If I want cheaper holiday flights, I try to avoid the busiest travel days and fly on the holiday itself or just next to it.
Here’s the short version:
- Thanksgiving: I usually save money by leaving Sunday through Tuesday before Thanksgiving or on Thanksgiving Day, and by returning Friday, Monday, or Tuesday instead of Sunday.
- Christmas: I look at Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, since fares are often lower than Dec. 20–23.
- New Year’s: I check Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for lower prices, and I avoid returning on Jan. 2–3 if I can.
- Big reason: Moving a trip by 1–2 days can cut fares by 20%–30%.
- Extra tip: Early morning holiday flights can run 10%–20% less than midday options.
I see the same pattern every year: prices spike when most people want the same flights, then ease on less popular dates. In some cases, Thanksgiving route prices have dropped to $38–$120, while Christmas peak fares on busy routes can hit about $851 and then fall to around $530 on Dec. 24–25.
| Holiday | Lower-cost days | High-cost days |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Sun.–Tue. before, Thanksgiving Day, Fri./Mon./Tue. return | Wed. before, Sun. return |
| Christmas | Dec. 24, Dec. 25, earlier midweek December dates | Dec. 20–23 |
| New Year’s | Dec. 31, Jan. 1, Jan. 4–6 return | Jan. 2–3 return |
My takeaway: if I can shift my dates a little and book before seats fill up, I usually give myself a better shot at a lower fare and a less crowded trip.
The Cheapest Days to Fly for Thanksgiving
Cheapest Days to Leave: Sunday Through Tuesday Before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Day Itself
Wednesday before Thanksgiving is usually the most expensive day to fly out. That’s the day a huge share of travelers tries to leave, so the cheapest seats tend to disappear first. What’s left are the pricier fares.
If you can leave on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday before Thanksgiving, you’ll usually pay less.
The cheapest outbound pick is often Thanksgiving Day itself. Most people don’t want to spend the holiday at the airport or on a plane, so airlines often still have lower-priced seats available. On busy routes like the Mid-Atlantic to Orlando corridor, roundtrip fares have fallen to $38 to $120, which is about 40% lower than prior years.
A big part of the savings comes down to timing: skip the Wednesday departure and avoid the Sunday trip home.
Cheapest Days to Return: The Friday After Thanksgiving and the Following Monday or Tuesday
Sunday after Thanksgiving is the most expensive return day. It’s the main rush home, and prices usually climb right along with demand.
If your schedule gives you some wiggle room, flying back on Friday can cut costs. So can waiting until Monday or Tuesday of the next week. Move your return by just 1–2 days, and fares often drop 20%–30%.
| Travel Date | Direction | Price Level | Crowd Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., Nov. 22 | Outbound | Low | Moderate |
| Mon., Nov. 23 | Outbound | Low | Moderate |
| Tue., Nov. 24 | Outbound | Medium | High |
| Wed., Nov. 25 | Outbound | Most Expensive | Peak |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Outbound | Lowest | Low |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Return | Low | Moderate |
| Sun., Nov. 29 | Return | Most Expensive | Peak |
| Mon., Nov. 30 | Return | Low | Low |
| Tue., Dec. 1 | Return | Low | Low |
Christmas and New Year’s tend to follow the same pattern, although the cheapest days to fly usually land a bit closer to the holiday itself.
The Cheapest Days to Fly for Christmas and New Year’s
Late December works a lot like Thanksgiving: the busiest days cost the most, while the holiday itself often comes with lower fares.
Christmas: Why Dec. 24, Dec. 25, and Earlier December Weekdays Often Cost Less
For Christmas trips, the most expensive days are usually Dec. 20 through Dec. 23. That’s when most people are trying to get in before the holiday, so prices on popular routes can jump to about $851.
By contrast, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 are often cheaper. Fewer travelers want to spend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day at the airport, so prices on those same routes can drop to around $530. If your schedule has some wiggle room, midweek dates earlier in December, before the Dec. 18–20 rush, can also cost less.
Airlines lower fares on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 to fill seats that might otherwise stay empty. The same thing tends to happen around New Year’s.
New Year’s: Why Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 Can Be Less Expensive
New Year’s follows the same pattern. The cheapest fares often show up on or just after the holiday. Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 are often among the lower-cost days to fly in late December because many travelers want to be at their destination before the celebration begins.
The most expensive return window is usually Jan. 2 and Jan. 3. But if you can push your trip back and return Jan. 4 through Jan. 6, you’ll often hit the post-holiday lull, when fares drop and crowds start to thin out.
One more tip: book the first flight of the day on Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1. Those departures are often 10% to 20% cheaper than midday flights on the same dates, and they’re less likely to get caught in delay chains later in the day.
How to Find Lower Holiday Fares Before Prices Go Up
Once you know the cheapest holiday dates, the next move is simple: grab those fares before they vanish.
Day of Week, Departure Time, and Booking Window Patterns That Affect Price
Start tracking holiday fares early, then move fast when a good deal shows up. Holiday prices can jump without much warning, so timing matters.
It also helps to check nearby airports and search engines. A short drive can sometimes cut the fare enough to make the extra trip worth it.
How Dollar Flight Club Alerts Help You Spot Cheaper Holiday Dates Faster
Fare alerts make that process a lot easier, especially when holiday booking spikes hit. Knowing the cheapest days is only half the battle. The harder part is booking before the price climbs.
That’s where Dollar Flight Club comes in. Dollar Flight Club sends email and SMS alerts for discounted domestic and international flights, helping you catch deals before holiday fares go up. Members also get extra travel perks.
The sooner you spot a fare drop, the better your odds of locking in the cheapest holiday dates.
Conclusion: The Cheapest Holiday Flights Are Usually on the Holiday or Just Around It
The pattern is pretty simple: fly on the holiday itself or move your trip a day away from the busiest travel window.
That’s where the biggest price drops tend to show up. Fares often ease when you travel on the holiday or shift your departure by a day or two. The bonus? Crowds usually thin out too.
Even a small change can make a dent in the price. A bit of flexibility, or using Google Flights to check nearby airports, can lower holiday fares by 20% to 30%.
Use Dollar Flight Club alerts to catch these lower holiday fares before they’re gone.
FAQs
Why are holiday flights cheapest on the holiday itself?
Holiday flights are often cheapest on the actual holiday. The reason is simple: most people want to get there before the celebration starts, so demand climbs on the days right before and right after. When more people want those flights, airlines can charge more.
On the holiday itself, demand usually falls. So airlines cut fares to fill empty seats. If you fly on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, you can often save $75 to $100 or more per ticket compared with the busiest surrounding days.
How early should I book holiday flights?
Book early. Holiday demand runs high, and seats fill up fast.
For Thanksgiving, book domestic flights 3 to 7 weeks ahead. For Christmas and New Year, aim for 4 to 8 weeks. If you’re flying abroad for the holidays, try to book 6 to 12 weeks in advance.
A simple rule of thumb: lock in winter holiday travel by October 31. That can help you dodge the price spikes that often show up in November.
Are nearby airports worth checking for holiday travel?
Yes. Nearby airports are often worth a look for holiday travel because prices can swing a lot when airports compete on the same route.
Choosing an alternate airport can trim your cost by about 20% to 30%, and sometimes even more, without adding much travel time. A good example is comparing MIA vs. FLL or looking across EWR, LGA, and JFK.
It’s a simple move, but it can pay off fast.
Use Dollar Flight Club alerts too. They can help you spot price drops before holiday fares jump.
