{"id":267925,"date":"2026-10-09T13:30:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T13:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/09\/holiday-airfare-surges-how-to-find-the-best-deals-in-2026-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2026-10-09T13:30:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T13:30:39","slug":"holiday-airfare-surges-how-to-find-the-best-deals-in-2026-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/09\/holiday-airfare-surges-how-to-find-the-best-deals-in-2026-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday airfare surges: How to find the best deals in 2026 – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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If you’ve flown at all over the past few months, you’re likely all too familiar with the script at this point.<\/p>\n

Flying in 2026 costs a lot more than it did just a year ago. Since the start of the war in Iran triggered a surge in global oil prices<\/a><\/span>, airfares have risen<\/a><\/span> by an average of 23%.<\/p>\n

Holiday travel certainly won’t be spared.<\/p>\n

Domestic Thanksgiving flights are up about 31% from last year, according to booking app Hopper’s recent forecast.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re hoping to fly for Christmas and New Year’s, you’ll pay \u2014 on average \u2014 about 23% more than last holiday season.<\/p>\n

And with less than seven weeks to go until turkeys and stuffing, airlines are offering consumers little hope<\/a><\/span> that a drop in prices might be on the horizon.<\/p>\n

“The fares will be a function of what the market bears,” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said in an interview Friday on CNBC<\/a><\/span>. “We’re not seeing any slowdown at all \u2014 our consumer is resilient.”<\/p>\n

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Holiday travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Terminal A. SEAN CUDAHY\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some good (or at least lukewarm) news<\/h3>\n

Since the summer, TPG has warned that holiday travelers would likely pay a pretty penny<\/a><\/span> to fly for Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2026.<\/p>\n

And fares are indeed up (sharply) from last year.<\/p>\n

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The one bit of good \u2014 or at least lukewarm \u2014 news? We haven’t yet seen a major autumn surge in ticket prices, either. Prices have remained high \u2014 but fairly consistent \u2014 since August, when we started closely tracking holiday fares with the help of our partners at Points Path.<\/p>\n

But you shouldn’t wait any longer to book:<\/strong> At this stage, every day you wait risks a big jump in prices.<\/p>\n

Last year, both cash and award prices surged in the final weeks leading up to the holidays.<\/p>\n

So what should you do if you’ve waited until now to book your holiday getaway? Let’s walk through your best options.<\/p>\n

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Holiday decorations at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA). SEAN CUDAHY\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When to book holiday flights in 2026<\/h2>\n

We suggest booking as soon as possible, but leaving yourself some wiggle room in case you get lucky and the fare later drops.<\/p>\n

What to do if the price drops after you book<\/h3>\n

Most of the major carriers will let you change your ticket after booking. Or, you can even cancel your reservation and re-book yourself.<\/p>\n

To leave yourself this flexibility, just be sure to avoid “basic” fares<\/a><\/span> that bar you from making itinerary changes \u2014 or canceling your flight, penalty-free.<\/p>\n

Read more: What to know about repricing flights<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sound complicated? There are also new AI tools<\/a><\/span> that can help you automatically capture the savings if the fare plummets days or weeks after your purchase your ticket.<\/p>\n

When to fly at Thanksgiving<\/h2>\n

Monday, Nov. 23 is the cheapest day to depart for Thanksgiving travel, according to data from our friends at Points Path.<\/p>\n

So if your plans allow, getting an early start on your Turkey Trek is the best way to save on flights.<\/p>\n

Coming home, aim to fly back on Black Friday \u2014 or wait until the following Tuesday.<\/p>\n

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Holiday travelers on Dec. 24 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). YUKI IWAMURA\/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The worst day<\/h3>\n

The Sunday after Thanksgiving will likely be the most expensive and crowded day at airports. Flights on Sunday, Nov. 29, are running roughly 40% pricier than Black Friday, per Points Path.<\/p>\n

Fun fact: <\/b>The busiest day ever at U.S. airports<\/a><\/span> was the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2025.<\/p>\n

On the flipside, Thanksgiving Day was the single quietest day airports saw last year.<\/p>\n

When to fly at Christmas and New Year’s<\/h2>\n

The weekends before and after Christmas, along with Sunday, Jan. 3 are looking like the most expensive days to fly for the year-end holidays, per Points Path.<\/p>\n

To find the lowest prices, I’d suggest searching prices for the weekdays before and after Christmas.<\/p>\n

Which US regions are hit the hardest?<\/h2>\n

Compared to last year, the Midwest is seeing the biggest price jumps for Thanksgiving travel, according to flight deals app Going. At Christmas, flyers headed to and from the Northeast are dealing with the most sticker shock.<\/p>\n

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Terminal 3 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). SEAN CUDAHY\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TPG tips: Cast a wide net when you search flights<\/h2>\n

Use sites like Google Flights or Kayak to search flight prices across a wide range of airlines, dates and airports.<\/p>\n

Casting the widest net positions you to find the best deals out there.<\/p>\n

Hoping to redeem points for your holiday flight? Try using one of TPG’s favorite award search tools<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Be as flexible as you can<\/h2>\n

Yes, family holiday gatherings, PTO and school schedules make this “easier said than done.”<\/p>\n

But if you can be flexible on when \u2014 and even where<\/i> \u2014 you travel, the better your chances are at finding affordable airfare.<\/p>\n

When possible, I’d avoid honing in on a destination, and reverse the typical trip-planning process:<\/p>\n