We are currently in an optimal period for reserving flights for the holiday season. As experts frequently mention, the ideal time to secure the most economical airfare is typically one to two months prior to your travel dates. With Thanksgiving approaching, we are just approaching the one-month mark, while Christmas is about two months away. This period is prime for finding lower airfares.
If you delay your booking, airfare prices are likely to surge as the holidays draw nearer. Hence, this is a timely reminder to start planning and booking your flights. For those looking for affordable domestic travel, it’s advisable to book Thanksgiving flights in early to mid-October and Christmas journeys by Halloween. Historically, October yields the most competitive holiday airfare deals.
Recent analyses indicate an increase in holiday flight prices for 2025 relative to the previous year. However, thankfully, the rise isn’t as pronounced as it was last month. The time to finalize your bookings is now.
For the best prices, we recommend monitoring flights starting three months prior to your intended travel dates—though it’s wise to book any attractive deals you find before that. Aim to have Thanksgiving flights booked by Halloween, while you might have a little more leeway for Christmas bookings.
Corroborating this, Google’s data shows that average prices for Thanksgiving flights tend to be at their lowest around 35 days before departure, whereas Christmas and New Year flights are generally cheapest 51 days prior to travel.
Insights on Pricing Trends for 2025 Holidays
The latest reports on holiday pricing trends are not particularly promising. Unfortunately, many fares, especially for the holidays, have risen year over year. A new dataset from Points Path indicates that prices are generally higher for both Thanksgiving and Christmas trips, with some exceptions for specific cabins and dates.
Points Path, a free browser extension, assists travelers by displaying points and miles award prices alongside cash fares in Google Flights. The extension leverages extensive search data to analyze current airline pricing strategies.
Thanksgiving Pricing Overview
An examination of over 100,000 flights during Thanksgiving week reveals that economy fares for domestic travel have seen a 3.4% increase year over year, averaging around $586. Notably, while domestic business-class and premium economy fares decreased by 1% to 5%, first-class fares surged by approximately 12%. In the international arena, economy tickets have seen a similar uptick of about 3%, but certain premium cabin fares have dropped significantly, ranging between 6% and 35%.
Christmas Pricing Overview
The patterns for Christmas flights mirror those of Thanksgiving. Average domestic economy flights cost around $639 compared to $633 in 2024—a modest year-over-year increase of about 1%. Moreover, domestic premium cabin fares have increased more sharply, with rises between 8% and 14%. Meanwhile, international economy tickets have generally seen a drop, averaging at $1,258.
The overall upward trend in holiday airfare persists, especially for domestic flights. Nonetheless, prices are unlikely to drop significantly in the upcoming weeks, making it essential to book your flights soon.
Strategies for Securing Affordable Holiday Flights
For travelers aiming to save on holiday airfare, we’ve compiled some additional strategies. When cash prices are high, it can be advantageous to utilize your points and miles as they often yield the best value during peak travel times.
Consider flying on non-peak days, arriving early, or extending your stay at your destination. This approach might land you a better deal; for example, if you can stay for a few weeks rather than just a few days, you might find significant savings.
Be flexible with your travel dates and times. Flights departing early in the morning or late at night, such as red-eye flights, are often more affordable. You might find it worth the inconvenience to wake up at dawn to enjoy some savings.
Lastly, do set alerts on Google Flights to keep an eye on pricing trends in the upcoming weeks. Remember, booking by Halloween is a smart goal, especially for Thanksgiving travel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the analysis from Points Path and other sources highlights that holiday airfare costs for 2025 are generally higher than previous years. However, the good news is that prices are likely to be at their lowest over the next few weeks, making this an ideal time to book your flights. As a rule of thumb, aim to book domestic flights one to two months ahead of your planned travel to secure the best deals. But remember, if you’re using airline miles, start your search and booking as early as you can.
