If you're wondering when to book Christmas flights in 2026, the short answer from this year's fare data is: now. Google's own analysis of five years of flight prices says the cheapest Christmas fares have historically shown up about eight weeks before departure, which puts the best window right in the first half of November. Expedia's booking deadline for domestic Christmas trips is Tuesday, Nov. 10. And prices are already higher than last year, so waiting for a late-November deal is more likely to cost you than save you.
The Booking Window Is Open Right Now
Google published its 2026 holiday travel report in October, based on five years of Google Flights data. For Christmas, it found the lowest prices have typically appeared 56 days before departure, with a good-price range running from 33 to 67 days out. For a trip leaving the week before Christmas, that window runs from mid-October to around the third week of November. Google notes that the low point came five days earlier than in last year's report.
Expedia's 2026 Holiday Travel Outlook lands in the same place. It says travelers booking domestic Christmas flights by Nov. 10 can save up to $166, and those booking international trips by Dec. 1 can save up to $422.
Hopper was even more aggressive, advising travelers to book holiday flights and hotels before Halloween. That date has passed, but the takeaway is the same across all three: the cheap part of the season is now, not closer to the holiday.
Prices Are Up This Year
Expect to pay more than last Christmas either way. Hopper's 2026 Holiday Travel Index puts the average Christmas airfare at $452, up 23% from 2025. Expedia's numbers are a little gentler but point the same direction, with average holiday ticket prices up 15% for domestic trips and 20% for international ones across Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's combined.
The two companies measure things differently, so the exact figures don't match, but neither one sees prices dropping. If you've been waiting for fares to come down, this isn't the year to count on it.
The Best Days to Fly Around Christmas
Christmas falls on a Friday this year, which shapes when everyone travels. Expedia's data points to leaving on Thursday, Dec. 24, and returning on Monday, Dec. 28, as the cheapest combination it analyzed, with Saturday, Dec. 26, the most expensive day to fly. Hopper suggests the Monday or Tuesday before the holiday, Dec. 21 or 22, as the cheapest days to head out.
Christmas Eve travel isn't for everyone, since a single delay could mean missing dinner. If you need more breathing room, the start of that week is your next best bet. Google's data backs that up more broadly, finding that leaving on a Monday and coming back on a Tuesday or Wednesday saved about 14% compared with weekend flights, and up to 20% on domestic trips compared with flying out and back on Sundays.
New Year's Day also lands on a Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, so the same pattern likely applies to that trip: the weekend right after the holiday will be the busiest and priciest time to fly home.
How to Get the Best Fare
Set a price alert today on Google Flights or your airline's app for the exact dates you want, and set a second one for a day or two either side. Expedia's outlook notes that shifting your trip by even a day can lower the price, and an alert will tell you when it happens.
Be open to a connection. Google found nonstop flights cost about 20% more on average than connecting ones, which can add up quickly when you're buying tickets for a whole family. Just leave enough time between flights in winter, when a storm in one city can ripple across the country.
Don't stress about what day of the week you book. Google's data found Wednesday is the cheapest day to buy, but only by about 1.4% compared with Sunday, so it isn't worth waiting for. And if you're also traveling for Thanksgiving, our guide to the best days to fly for Thanksgiving covers which dates airlines expect to be quietest. With fares this high, booking early is the closest thing to a holiday gift you can give yourself.
