2026 holiday travel: Thanksgiving, Christmas airfares reach highest prices in a decade
FILE - People wait in line to check their luggage at Terminal A at Boston's Logan Airport on Dec. 23, 2024, ahead of the upcoming Christmas holiday. (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
The 2026 holiday travel season is projected to be the most expensive in a decade, according to an analysis by Hopper.
Airfares have reached a record high
Big picture view:
Prolonged high jet fuel costs, which is largely due to the conflict in the Middle East, have pushed round-trip domestic airfares up significantly, Hopper said.
Carriers cut some less profitable flights and raised fares and baggage fees to hopefully make up for some of their losses.
By the numbers:
Thanksgiving flights are averaging $402 (up 31% from last year), while Christmas flights average $452 (up 23%).
Domestic hotel rates remain steady for Thanksgiving at $170/night, but jump 18% to $197/night for Christmas stays.
Where are people flying this holiday?
Dig deeper:
Major metropolitan hubs like New York City, Miami, and Orlando remain the top domestic choices for both holidays, while international travel is led by destinations such as Tokyo, London, Paris, and Bangkok.
For travelers seeking alternative options, trending spots with fast-growing demand include Florida, Hawaii, and budget-friendly destinations across Central Europe, Africa, and Oceania.
How travelers are adapting to high airfares
What you can do:
To navigate higher airfares this holiday season, consumers are booking their holiday trips much earlier than in previous years to lock in better rates.
Travelers should aim to book all flights and hotel accommodations before Halloween, Hopper suggested.
Savings can also be found by avoiding peak return travel days — such as the Sunday after Thanksgiving, where fares spike over $600 — and instead flying on off-peak days like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Thanksgiving Day itself.
For Christmas, departing on the Monday or Tuesday before the holiday yields the lowest rates.
Travelers turn to AI for planning trips
Additionally, adoption of technology is surging, with a record 33% of adult travelers using AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to research, compare, and plan their upcoming trips.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from Hopper’s 2026 Holiday Travel Index. Previous reporting by The Associated Press also contributed. This story was reported from San Jose.