For Christmas, opting to fly on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) can help you save 26% on domestic airfares, according to Priceline data. If you don't want to fly on Christmas Eve, traveling between Dec. 18 and Dec. 20 may help you save up to 15%.
People Also Ask
For Christmas, deals are sparse with the least-expensive day to fly far ahead of the holiday on Dec.18. Travelers who fly on Christmas Eve, however, can save nearly $120 compared to flying on Dec. 22, which is one of the most expensive days to fly for the holiday.
Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date.
Cheapest Days To Fly for Christmas 2023For Christmas, opting to fly on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) can help you save 26% on domestic airfares, according to Priceline data. If you don't want to fly on Christmas Eve, traveling between Dec. 18 and Dec. 20 may help you save up to 15%.
Generally, the worst days of the week to fly domestically are Sunday, Monday, and Friday. Why are flights on Sunday, Monday, and Friday more expensive? Most business travel takes place on Monday and Friday. Many vacationers tend to fly on Fridays and Sundays.
“Those determined to avoid the summer crowds and heat may be planning to travel during the holidays, driving prices up,” said Ayoola. Holiday travel numbers are expected to resemble or surpass results from 2019, wrote Phil Dengler, co-founder and head of editorial and marketing of travel site The Vacationer.
Domestic airline prices are on the decline in 2023, finally retreating after spiking just a year ago. International fares are still high. After soaring in 2022, prices for domestic airline tickets are on the descent.
Skyscanner UK, also way back in 2019, reached a similar conclusion. They found that Sunday was typically the cheapest day to book your flight – while flying out on a Friday would usually help keep costs low.
And that high demand for peak season raises flight prices for you. Typically, flight prices increase from mid-May or maybe early June through to mid-August or early September as families get out for summer break and other travelers set out for sunny adventures.
71 days out is a recommendation, not a ruleInstead, travelers should view that timeline as the point when cheap flights have their highest odds of popping up. According to Going's analysis, travelers want to look for the so-called Goldilocks Window (not too early, not too late) to get the cheapest airfare.
It mostly comes down to supply and demand. Demand is contributing to higher prices as travel continues to surge post-pandemic, Berg said. Sustained strong demand in 2023 continues to put additional pressure on prices, especially to and within regions where travel has only recently reopened like parts of Asia.