Thanksgiving round-trip airfare is averaging $402 this year, up 31% from 2025, while Christmas fares average $452, a 23% rise, according to travel-data firm Hopper. The jump follows jet fuel prices reaching $4.90 a gallon — the highest single-day average ever tracked by Argus. Choosing less-popular travel days, booking early and watching new airline fees can still cut the cost meaningfully.
Why Holiday Flights Cost More This Year
The average U.S. price of jet fuel reached $4.90 a gallon, the highest single-day average ever recorded by tracking firm Argus and more than double what it was a year earlier, according to NPR affiliate station KPBS. Airlines pass that cost on to passengers through higher ticket prices.
Travel-booking company Hopper's holiday report, cited by Yahoo Creators, puts domestic round-trip Thanksgiving fares at an average of $402, up 31% from last year, and Christmas round-trip fares at $452, up 23%. Both figures mark 10-year highs for the respective holidays, per that report. The report links the elevated fuel costs in part to the conflict in Iran.
Airlines have to pass on these super high jet fuel prices in the form of higher fares.
— Hayley Berg, lead economist, Hopper (via KPBS)
The fuel cost spike is also showing up in airline balance sheets. United Airlines said it would spend $1.8 billion more on fuel in the third quarter than it did a year earlier, and the carrier has introduced new fees — including charges of up to $70 to choose a window or aisle seat and avoid a middle seat — to help offset expenses, according to KOMO News.
A survey by travel-rewards site The Points Guy, reported by KOMO News, found that more than half of respondents do not plan to travel this holiday season. Among those surveyed, 48% said price is the biggest factor in deciding whether to travel, and 39% said they are very worried about the cost of a holiday plane ticket.
Step-by-Step: How to Find a Cheaper Holiday Fare
Start shopping now rather than waiting for mid-season. Hopper recorded a jump in September holiday bookings this year, earlier than the typical mid-October booking pattern, per KPBS — a sign that travelers are locking in fares sooner.
Test flexible departure days. For Thanksgiving, Hopper data cited by Yahoo Creators shows departing Monday, Nov. 23 averages $370, about $50 cheaper than a midweek Wednesday departure; flying on Thanksgiving Day itself averages a similar $371.
Avoid the costliest return date. Thanksgiving trips returning Sunday, Nov. 29 average $604 round trip, while staying until Monday or Tuesday drops the average to about $350 — a gap of roughly $1,000 for a family of four, per the same Hopper data. A Black Friday return averages about $420 as a middle option.
For Christmas, skip departing the weekend of Friday, Dec. 18 through Sunday, Dec. 20, when fares run just under $500. Returning Monday, Dec. 21 or Tuesday, Dec. 22 instead brings the average closer to $440.
Also avoid returning Sunday, Dec. 27, when fares run about 20% higher than earlier-week returns, and watch New Year's travel — returns on Jan. 2 exceed $560 on average, per the Hopper figures reported by Yahoo Creators.
Price in the extras, not just the base fare. United's new seat-selection charges of up to $70 can erase part of any fare savings, so compare the full checkout total across airlines before booking, per KOMO News.
Set a budget before you search. With 48% of travelers in the Points Guy survey naming price as the deciding factor, per KOMO News, comparing a few date combinations against a set ceiling makes it easier to walk away from an overpriced itinerary.
The Numbers at a Glance
Thanksgiving vs. Christmas 2026 Holiday Airfare
Holiday
Cheaper dates
Pricier dates
Average round-trip fare
Thanksgiving
Depart Mon., Nov. 23 or Thu., Nov. 26 (~$370–$371); return Mon./Tue. after (~$350)
Return Sun., Nov. 29 ($604)
$402 (+31% year over year)
Christmas
Return Mon., Dec. 21 or Tue., Dec. 22 (~$440)
Depart Fri., Dec. 18–Sun., Dec. 20 (just under $500); return Sun., Dec. 27 (+20%) or Jan. 2 (over $560)
$452 (+23% year over year)
Questions
Why are holiday flights so expensive this year?
U.S. jet fuel prices reached $4.90 a gallon, the highest single-day average ever recorded by Argus and more than double the level a year earlier, according to KPBS. Airlines, including United, say they are passing those higher fuel costs on to passengers through pricier tickets and new fees.
How much will Thanksgiving and Christmas flights cost on average?
Hopper data reported by Yahoo Creators puts average domestic round-trip Thanksgiving fares at $402, up 31% from last year, and Christmas fares at $452, up 23% — both 10-year highs.
Which days are cheapest to fly for Thanksgiving?
Departing Monday, Nov. 23 or Thanksgiving Day itself averages around $370–$371, and returning Monday or Tuesday after the holiday (about $350) is far cheaper than returning Sunday, Nov. 29, which averages $604, per Hopper figures cited by Yahoo Creators.
Are there extra fees I should watch for beyond the ticket price?
Yes. United Airlines, which said it would spend $1.8 billion more on fuel in the third quarter than a year earlier, has introduced new charges of up to $70 for window or aisle seat selection, according to KOMO News.
Should I book now or wait for prices to drop?
Hopper recorded an earlier-than-usual jump in holiday bookings this September, according to KPBS, suggesting many travelers are booking sooner rather than waiting, given the elevated fuel-driven pricing.
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