Disclosure: ShopBuyZones is reader-supported. When you buy or book through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission — at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 26, and Christmas lands on a Friday, December 25. Both are only weeks away, and airfare for both is already climbing. The good news is that a few small choices — which day you fly, how early you leave for the airport, and when you book — can save real money and a lot of stress. This guide pulls together what fare trackers and airport data say for 2026 so you can plan around it.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait Much Longer
The Points Guy reported in early September 2026 that holiday fares are running well above last year, with year-over-year increases of roughly 9–13% for Thanksgiving, 12–18% for Christmas, and about 16% for international holiday fares. It also advised booking sooner than the traditional early-to-mid-October timeframe, since prices tend to climb after Labor Day.
Not every source agrees on the exact window. Going (the flight-deal service formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights) suggests booking Christmas trips three to five months ahead for domestic flights, which points to right now. NerdWallet, citing Google Flights data, recommends booking by the end of October. Put together, the message is consistent: if you haven’t booked yet, do it in the next few weeks. Holiday flights fill up, so last-minute bargains are rare.
Search Holiday Flights
The list below shows current sample fares into New York. Tap any route to open the flight search. Midweek flights and flights on the holiday itself are usually the cheapest.
Thanksgiving 2026: Best and Worst Days to Fly
The busiest day is the Sunday after. Autopilot’s 2026 analysis points to Sunday, November 29 as the peak, noting that the Sunday after Thanksgiving has been the busiest day of Thanksgiving week at U.S. airports in each of the last five years. On Sunday, November 30, 2025, TSA screened about 3.13 million people, the busiest single day in the agency’s history. Tuesday, November 24 and Monday, November 30 also carry very heavy traffic.
The quietest day is Thanksgiving Day itself. Just under 1.56 million people were screened on Thanksgiving Day 2025, roughly half the Sunday figure. NerdWallet’s review of TSA numbers agrees: Thanksgiving Day is the least crowded day to fly, and it is often the cheapest too.
Other lighter days: Saturday, November 21 is the lightest day on the way out. On the way home, Tuesday, December 1 and Wednesday, December 2 are the calmest.
Quiet doesn’t always mean cheap. A light travel day usually helps with crowds, but fares don’t always follow. Check prices and crowding separately before you decide.
Christmas and New Year’s 2026: Best and Worst Days to Fly
Christmas falls on Friday, December 25, and New Year’s Day is also a Friday. That shapes which days are busy.
Cheapest days: Going calls Christmas Eve and Christmas Day two of the quietest, cheapest days of the season, because few people want to fly on the holiday itself. One Autopilot analysis found flying on Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24) was about 26% cheaper than the weekend before, roughly $100 a ticket. For the trip home, NerdWallet says New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day sees the fewest people at airports in the week after Christmas, and Autopilot suggests Monday, January 4 to dodge the weekend rush.
Most expensive days: The weekend before Christmas (Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20) is the peak outbound rush. On the return side, December 26 through 28 is the crowded stretch, and because New Year’s Day is a Friday, January 2 and 3 get a second squeeze.
Midweek Beats Weekend
The pattern holds year-round and matters even more at the holidays. Going’s guide, citing Expedia data, puts midweek flights at roughly 14% cheaper than Sunday departures on domestic routes, and The Points Guy puts Monday through Wednesday at about 13% cheaper than weekend flying. NerdWallet says flying on lower-demand dates can save $100 or more per ticket. Even shifting your plans by one day can make a difference.
Your Airport Survival Plan
Arrive early on peak days. On the busiest days, plan on 2.5 to 3 hours before a domestic departure, and check your airport’s own holiday guidance for parking and security lines.
Fly in the morning. Expedia’s 2025 holiday travel analysis found morning flights were 57% less prone to cancellations than flights after 9 p.m. When delays pile up during the day, late flights are the first to get stuck.
Give connections extra room. On peak days there are fewer empty seats to rebook you onto if you miss a connection. A nonstop, or a longer layover, is worth paying a little extra for.
Book ground transport early. Airport parking lots and rental car shuttles fill up, and Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest day for rental car pickups. Reserve your car as soon as your flights are set.
Pack light. Skipping the checked bag means one less thing to lose or wait for. Our carry-on packing guide shows how to fit a week in one bag, and our list of 10 travel mistakes that cost you money covers the fee traps to avoid along the way.
Travel Gear for Holiday Flights
Four picks from our travel guides that make a carry-on-only trip easier. We do not print prices, because they change often.
Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Carry-On
Best overall in our carry-on luggage guide, with the largest review base of any pick in it. Read the full carry-on guide.
Check today’s price on Amazon
See it on Amazon →
Shacke 5-Set Packing Cubes with Laundry Bag
The first pick in our packing cubes guide: five cubes plus a laundry bag. Read the full packing cubes guide.
Check today’s price on Amazon
See it on Amazon →
BCOZZY Travel Neck Pillow
The first pick in our travel neck pillow guide. Read the full neck pillow guide.
Check today’s price on Amazon
See it on Amazon →
Anker 65W 3-Port Foldable Charger
The most-reviewed charger in our travel charger guide, with three ports so several devices can share one outlet. Read the full travel charger guide.
Check today’s price on Amazon
See it on Amazon →Set a Price Alert, Then Book When the Fare Makes Sense
You don’t need to catch the absolute lowest fare of the year. Set a price alert on Google Flights for your route and dates, and book when the price falls into a range you’re comfortable paying. Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, airlines that sell to U.S. customers must let you cancel within 24 hours of booking for a full refund if you booked at least seven days before departure, so you can book a good fare and keep looking for a day. Our guide to finding cheap flights explains which flight-booking tips are real and which are myths.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest day to fly for Thanksgiving 2026?
Thanksgiving Day itself, Thursday, November 26, is usually the cheapest and the least crowded. Saturday, November 21 on the way out and Tuesday, December 1 or Wednesday, December 2 on the way home are also lighter.
What is the busiest travel day for Thanksgiving 2026?
Sunday, November 29, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, is expected to be the busiest. It has been the busiest day of Thanksgiving week at U.S. airports for five years in a row.
Is it cheaper to fly on Christmas Day?
Usually, yes. Going and NerdWallet both point to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as low-demand days. The trade-off is fewer flight options on some routes and possibly reduced hours at airport shops and restaurants, so check your airline’s schedule first.
When should I book if I haven’t already?
Soon. Sources differ slightly, but most point to booking before the end of October at the latest, and prices are already rising compared with last year.
The Bottom Line
For holiday flights in 2026, the winning formula is simple: book in the next few weeks, fly on the holiday itself or midweek if you can, take a morning flight, and leave extra time for the airport. Avoid the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the weekend before Christmas unless you have no choice. A little flexibility on dates does more for your budget than any last-minute trick.