Thanksgiving and Christmas Airfares Climb to Decade High

Airfare for the Thanksgiving and Christmas travel season has jumped to its highest level in a decade, according to new data from booking company Hopper, which cited elevated jet fuel costs as the main driver of the increase.

Hopper’s 2026 Holiday Travel Index, based on a week of flight searches in September, found that domestic round-trip Thanksgiving airfare is averaging $402, a 31% jump — about $95 more — than last year. International fares have also risen, especially to popular destinations in Europe, Mexico and Central America.

Christmas travel shows a similar pattern. Domestic round-trip tickets are averaging $452, up 23% ($85) from last year. Fares to Mexico and Central America rose 23%, while fares to Europe climbed 15%.

Hopper linked the higher prices to months of elevated jet fuel costs tied to the conflict in Iran.

“Travelers looking ahead to Thanksgiving and Christmas travel will need to plan ahead for a larger travel budget this year, as the 2026 holiday travel is on track to be the most expensive in a decade,” the report said.

Gary Leff, a Texas-based aviation expert who runs the blog “View from the Wing,” said the price increases will be felt most by families traveling together.

“It’s a much bigger deal when you’re multiplying increases by, you know, four or more passengers,” Leff said.

Ways to cut costs

Leff recommends travelers keep an eye on fares even after booking, since many tickets can be adjusted if prices drop.

“You buy now and the fare drops, you just have to watch it,” he said. “Don’t just buy it and then never look again.”

He noted that most tickets, aside from basic economy fares, no longer carry change fees.

“As long as you’re not buying a basic economy ticket, most tickets no longer have change fees,” Leff said. “What that means is that you can call up the airline and apply your old ticket to a new one and generally get a credit back for the difference.”

Leff cautioned that common money-saving tactics, like flying from a different airport or booking a connecting flight, don’t always pay off once other costs are factored in.

“If you’re looking at an alternate airport that’s farther away, there are costs for driving,” he said. “You may have to park where you otherwise wouldn’t, or somebody might drop you off or wouldn’t, or the Uber is more expensive.”

He added that choosing a connection over a nonstop flight can raise the risk of delays during the busy holiday travel period.

“If you take a connection instead of a nonstop, that’s more of an opportunity for things to go wrong,” Leff said. “You should always consider your use of miles. If you have them, congratulations, and if you don’t, consider accumulating them for the future.”