When to Book Holiday Flights in 2026: Thanksgiving and Christmas

Before you wait for Tuesday, check the dates you actually want to fly.

If you’re planning to fly for Thanksgiving or Christmas, start comparing fares now. There’s no magic purchase day that guarantees a bargain.

Google’s new holiday travel report, released October 5, points to October as a useful time to shop for Thanksgiving flights. Its historical Christmas booking window also shifted earlier this year. But those averages are a starting point, not a promise about your route.

Make room for the holiday memories. Start with a travel plan that fits your family.

When should you book Thanksgiving and Christmas flights?

Google analyzed five years of flight data and found these patterns for U.S. departures:

Holiday	Lowest average fares	Historical lower-price range
Thanksgiving	34 days before departure	21–57 days before departure
Christmas	56 days before departure	33–67 days before departure

Source: Google’s 2026 analysis. Historical averages, not guaranteed fares. Count back from your departure date.

For a practical decision, consider your flexibility. If you need a particular flight, several seats together, or a narrow travel window, weigh the risk of losing that option against a possible fare drop.

Once you find a flight that works and a total price you’re comfortable paying, booking can be a reasonable choice. Chasing the absolute lowest price can turn a simple trip into weeks of second-guessing.

Do you really need to buy tickets on Tuesday?

No. In Google’s latest analysis, Wednesday was slightly cheaper than Sunday for buying tickets, but the difference was only about 1.4%. That doesn’t make Wednesday a reliable shortcut either.

Give yourself more useful choices instead: try departing a day earlier, returning a day later, or comparing another airport. Keep the holiday plans that matter to your family at the center of that decision.

Check your actual trip before following an average

A national average cannot tell you whether the flight you need will get cheaper. Look at your destination, dates, number of travelers, and preferred airports.

Here’s a simple way to compare:

1. Search for everyone traveling. Compare the price for your whole group, rather than assuming a fare shown for one person will apply to every seat.

2. Try nearby dates. Google Flights’ date tools and price graph can help you compare different departure and return days.

3. Turn on price tracking if you’re still deciding. Google Flights can email you when tracked prices change significantly.

4. Check the final total. Review baggage, seating, ticket restrictions, and any extras before paying.

Google explains its fare-comparison tools and price tracking in its travel help guides.

Flying from Highlands County? Compare the whole journey

For travelers around Sebring and Avon Park, choosing an airport is part of choosing the trip.

Depending on your destination, it may be worth comparing Tampa, Orlando, St. Pete–Clearwater, Sarasota–Bradenton, and Punta Gorda. A lower airfare deserves a closer look, but so do the drive, parking or transportation, departure time, and return time.

Ask yourself:

• Will the flight time require a hotel the night before?

• How much will parking or airport transportation add?

• Does the fare include the bags and seats we need?

• Is the arrival time convenient for the person picking us up?

The cheapest ticket may still be a good choice. Just compare it with the other options using the full cost and the same travel needs.

Tilly’s holiday travel tip

“Before you pick a flight, add the ticket, bags, seats, and ride to the airport. A little planning now leaves more room to enjoy the people you’re going to see.”

Keep the travel plan comfortable, too

Price matters, but so does how the trip will feel. Think about early starts, long connections, walking distances, and the needs of anyone traveling with you.

For a family holiday, an itinerary that costs a little more may be worth it if it gets everyone there at a sensible time. Decide what matters most before you start comparing flights.

If you’d like help weighing the options, get in touch with Gina’s Adventures. We can help you work through the travel plan so you can focus on the visit.

Still deciding how to spend the holidays? Our guide to Thanksgiving and Christmas cruises offers another way to bring everyone together.