Holiday Airfare Hits a 10-Year High: Thanksgiving and Christmas 2026

Fox News reported on November 1, 2026 that holiday airfares in the United States have reached their highest level in ten years. The story is based on the 2026 Holiday Travel Index from the booking company Hopper, which compared this year's Thanksgiving and Christmas prices with last year's. Hopper blames elevated jet fuel costs.

The numbers from the report

Hopper looked at a week of flight searches in September, focused on lower-priced tickets and adjusted for the different date of Thanksgiving this year.

• Thanksgiving, domestic round trip: an average of $402, up 31% or $95 from last year.
• Christmas, domestic round trip: an average of $452, up 23% or $85 from last year.
• Christmas to Mexico and Central America: fares up 23%.
• Christmas to Europe: fares up 15%.

International fares for popular destinations in Europe, Mexico and Central America are also higher, according to the report. Hopper's own conclusion is that this holiday season is on track to be the most expensive in a decade.

Why a family pays the most

A $95 increase sounds manageable for one person. For a family of four it is $380 extra on a Thanksgiving trip alone, and $340 on a Christmas trip. Gary Leff, the founder of the travel blog View from the Wing, told Fox News that the increase matters most for people booking four or more seats at once.

What helps lower the bill

Leff's advice in the article is practical and easy to apply:

1. Keep watching the fare after you buy. If the price drops, you can often claim the difference. Most tickets other than basic economy no longer carry change fees, so you can call the airline, apply the old ticket to a new one and generally get a credit for the difference.
2. Think twice about a far-away alternate airport. Parking, a drop-off or a more expensive rideshare can eat the savings.
3. Do not assume a connection is cheaper or safer. A connecting itinerary gives more chances for something to go wrong during the busiest weeks of the year.
4. Compare cash prices with miles. If you hold miles, check whether using them beats the cash fare.

For more on timing, see our guide on when to book cheap flights and the low fare calendar. If you want to keep an eye on promotions, read how to catch airline sales. A cheaper base fare can also come from a fare without checked baggage, explained in no baggage fare: what you can take.

You can compare current prices for your dates in the HotTrip flight search.

Frequently asked questions

How much are Thanksgiving flights in 2026?

According to the Hopper index reported by Fox News, the average domestic round trip for Thanksgiving is $402, which is 31% more than last year.

How much are Christmas flights in 2026?

The average domestic round trip for Christmas is $452, up 23% from last year. Flights to Mexico and Central America are up 23%, and flights to Europe are up 15%.

Why are holiday fares so high this year?

Hopper attributes the increase to months of elevated jet fuel costs. The Fox News report also notes airlines trimming seats while demand stays strong.

Can I get money back if the fare drops after I book?

Leff says that on tickets that are not basic economy you can generally apply the old ticket to a new one and receive a credit for the difference, since most tickets no longer have change fees.

Cover: photo by Martijn Stoof on Pexels