Holiday flights cost more this year: fares are the highest in a decade

Holiday Airfares Are the Highest in a Decade. Here's How to Pay Less.

Team Sanctifly
Hopper projects the most expensive holiday travel season in a decade. Five simple moves can still help you pay less and travel easier this Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If holiday flights feel more expensive this year, you're not imagining it.Hopper's 2026 Holiday Travel Index projects this to be the most expensive holiday travel season in a decade. Round-trip Thanksgiving flights are averaging about $402, up 31% from last year, and Christmas flights about $452, up 23%. Higher jet fuel costs, reduced flight schedules and rising bag fees are all part of the picture.The good news: you still have some control over what you pay. Here are five moves worth making before you book.

1. Flex your dates by a day or two

The days everyone wants are the days that cost the most. For Thanksgiving, Hopper points to Thanksgiving Day itself, Black Friday and Cyber Monday as better-value days to fly, and suggests avoiding the Sunday after Thanksgiving. For Christmas, leaving on the Monday or Tuesday before the holiday tends to bring the lowest fares.

2. Compare nearby airports

If you live within reach of more than one airport, check them all. A slightly longer drive can sometimes mean a noticeably cheaper fare or a nonstop flight that saves you a risky connection.

3. Add up bag and seat fees before you compare

The cheapest fare on the screen isn't always the cheapest trip. Once you add a checked bag, a carry-on or a seat assignment, a basic fare can end up costing more than a standard one. Compare the total, not the headline price.

4. Set fare alerts and book when the price is right

Fares move constantly. Set alerts on the routes you're considering, and when a price drops to a level you're comfortable with, book it. Waiting for the perfect deal this close to the holidays usually costs more than it saves.

5. Check your credit card's travel protections

Holiday travel and winter weather are a tough combination. Many credit cards include trip delay or cancellation coverage when you pay with the card, so it's worth knowing what yours covers before you book.

Make the airport part of the trip easier

Once you're booked, a little planning can make the airport less stressful too. Sanctifly gives travelers access to more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide, where participating locations may offer comfortable seating, food, drinks, Wi-Fi and charging. It's a better way to spend a holiday layover or delay than standing at a crowded gate.Have you booked your holiday flights yet? Tell us on Instagram or Facebook. We'd love to hear how you're getting where you're going this year.Travel well.— Team SanctiflySource: Hopper 2026 Holiday Travel Index, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta (September 30, 2026).