Holiday travel costs are climbing, and the deadline to save may be this Saturday. Travel app Hopper projects the 2026 holiday season will be the most expensive in a decade, with Thanksgiving airfare up 31% from last year. Its advice for travelers is to book flights and hotels before Halloween. Here are the numbers, the cheapest days to fly, and practical ways to trim your trip budget.
Holiday Travel Costs 2026: The Numbers
According to a FOX 9 report on Hopper’s 2026 Holiday Travel Index, average domestic round-trip Thanksgiving flights cost $402, up 31% from last year. Christmas flights average $452, up 23%. Hotels are a mixed picture: Thanksgiving domestic rooms are steady at $170 a night, while Christmas rooms average $197 a night, up 18%.
The report attributes the jump largely to prolonged high jet fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict. It also says carriers cut some less profitable flights and raised fares and baggage fees to offset losses. If you have been following energy markets, our explainer on why Brent crude is surging shows why fuel prices ripple into ticket prices.
When to Book: Before Halloween
Hopper recommended booking all flights and hotels before Halloween, which is Saturday, Oct. 31. Prices can change daily, so treat this as a guideline rather than a guarantee. The takeaway is that waiting until mid-November is likely to be more expensive for popular dates.
Cheapest Days to Fly for Thanksgiving
The same report advises avoiding the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when return fares can spike above $600. Cheaper options include flying on Thanksgiving Day itself, Black Friday or Cyber Monday. For Christmas, Hopper says departing on the Monday or Tuesday before the holiday tends to bring the lowest rates.
Where Are Americans Going?
The top domestic destinations for both holidays are New York City, Miami and Orlando. Internationally, travelers favor Tokyo, London, Paris and Bangkok. Trending alternatives with fast-growing demand include Florida, Hawaii and budget-friendly destinations in Central Europe, Africa and Oceania. If your dates are fixed, a less popular destination may help you save.
Planning Trips With AI
One more trend from the report: a record 33% of adult travelers use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude to research, compare and plan trips. These tools can help you compare options quickly, but always confirm prices, baggage rules and schedules on the airline or booking site before you pay.
Hotels: Where You Might Save
While airfares are up sharply, Thanksgiving hotel rates are holding at an average of $170 a night, per the same Hopper figures. That makes lodging the relatively gentle part of a Thanksgiving trip budget. Christmas is different, with rates up 18% to $197 a night, so locking in a refundable room early can give you flexibility if plans change. When comparing options, check cancellation terms, resort or parking fees, and whether breakfast is included.
Thanksgiving vs. Christmas: Which Costs More?
On average, Christmas flights ($452) cost more than Thanksgiving flights ($402), but Thanksgiving fares rose faster year over year, up 31% versus 23%. If you have a choice between the two holidays and want to travel on a tighter budget, the Thanksgiving gap is narrowing, so the savings from choosing one over the other are smaller than they used to be. Families who can travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday before a holiday, or on the holiday itself, will usually find the best deals.
Seven Ways to Cut Holiday Travel Costs
- Book now if your dates are fixed, rather than waiting for a price drop that may not come.
- Be flexible by a day. Shifting a departure from a peak day to Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday can matter.
- Avoid the Sunday after Thanksgiving for your return flight.
- Compare total cost, including checked bags, since carriers have raised baggage fees.
- Consider driving or taking a train for shorter trips, and compare the cost of gas and tolls with a plane ticket for your whole group.
- Look at nearby airports, which sometimes have lower fares.
- Set a firm trip budget and track it. Our Fed preview explains how interest rates can affect borrowing costs if you plan to finance holiday spending.
The Bottom Line
With the 2026 holiday season shaping up to be the priciest in a decade, planning early is your best tool. The clock is ticking toward Halloween, so if you are traveling for Thanksgiving or Christmas, check fares this week. Figures come from Hopper’s projections as reported by FOX 9 and may change as the season approaches.
