If you’re planning to fly for Thanksgiving but haven’t booked a ticket yet, you might actually be in luck.
Travelers could still have a few weeks before they hit the sweet spot for booking their Thanksgiving flights, according to new data from KAYAK. But wait too long, and those potential savings could disappear quickly. KAYAK’s 2026 Holiday Travel Check-In looked at historical airfare trends to determine when travelers are most likely to find cheaper flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as which destinations are getting cheaper this year.
The big takeaway for Thanksgiving travelers: You probably don’t need to panic-book a flight today, but you also shouldn’t wait until November.
When to book Thanksgiving flights
Historically, domestic Thanksgiving airfare hits its lowest point about five weeks before the holiday, according to KAYAK. That puts the potential sweet spot toward the end of October this year. After that, travelers could see prices start heading in the opposite direction, particularly as the holiday gets closer. KAYAK says fares have historically climbed sharply within two weeks of departure.
“Throughout 2026, airfare has largely followed the seasonal patterns we saw in 2025, just at a higher price point,” KAYAK CEO Peer Bueller said. “That makes history a useful guide, not a guarantee.”
When you fly can make an even bigger difference in how much you pay. Travelers willing to fly on Thanksgiving Day itself could save as much as 19% on domestic airfare compared with departing Nov. 20, which KAYAK identified as the most expensive day around the holiday to fly. The potential difference is even larger for international travelers. Flying on Thanksgiving could save travelers as much as 49% compared with leaving Nov. 20.
“Start tracking prices now and set a Price Alert so you are ready to book if fares fall,” KAYAK Travel Trends Expert Kayla DeLoache said. “Waiting a few weeks could save you money; waiting until the last minute probably won’t.” Christmas travelers can wait a little longer.
Christmas travelers have more time
KAYAK says Christmas fares have historically dipped between four and seven weeks before departure, putting the potential booking sweet spot between roughly mid-November and early December.
Traveling closer to Christmas could also pay off. Flying during Christmas week rather than the week before could save travelers as much as 18% on domestic airfare and 34% on international flights, according to KAYAK. Depending on where you’re headed, that could mean a substantial price difference. Don’t assume a round-trip ticket is cheapest.
While round-trip tickets are historically thought to be the cheapest, holiday travelers may also want to reconsider automatically booking a round-trip ticket. KAYAK found that combining two one-way tickets could reduce airfare by as much as 29% on domestic trips and 30% on international trips. That doesn’t mean two one-way tickets will always be cheaper. But it does mean holiday travelers may want to check both options before clicking “Buy.”
Some international destinations are getting cheaper
Travelers considering an international trip this holiday season could also find some surprising deals. While KAYAK says airfare overall has generally been running higher in 2026 than last year, some long-haul destinations are bucking the trend. Average airfare to Cusco, Peru, is down 20% compared with last year. Fares to Phuket, Thailand, are also down 16%, while airfare to Fiji has fallen 13%.
Canada is also emerging as a holiday hot spot. Searches for Québec City have jumped 73% year over year, while searches for Montréal are up 45%. Four of the five international destinations with the lowest average fares in KAYAK’s data are in Canada. Average airfare is $486 to Toronto, $516 to Vancouver, and $556 to Montréal.
For anyone still staring at an empty itinerary, however, the biggest takeaway from KAYAK’s data may be less about where to go than when to pull the trigger.
