Holiday Airfares: Thanksgiving Fares Jump 31%

Domestic round-trip airfare for Thanksgiving is averaging $402 this year, a 31% increase over last year. Hopper, a travel-booking company, released its 2026 Holiday Travel Index on November 1, showing that holiday airfares have reached 10-year highs. The data indicates that travelers face significantly higher costs for both Thanksgiving and Christmas trips.

The report analyzed a week's worth of flight searches in September, focusing on lower-priced tickets and adjusting for changes in the date of Thanksgiving. Domestic round-trip airfare for Christmas is averaging $452, up 23% from the previous year. International fares have also risen, with flights to Mexico and Central America increasing by 23% and fares to Europe up 15%.

Hopper attributed the price surge to elevated jet fuel costs. The company stated that months of high fuel prices, driven by the conflict in Iran, contributed to the current 10-year high in airfares. The report warned that travelers need to plan for a larger budget this year.

Gary Leff, a Texas-based aviation expert and founder of the blog View from the Wing, noted that the price hikes will heavily impact families traveling together. Leff explained that multiplying the increase by four or more passengers makes the cost much more substantial for households.

Leff advised travelers to monitor airfare prices after booking. He suggested that if prices drop, passengers can often recover some of the difference by calling the airline. Leff noted that most tickets no longer have change fees, allowing travelers to apply the value of an old ticket to a new one and receive a credit for the difference.

The expert cautioned that common money-saving strategies do not always work. Leff pointed out that flying out of a different airport can incur driving, parking, or ride-share costs that offset airfare savings. He also warned that choosing a connecting flight over a nonstop route introduces more opportunities for things to go wrong during the busy holiday season. Leff recommended that travelers consider using miles if they have them, or start accumulating them for future trips.

Hopper’s index confirms that the 2026 holiday season is on track to be the most expensive in a decade. The sharp increases in airfare prices are putting added pressure on Americans planning Thanksgiving and Christmas travel.