When to book Christmas flights in 2026

If you're working out when to book Christmas flights for 2026, the short answer is now, and no later than mid-November. Google Flights data shows the lowest average Christmas fares about 56 days before departure. For a December 23 flight that's around October 28; for December 19 it's this weekend. Fares are up a lot this year, so we wouldn't hold out for a late drop.

When is the best time to book Christmas flights in 2026?

On October 5, Google published its 2026 analysis of five years of Google Flights prices. For Christmas trips, average fares were lowest 56 days before departure, and they stayed low anywhere from 33 to 67 days out. That sweet spot arrives five days earlier than last year, and Google expects the best deals between late October and mid-November.

The same data puts Thanksgiving at 34 days out, international trips at 89 days and Europe at 90. So if you're flying to Europe for Christmas and haven't booked yet, you've already passed the usual low point. Book the first fare you can live with.

Your book-by date for each departure day

These dates come from Google's 56-day average and its 33 to 67 day low-price range:

They're averages across many routes, so your route can behave differently. Set a price alert for your exact dates and book before your window closes.

How much are Christmas flights in 2026?

More than last year. Hopper's 2026 Holiday Travel Index puts the average domestic round trip at Christmas at $452, up 23% on 2025, and calls this the most expensive holiday season in a decade. Hopper blames high jet fuel costs. Christmas hotel rates are up as well, to $197 a night (up 18%).

Two more things are pushing US fares up this winter. Spirit Airlines shut down on May 2, 2026, and Flighty's Katy Nastro told ABC News that Spirit had been pulling fares down about 15% on the routes it flew. And according to the Going app, as reported by The Points Guy, the Northeast is getting hit hardest at Christmas.

Are Christmas flights from the UK cheaper this year?

On a lot of routes, yes. KAYAK's UK data, released October 19, shows average Christmas and New Year return fares down as much as 39% from last year:

In 2025, KAYAK found that booking about six weeks before Christmas was cheapest and that prices jumped 15% in the final week. KAYAK is careful to say 2026 may not follow the same pattern.

What is the cheapest day to fly for Christmas 2026?

Christmas Day is a Friday this year, so the weekends either side fall on December 19 and 20 and on December 26 and 27.

• Fly out on Monday, December 21 or Tuesday, December 22. Hopper says those days have the lowest Christmas fares.
• Stay away from the weekends either side of Christmas and from Sunday, January 3. The Points Guy lists them as the priciest days.
• Leaving the UK? KAYAK found December 23 departures averaged about £615, roughly 36% less than December 19, which was both the most searched and the most expensive date.
• Pair a Monday departure with a Tuesday or Wednesday return. Google says that saves about 14% compared with weekend trips, and up to 20% on US domestic routes compared with flying out and back on a Sunday.

Does the day you book make a difference?

Hardly. Google found Wednesday is now the cheapest day to book, but it beats Sunday by only about 1.4%. The dates you fly move the price far more than the day you buy.

How else can you save on Christmas flights?

• Take a connection. Google found nonstop tickets cost about 20% more on average than connecting flights.
• Price two one-way tickets. KAYAK says they can beat a round trip on some domestic routes, including Boston, Denver, Miami, Orlando and Chicago.
• If your plans could change, skip basic economy. The Points Guy suggests booking early on a fare you can change and rebooking if the price falls, which basic fares usually don't allow.
• Pay with a card that includes travel protection. The Points Guy reports that flight cancellations hit a four-year high in 2026.
• Check both search engines. Our Kayak vs Google Flights guide explains when each one finds the lower fare.

Should you wait for Black Friday deals?

For Christmas flights, we wouldn't. Black Friday is November 27, and by then most Christmas departure dates are at or past the end of Google's low-price window. Black Friday sales are better for trips later in the winter or in spring; our Black Friday travel deals guide covers those.

Frequently asked questions

Plan the rest of your trip

• Best time to book flights in 2026 has booking windows for the rest of the year.
• Last-minute flight deals covers what works when you're booking late.
• See cheap international flights and cheap domestic flights.
• The travel budget calculator adds up flights, hotels and daily costs.

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