Holiday travelers face decade-high airfare as Thanksgiving and Christmas trips get pricier
Holiday travel is on track to be the most expensive in a decade, with both Thanksgiving and Christmas airfare at 10-year highs.
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Americans planning to fly for Thanksgiving or Christmas may need to budget more this year, with holiday airfare climbing to its highest levels in a decade.
Round-trip domestic airfare for Thanksgiving is averaging $402, a 31% increase from last year, according to travel booking platform Hopper. That's about $95 more per ticket than travelers paid in 2025.
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Christmas travel will cost even more, with the average domestic round-trip flight currently running $452. That's an increase of 23%, or about $85, compared with last year.
Airplane wing with clouds on August 24, 2017.
(Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Hopper said months of elevated jet fuel costs due to the conflict in Iran have contributed to Thanksgiving and Christmas airfares reaching 10-year highs.
Travelers also appear to be planning further ahead in response, with bookings for both holidays running ahead of where they were at this point in past years.
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Hotel prices are a mixed bag. For Thanksgiving, domestic hotel rates are averaging $170 per night, roughly in line with last year. Christmas hotel stays, however, are averaging $197 per night, an 18% increase from 2025.
When are the most expensive days to fly for Thanksgiving?
For travelers with some flexibility, changing travel dates could result in significant savings.
The traditional Thanksgiving travel schedule of leaving Wednesday and returning Sunday will come at a premium. Sunday, Nov. 29, is expected to be one of the most expensive travel days of the year, with domestic trips that include a return flight that day averaging $604.
A Delta Airbus A321 airplane takes off into a smoke haze from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, June 8, 2023, as smoke from wildfires in Canada blankets the area.
(SAUL LOEB / AFP / Getty Images)
Travelers who wait until Monday or Tuesday to return home could pay about $350 per ticket, potentially saving roughly $250. Returning on Black Friday is another option, with average fares around $420.
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On the other end of the holiday, Monday, Nov. 23, is currently the cheapest day to depart, with fares averaging $370. Flying on Thanksgiving Day itself is similarly priced at about $371.
What about Christmas travel?
The most expensive time to begin a Christmas trip is expected to be the weekend before the holiday, from Dec. 18 to 20, when fares are already averaging just under $500 per ticket.
Leaving on the Monday or Tuesday before Christmas could bring the average closer to $440.
The Orlando International Airport is packed with travelers waiting in line the day before the Thanksgiving holiday.
(Paul Hennessy / Getty Images)
Travelers may also want to avoid flying home Sunday, Dec. 27, when prices are about 20% higher than early-week returns. Those extending their trips into the new year should also watch Jan. 2, when fares are expected to climb above $560.
Hopper recommends travelers start tracking prices now and book their holiday flights and hotels before Halloween, before availability decreases and prices potentially climb further.