US Holiday Flights Hit Decade High in 2026 Due to Fuel Costs
Holiday flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas 2026 are set to hit a ten-year price high due to rising jet fuel costs, according to the Hopper index. Experts advise flexible scheduling to secure savings.
Flights for the 2026 Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are projected to be the most expensive in a decade, according to the holiday travel index by the Hopper app. The average round-trip domestic flight in the United States for Thanksgiving stands at $402, marking a 31% increase—or $95—compared to last year. For Christmas, the average reaches $452, representing a 23% increase or $85 more.
Hopper's index is based on flight searches conducted over a week in September, examining prices around Thanksgiving and Christmas compared to the previous year. Hopper attributes the price surge to months of rising jet fuel costs amid the conflict involving Iran. International flights for Thanksgiving to key destinations in Europe and the Americas have also grown more expensive.
Meanwhile, hotel prices in the US for Thanksgiving have remained stable compared to 2025, averaging $170 per night. For Christmas, the average nightly hotel rate in the US is $197, an 18% increase from last year. Flight prices for Christmas to Mexico and Central America rose by 23%, while European routes saw a 15% increase.
Travelers with flexible schedules can achieve substantial savings by carefully selecting their dates. Sunday, November 29, is projected to be one of the most expensive days of the year to fly, with round-trip domestic tickets featuring returns on that day averaging $604. Returning on the following Monday or Tuesday can save up to $250 per round-trip ticket. The cheapest day to depart for Thanksgiving is Monday, November 23, with an average price of $370 per ticket—about $50 less than departures on Wednesday, November 25.
For Christmas, the most expensive period will be the weekend preceding the holiday, from December 18 to December 20, with average ticket prices just under $500. The most cost-effective departure dates are the Monday or Tuesday before the holiday.
Social media users have expressed shock at the soaring fares. TikTok content creator Kristen Mirande told her followers after searching for holiday flights from JFK Airport to Buffalo that her return flight would cost between $11,400 and $12,203, complete with a layover in Fort Lauderdale. Other users reported similarly exorbitant quotes, such as a $14,500 return fare for a flight from LAX to Costa Rica.
