Travelers looking to book Thanksgiving flights should aim to secure their tickets by the end of the month, according to Kayak’s 2026 Holiday Travel Check-In. Historically, domestic airfares hit their lowest point about five weeks before the holiday, then rise sharply in the final two weeks.
Christmas flights follow a similar trend, with prices typically dropping four to seven weeks before departure. This means the ideal booking window falls between mid-November and early December.
“Throughout 2026, airfare has largely followed the seasonal patterns we saw in 2025, just at a higher price point,” said Peer Bueller, CEO of Kayak. “That makes history a useful guide, not a guarantee.”
Travel dates are as important as booking dates. Flying on Thanksgiving Day instead of November 20, the most expensive departure day, can save travelers up to 19% on domestic routes and 49% on international ones. Similarly, flying during the week of Christmas instead of the week before can cut costs by up to 18% domestically and 34% internationally.
Kayak found that booking two one-way tickets can sometimes be cheaper than a round-trip fare, with savings of up to 30% on international routes and 29% on domestic ones. The biggest savings were seen for destinations like Simpson Bay, St. Maarten (30%), Liberia, Costa Rica (23%), and Lima, Peru (20%). Domestically, Washington, D.C. (29%), Chicago (28%), and San Diego (22%) offered the most significant discounts.
Some long-haul destinations are more affordable this year compared to last. Average fares to Cusco are down 20%, to Phuket by 16%, and to Fiji by 13%.
On the demand side, searches for Québec City have increased by 73% year over year, while Montréal searches are up 45%. Canada remains a budget-friendly option, with average fares of $486 to Toronto, $516 to Vancouver, and $556 to Montréal.
Florida is a popular choice this year, with five of the top 10 U.S. destinations in search gains located in the state. Punta Gorda saw a 44% increase, while Valparaiso and Sarasota each rose by 30%. Other notable destinations include New Orleans, Savannah, and Knoxville, all with average fares under $430.
