If you are flying for Thanksgiving or Christmas in 2026, Google’s latest five-year analysis says waiting for a dramatic last-minute price drop is usually the wrong strategy. For U.S. departures, Thanksgiving fares have historically reached their lowest average price about 34 days before departure, while Christmas fares have bottomed out around 56 days before takeoff.

The new data was published by Google on October 5 and is based on aggregated Google Flights pricing trends. It does not guarantee the cheapest fare on a specific route, but it gives travelers a useful benchmark for deciding whether to book now or keep watching.

What is the best time to book Thanksgiving flights in 2026?

Google says the lowest average Thanksgiving prices have appeared 34 days before departure, with a broader low-price range of 21 to 57 days. In practical terms, October is the key booking month for many Thanksgiving itineraries.

If your dates are fixed, there is an important tradeoff. Waiting may occasionally produce a lower fare, but the risk is that the most convenient nonstop flights or departure times disappear first. For families traveling together, seat availability can matter as much as the headline ticket price.

When should you book Christmas flights?

Christmas requires an earlier decision. Google’s 2026 analysis places the lowest average price about 56 days before departure, with the broader low-price range running from 33 to 67 days out. That puts many of the strongest booking opportunities between late October and mid-November.

The 56-day figure is five days earlier than Google reported for 2025. That does not mean every route is getting more expensive earlier, but it is another reason not to assume December is the best time to shop for a December flight.

What about normal domestic and international trips?

For U.S. domestic flights outside the holidays, Google says average prices have been lowest 39 days before departure, with a range of 22 to 57 days. International travel is different: the lowest average price appears around 89 days out, while the broader low range stretches from 50 to 133 days.

Google’s practical advice for international trips is simple: if the itinerary is important and the price is acceptable, book earlier rather than waiting. International fares often have more variables, including limited nonstop capacity, seasonal demand and different baggage rules.

Which destinations are trending for Thanksgiving?

Google defines “trending” as destinations seeing the largest relative increase in flight searches compared with 2025, not necessarily the cities with the largest total passenger volume. For domestic Thanksgiving travel, the top five rising destinations are Hilo, Buffalo, Columbus, Punta Gorda and Greenville.

That list is interesting because it mixes a tropical destination with mid-sized regional cities. It suggests travelers are not only searching for the traditional major holiday hubs.

What is trending for Christmas and New Year’s?

For international travel around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Google’s top five rising searches are Athens, Québec City, Rio de Janeiro, Hanoi and Guatemala City.

Travelers should not treat a trending list as a recommendation to buy immediately. A destination can trend because of new air service, events, currency movements or simply because it started from a smaller search base. Compare the complete trip cost, including hotels, local transport and baggage.

How to use Google Flights without overpaying

  • Use the price-history indicator for your exact route and dates.
  • Turn on price tracking if you are not ready to buy.
  • Compare nearby airports when ground transport is realistic.
  • Check whether the cheapest itinerary requires a self-transfer or long layover.
  • Compare the final fare after bags and seat fees, not just the first price shown.
  • For fixed holiday dates, value schedule and seat availability as well as price.

Is the “cheapest day to book” still important?

Not as much as the departure date and how far in advance you book. Airline pricing changes constantly. A rigid rule such as “always buy on Tuesday” is less useful than monitoring your actual route and understanding whether the current fare is high, typical or low compared with historical prices.

The practical takeaway

For Thanksgiving 2026, October is already the important buying window. For Christmas, late October through mid-November is the period Google’s historical data says deserves the most attention. If your trip is international or your schedule is inflexible, booking earlier can be worth more than chasing a theoretical minimum price.

How should families choose between price and flexibility?

Holiday fares are only one part of the decision. A cheaper ticket can become expensive if it is nonrefundable, charges for every checked bag or requires a connection that is vulnerable to winter weather. Families traveling with children should compare total trip time, seat-selection fees and the risk of a missed connection before choosing the lowest fare.

Travelers who may need to change plans should read the fare rules before paying. Some tickets allow credits but not cash refunds; others charge a fare difference when rebooked. For a holiday trip that has fixed school or work dates, paying slightly more for a practical schedule can reduce the chance that a disruption ruins the first day of the trip.

Are nonstop flights worth paying more for?

For many holiday trips, yes—especially when the price difference is modest. Every connection introduces another departure that can be delayed, another airport where bags can miss a transfer and another opportunity for a schedule change. That does not mean connections should always be avoided, but the savings should be large enough to justify the extra risk and travel time.

On routes where nonstop seats are limited, those flights can sell out before the absolute cheapest fare window. Travelers who strongly prefer nonstop service should therefore watch availability, not only price.

What if your dates are flexible?

Flexibility remains one of the strongest ways to save. Moving a trip by one or two days can change demand dramatically around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Google Flights’ date grid and price graph can help reveal whether a nearby departure date is materially cheaper.

When comparing dates, include hotel nights, parking, pet care and time off work. Saving $80 on airfare is not a real saving if it adds a $180 hotel night or forces an unpaid day away from work.

Source

Google published the 2026 analysis on October 5 in “Wheels up: Trends and tips for 2026 holiday travel”. The figures above summarize Google Flights’ aggregated five-year pricing data and its reported trending destinations.

More practical U.S. travel coverage is available in Travel.