return on Monday, November 30, or Tuesday, December 1.

What is the most expensive day to fly for Thanksgiving 2026?

Kayak’s data points to Friday, November 20 as the priciest departure date. On the return side, Hopper identifies Sunday, November 29 as the most expensive.

Is it cheaper to fly on Christmas Day?

Christmas Day flights are typically among the quietest of the season, and Kayak’s Christmas data shows its best-value dates cluster just before the holiday. Check your specific route, because 2026 day-level pricing varies and averages are not guarantees.

When should I book Christmas flights for 2026?

Hopper says before Halloween. Kayak’s history suggests a possible dip from mid-November to early December. If your dates are fixed on a peak day, booking sooner is safer.

Are the numbers guaranteed?

No. These figures are averages from the weeks before each report. Kayak’s analysis covers searches made between April 1 and September 1, 2026. They show how prices tend to move, not a quote for your itinerary.

Disclaimer: Fare data changes daily. Before you buy, confirm current prices on your route using a live fare calendar.

Sources

1. Hopper: 2026 Holiday Travel Index (published September 24, 2026)
2. Holiday Airfare Hits a 10-Year High: The Cheapest Days to Fly for Thanksgiving and Christmas (The Points Party, October 9, 2026)
3. Airfares for Thanksgiving, Christmas hit 10-year highs (CNN via WDBJ7, September 29, 2026)
4. KAYAK 2026 Holiday Travel Check-In (KAYAK)
5. KAYAK Unwraps the 2026 Holiday Travel Sweet Spots and Savings (PR Newswire, October 2, 2026)