Holiday airfares are rising steeply this year, setting new 10-year highs. Travelers planning Thanksgiving and Christmas trips are feeling the financial strain. However, savings are still achievable.
Hopper, a travel-booking company, released its 2026 Holiday Travel Index. It highlights substantial airfare increases compared to last year. The analysis was based on flight searches during a week in September, focusing on cheaper tickets while factoring in Thanksgiving’s shifted date.
Popular US airports are identified as highly stressful for travelers.
Domestic round-trip airfare for Thanksgiving has increased to an average of $402. This marks a 31% rise, or $95 more than last year. International fares have surged as well, especially to destinations in Europe, Mexico, and Central America.
For Christmas, domestic round-trip airfares average $452, up 23% or $85 from the previous year. Flights to Mexico and Central America have risen by 23%, with European fares up by 15%. The report links these increases to higher jet fuel costs.
“Travelers should plan for a larger travel budget this year, as the 2026 holiday travel season approaches record-high expenses,” the report indicates. Elevated jet fuel prices, due to ongoing conflict in Iran, have driven these costs.
Gary Leff, an aviation expert from Texas and founder of “View from the Wing,” explained to Fox News Digital that these price hikes substantially affect families traveling together. “Price increases are magnified when applying them to multiple passengers,” he stated.
Leff advises keeping an eye on airfare prices even after booking. “If prices drop, you might recover the difference. Buy now but continue monitoring,” he emphasized.
Leff remarked, “Most tickets do not have change fees anymore. This allows travelers to call airlines and apply their old tickets to new ones, usually receiving credits for price differences.” He cautioned against relying heavily on common cost-saving strategies.
Flying from an alternate airport further away can incur added costs, such as more expensive transport. Opting for connecting flights instead of direct ones might lead to complications, especially during a busy holiday season.
“Connections increase the chance of issues,” Leff noted. He further suggested utilizing miles when possible. “If you have them, great; if not, consider accumulating them for the future.”
Jessica Mekles of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
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