Holiday airfare surges in 2026: How to find the best deals before it's too late
If you've flown over the past few months, you're likely all too familiar with the fact that flying in 2026 costs a lot more than it did a year ago.
Since the start of the war in Iran, global oil prices have surged, and 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 a recent forecast from booking app Hopper.
If you're hoping to fly for Christmas and New Year's, you'll pay — on average — about 23% more than last holiday season.
With less than a few weeks to go until Thanksgiving, airlines are offering consumers little hope that a drop in prices is on the horizon.
"The fares will be a function of what the market bears," Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said in a recent interview on CNBC. "We're not seeing any slowdown at all — our consumer is resilient."
Below, The Points Guy explains how to find the best deals for holiday airfare.
Flight prices remain high
Traveling during the 2026 holiday season will cost customers more.
Fares are indeed up, sharply, from last year.
The one bit of good — or at least lukewarm — news? There has not been a major autumn surge in ticket prices. Prices have remained high, but fairly consistent, since August, when TPG started closely tracking holiday fares with the help of Points Path proprietary data.
However, you shouldn't wait any longer to book holiday flights, as each day you wait increases the risk of a big price jump.
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? Here are some of your best options.
When to book holiday flights in 2026
Book as soon as possible, but leave 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 major carriers allow you to change your ticket after booking. You may be able to cancel your reservation and rebook yourself without paying additional fees.
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.
There are also new AI tools that can help you track fare prices days or weeks after you purchase your ticket.
When to fly at Thanksgiving
This year, Monday, Nov. 23, is the cheapest day to depart for Thanksgiving travel, according to data from Points Path.
If your plans allow, getting an early start on your Thanksgiving travel is the best way to save on flights.
Coming home, aim to fly back on Black Friday or wait until the following Tuesday.
The worst day to fly after Thanksgiving
The Sunday after Thanksgiving will likely be the most expensive and crowded day at airports. Flights on Sunday, Nov. 29, are running roughly 40% more expensive than on Black Friday, per Points Path.
Fun fact: The busiest day ever at U.S. airports was the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2025.
On the flip side, 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, seem to be the most expensive days to fly for the year-end holidays, per Points Path.
To find the lowest prices, search prices for the weekdays before and after Christmas.
Which U.S. regions are hit the hardest?
Compared to last year, the Midwest is seeing the largest price increases for Thanksgiving travel, according to the flight deals app Going. At Christmas, flyers traveling to and from the Northeast are experiencing the most sticker shock.
Cast a wide net when you search holiday 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. Also, you can use award search tools to redeem points for your holiday flight.
Be as flexible as you can
Yes, family holiday gatherings, PTO and school schedules make this easier said than done.
However, if you can be flexible on when — and even where — you travel, the better your chances are at finding affordable airfare.
When possible, avoid honing in on a destination, and reverse the typical trip-planning process:
- Check out fares to a bunch of different destinations
- Find the destination that fits your budget
- Go there
Book with a credit card that has travel insurance (especially in 2026)
Airlines typically won't pay for your hotel (or taxi, or meals) if you get stranded because of bad weather.
Airlines may not be on the hook when mechanical delays happen, either, due to new federal regulations taking effect in October.
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.
This is an especially important reminder as flight cancellations hit a four-year high in 2026.
Use 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 an airline credit card that offers free checked bags as a benefit really pays for itself, and can help you save money.
Plus, take inventory of any expiring hotel and travel credits you might have in your accounts, so you don't leave that money on the table.
What about using points to book flights?
Booking flights with points is, 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.
This story was produced by The Points Guy and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.