Do flight prices go up before Christmas?

“Prices will start to rise after about Oct. 14th for both Thanksgiving and Christmas trips,” Berg said. “Plan to book as soon as possible, as prices will rise each day as the holidays approach.” Flight prices are likely to spike significantly each day in the last three weeks ahead of each holiday, Hopper anticipates.



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Domestic flight prices for trips during the 2023 holiday season are on an uphill climb until the new year, according to an industry economist.

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Average domestic airfare price by day
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly domestically.
  • Saturday and Monday flights can help you avoid the Sunday rush.
  • Wednesdays and Thursdays are the cheapest day to fly internationally.
  • Book one to three months in advance.
  • Set a price alert.


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It's ideal to search for airfare at these moments: International airfare: 6 weeks ahead. Domestic airfare in summer: 47 days ahead. Domestic airfare in autumn and winter: 62–69 days ahead.

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Consider seasonality before booking Seasonally, demand typically slows around mid- to late June, as most travelers have already booked their vacations for peak May, June and July travel. Lower demand for late summer and early fall travel means you may be able to get lower airfare by traveling in September or October.

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If a ticket for a Christmas flight were available in August for $500, the same flight would cost you almost twice as much if you buy in December. This is the main reason you should book your Christmas flight NOW.

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The exception is Thanksgiving week, for which you should book travel earlier. Winter: Travel around the Christmas and New Year holidays will usually cost more no matter what; otherwise, winter can be an affordable time to travel. For non-holiday travel, aim to buy plane tickets 94 days in advance.

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Tickets are also cheaper in August than during the December rush. For the lowest fares on domestic flights, travel in January or February. But for international trips, you'll find the cheapest fare in August.

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But even compared to pre-pandemic prices, airfares are lower. Average U.S. airfares are more than 6.5% lower in September 2023 than they were in September 2019, meaning prices aren't just lower than they were last year, but even lower than what they were pre-pandemic.

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Fares could get much pricier within days For Christmas, domestic round-trip flights are still hovering at $400 on average, per Hopper data. However, after about Oct. 14, prices are likely to consistently get more expensive and travelers will have a more challenging time finding the best deals.

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Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly domestically. The cheapest days to depart if you're flying within the U.S. are midweek — generally Tuesday or Wednesday. For economy tickets, Tuesdays are about 24% lower than peak prices on Sundays, which translates to savings of about $85 per ticket.

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As time goes on, more airlines will begin to release their flights for 2024. If you want to fly sooner, most airlines have already released their flights for the end of the year too. Generally, flights are available to book around 11 months in advance, although it will differ from airline to airline.

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The cheapest months to travel are:
  • November – early December.
  • Late January – March.


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Yes, Christmas Day is the best day to fly out of all the days in the weeks before and after the holiday — assuming you don't mind spending part of your holiday in the air. While airport crowds dramatically increase in the days before and after Christmas, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day crowds are light.

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Generally, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the cheapest days to fly, while Fridays and Sundays are pricier, according to travel deal site FareCompare. Leisure travelers tend to fly on the weekends, either starting their vacations on Friday or taking a long weekend Friday to Sunday.

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Tuesday Around Midnight is the Cheapest Time to Book
In general, flights were slightly cheaper at midnight earlier in the week (Monday through Wednesday). However, this is only applicable to about 1.6% of U.S. markets, meaning that it's not likely you'll find the same savings on your specific route.

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“If it's an off-peak season — not middle of summer, Christmas or New Year's — then booking about one to three months in advance is typically when cheap flights have the highest likelihood of popping up,” he said. “When you're talking about international travel, two to eight months in advance.”

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How often do airlines update airfare information online? The airlines update fare information 3 times a day. They do not necessarily change airfare prices all three times, but they certainly can, and often do.

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