Holiday Airfares Surge as Travelers Hunt Savings

Thanksgiving and Christmas round-trip domestic fares are running well above last year's levels, prompting travelers to change dates, airports and routes.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Air Travel

Commercial jet wing and engine on an empty airport apron under low winter sunlight, with open flat terrain and a clear sky beyond. — Round-trip domestic airfares for Thanksgiving are up 39% and Christmas fares up 22% from last year, according to Hopper data, pushing travelers to change dates and airports. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you change your holiday travel plans to save on airfare?

Round-trip domestic airfares are significantly higher than a year ago for the upcoming holiday season. Hopper data show Thanksgiving fares up 39% and Christmas fares up 22% compared with the same time last year.

Why it matters

Rising fuel costs are contributing to the higher fares, adding pressure on household travel budgets during the busiest travel period of the year. Travelers may face some of the highest holiday airfares seen in a decade.

Hopper tracking shows Thanksgiving fares up 39% and Christmas fares up 22% year over year. A JetBlue traveler paid about $1,900 for three people to fly to Orlando, while parking costs about $20 per day at MacArthur Airport versus $80 per day at JFK.

The players

Hopper

Hopper is a travel booking app known for its fare prediction and price tracking tools.

MacArthur Airport

MacArthur Airport is a regional airport in Islip, New York, on Long Island, serving as an alternative to New York's larger airports.

JetBlue

JetBlue is a low-cost U.S. airline headquartered in New York that operates flights from MacArthur Airport and other airports.

The details

Travelers are adjusting travel dates, choosing alternate airports and adding layovers to find lower fares. Long Island travelers are increasingly turning to MacArthur Airport in Islip, which USA Today rated the best small airport in the country, and some destinations such as West Palm Beach may offer lower fares out of that airport.

Thanksgiving 2026: airfares projected up 39% versus last year.
Christmas 2026: airfares projected up 22% versus last year.

Travel Outlook

Hopper's year-over-year tracking shows holiday fares climbing sharply this season, a pattern that extends into the peak Thanksgiving and Christmas windows. Fuel costs are a key driver, and travelers are responding by shifting dates and airports rather than paying the higher prices outright.

Travelers may find lower fares by adjusting departure dates, considering alternate airports such as MacArthur on Long Island, or accepting layovers. Booking early and comparing parking costs at nearby airports can also help control total holiday travel expenses.

The takeaway

Flexibility on dates, airports and routing can offset much of the holiday fare increase. Comparing total trip costs, including parking and connections, gives travelers a clearer picture of real savings.