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News
Holiday airfare surges in 2026: How to find the best deals before it's too late
Sean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.
October 9, 2026 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Airfares for holiday travel in 2026 have increased significantly, with Thanksgiving and Christmas flights up over 20% compared to last year.
Prices have remained consistently high since August, and last-minute booking could lead to even higher fares.
Flexibility with travel dates and destinations can help travelers find better deals, especially by departing early or returning on less popular days.
Using points for flights may offer savings, but dynamic pricing has caused award rates to rise as well.
What to consider
Avoid booking basic fares if you want flexibility to change or cancel your itinerary without penalties.
The Midwest is experiencing the largest Thanksgiving fare increases, while the Northeast is most affected at Christmas.
Booking with a card that offers travel protections can help recover expenses if disruptions occur, especially as cancellations have increased.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed strategies for timing your bookings, maximizing flexibility and leveraging points creatively to minimize holiday travel costs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
If you’ve flown at all over the past few months, you’re likely all too familiar with the script at this point.
Flying in 2026 costs a lot more than it did just a year ago. Since the start of the war in Iran triggered a surge in global oil prices, airfares have risen by an average of 23%.
Holiday travel certainly won’t be spared.
Domestic Thanksgiving flights are up about 31% from last year, according to booking app Hopper’s recent forecast.
If you’re hoping to fly for Christmas and New Year’s, you’ll pay — on average — about 23% more than last holiday season.
And with less than seven weeks to go until turkeys and stuffing, airlines are offering consumers little hope that a drop in prices might be on the horizon.
"The fares will be a function of what the market bears," Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said in an interview Friday on CNBC. "We're not seeing any slowdown at all — our consumer is resilient."
Holiday travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Terminal A. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Some good (or at least lukewarm) news
Since the summer, TPG has warned that holiday travelers would likely pay a pretty penny to fly for Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2026.
And fares are indeed up (sharply) from last year.
The one bit of good — or at least lukewarm — news? We haven’t yet seen a major autumn surge in ticket prices, either. Prices have remained high — but fairly consistent — since August, when we started closely tracking holiday fares with the help of our partners at Points Path.
But you shouldn’t wait any longer to book: At this stage, every day you wait risks a big jump in prices.
Last year, both cash and award prices surged in the final weeks leading up to the holidays.
So what should you do if you’ve waited until now to book your holiday getaway? Let’s walk through your best options.
Holiday decorations at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
When to book holiday flights in 2026
We suggest booking as soon as possible, but leaving yourself some wiggle room in case you get lucky and the fare later drops.
What to do if the price drops after you book
Most of the major carriers will let you change your ticket after booking. Or, you can even cancel your reservation and re-book yourself.
To leave yourself this flexibility, just be sure to avoid “basic” fares that bar you from making itinerary changes — or canceling your flight, penalty-free.
Sound complicated? There are also new AI tools that can help you automatically capture the savings if the fare plummets days or weeks after your purchase your ticket.
When to fly at Thanksgiving
Monday, Nov. 23 is the cheapest day to depart for Thanksgiving travel, according to data from our friends at Points Path.
So if your plans allow, getting an early start on your Turkey Trek is the best way to save on flights.
Coming home, aim to fly back on Black Friday — or wait until the following Tuesday.
Holiday travelers on Dec. 24 at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). YUKI IWAMURA/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES
The worst day
The Sunday after Thanksgiving will likely be the most expensive and crowded day at airports. Flights on Sunday, Nov. 29, are running roughly 40% pricier than Black Friday, per Points Path.
On the flipside, Thanksgiving Day was the single quietest day airports saw last year.
When to fly at Christmas and New Year’s
The weekends before and after Christmas, along with Sunday, Jan. 3 are looking like the most expensive days to fly for the year-end holidays, per Points Path.
To find the lowest prices, I’d suggest searching prices for the weekdays before and after Christmas.
Which US regions are hit the hardest?
Compared to last year, the Midwest is seeing the biggest price jumps for Thanksgiving travel, according to flight deals app Going. At Christmas, flyers headed to and from the Northeast are dealing with the most sticker shock.
Terminal 3 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
TPG tips: Cast a wide net when you search flights
Use sites like Google Flights or Kayak to search flight prices across a wide range of airlines, dates and airports.
Casting the widest net positions you to find the best deals out there.
Your best bet to protect your wallet: Book your trip with a credit card that has built-in travel protections. If you get stuck, you may be able to file a claim and get hundreds of dollars in expenses reversed.
Milk those expiring credits, freebies and perks before the end of the year
Those family holiday getaways when suitcases are full of winter clothes (and maybe some gifts) are when that airline credit card with free bags really pays for itself.
Plus, take inventory of any expiring hotel and travel credits you might have in your accounts; don’t leave that money on the table!
What about using points?
Booking flights with points are, of course, a great way to cut your out-of-pocket expenses for that end-of-year trip.
Just be careful: Award prices in most major U.S. loyalty programs have spiked for holiday flights, too, since many airlines now use dynamic pricing.
So consult our valuations to make sure you’re not handing over too many hard-earned points at once.
Get creative with your points
Also, keep in mind: Sometimes the airline you want to fly with isn’t the carrier whose program you want to redeem your miles with.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
For instance, Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards can offer great redemptions on American Airlines. You can transfer many credit card points to Air France and KLM’s Flying Blue to book Delta Air Lines flights.
Or, use Air Canada's award currency on United Airlines.
There are plenty of options out there if you're willing to get creative.
And getting creative is probably the best way to fly without breaking the bank in 2026.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
