Advisors with clients still holding out on Thanksgiving flights have until roughly the end of the month to book, according to Kayak's 2026 Holiday Travel Check-In. Domestic fares have historically reached their low point about five weeks ahead of the holiday and then risen steeply in the final two weeks.
Christmas fares follow a similar pattern, with prices typically softening four to seven weeks before departure. That puts the booking window 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 matter as much as booking dates. Flying on Thanksgiving Day instead of Nov. 20, the priciest departure day, can cut fares by as much as 19% on domestic routes and 49% on international ones. Travelers who fly the week of Christmas instead of the week before can save up to 18% domestically and 34% internationally.
Kayak also found that two one-way tickets can beat a round-trip fare by up to 30% on international routes and 29% on domestic ones. The widest gaps were for Simpson Bay, St. Maarten (30%); Liberia, Costa Rica (23%); and Lima, Peru (20%). Domestically, Washington, D.C. led at 29%, with Chicago at 28% and San Diego at 22%.
Several long-haul destinations are cheaper than they were last year. Average fares are down 20% to Cusco, 16% to Phuket, and 13% to Fiji.
On the demand side, searches for Québec City are up 73% year over year and searches for Montréal are up 45%. Canada is also a value play, with average fares of $486 to Toronto, $516 to Vancouver, and $556 to Montréal.
Florida accounts for five of the 10 U.S. destinations with the largest search gains, all with average fares under $430. Punta Gorda is up 44%, and Valparaiso and Sarasota are each up 30%. New Orleans, Savannah, and Knoxville also made the list.
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