For many Globe Aware volunteers, booking holiday airfare can feel like a dreaded task. The truth is, it’s never too early to start searching. If you’re one of those frustrated holiday travelers, here’s when to book your ticket to secure the best savings.

Holiday Travel 2024 Outlook: When To Book Thanksgiving and Christmas Flights

by Mia Taylor
September 15, 2024
TravelPulse

Booking holiday airfare is a dreaded chore for more than a few globetrotters.

Let’s face it: who enjoys being gouged on ticket prices to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas with loved ones?

If you fall into that bucket of irritated holiday travellers, read on. Hopper has just released a holiday travel cheat sheet. Translation: When to book your holiday ticket to score the most significant savings (Or at least avoid being quite so drastically overcharged.)

Here’s what the experts at Hopper say about holiday travel in 2024.

Thanksgiving 2024

Airfare for Thanksgiving trips is currently averaging $298 per round-trip ticket, which is 10 percent higher than this time last year and three percent higher than the pre-pandemic cost.

But here’s the good news. While prices are higher than historic levels today, they are expected to decline by about $40 on average until they reach their lowest point in early October.

So, mark that on our calendar: Book holiday tickets in October.

It seems October is what the experts at Hopper call “the sweet spot” for snagging your holiday flight tickets. At that point, prices are likely to align with 2023 levels and below 2019 levels.

Christmas 2024

Here’s another insider’s tip: October is also the best time to book your Christmas flights.

Hopper says that the airfare for Christmas trips is $406 per round-trip ticket. That’s an increase of four percent from this time last year and a whopping 13 percent above pre-pandemic prices.

While those ticket prices may be higher than historic levels today, they are also expected to fall, and they will do so by about $80 until they reach their lowest point in October.

Hopper says that when Christmas fares reach their October sweet spot, the prices will likely align with 2023 levels.

A few more money-saving details

If you’re a frequent flyer, you likely already know this, but being flexible on travel dates can help you save quite a bit of money during the holiday rush.

Hopper says it’s possible to save more than $100 off peak airfare by flying on less popular dates before and after each holiday week during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“Departing the week before Thanksgiving or on Monday ahead of the holiday will save travellers the most,” says Hopper. “Savvy travellers will save 23 percent or about $60 per ticket by departing on the Thursday before Thanksgiving (11/21) or the Monday of Thanksgiving week (11/25) instead of taking a weekend flight.”

For that dreaded return flight after Thanksgiving, it should come as no surprise that the Sunday immediately after the big day is not a good time to be at the airport.

It is the most popular day for Thanksgiving travellers to return and the most expensive per Hopper.

“Travelers returning on Sunday will pay a 45 percent premium, or $137 per ticket more than those travellers who return the following day, Monday,” says Hopper. “Skip the Sunday return and fly home on Black Friday or Monday, December 2nd, to pack on the savings.”

Similarly, for Christmas, Hopper says travellers hoping to get the best prices for domestic trips should plan to be flexible on their travel dates.

Departing the week before Christmas, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day will save travellers the most. Savvy travellers will save 26 percent, or about $100 per ticket, by departing on Christmas Eve instead of taking a flight the weekend before the holiday.

Meanwhile, the week following Christmas is incredibly pricey for domestic travel as Americans return from Christmas trips and embark on New Year’s trips.

New Year’s Eve departures will be the most cost-effective for travellers headed home from the holiday, saving them an average of about $68 per ticket.

October 14 is the deadline for deals

If scoring a deal during the October “sweet spot” that Hopper is projecting is on your must-do list, you must book airfare by Monday, October 14th.

“Airfare will drop from now until the end of September, then remain low and volatile in October before rising in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas,” says the Hopper report. “Over the next few weeks, while prices are volatile, travellers proactively monitoring prices could get notified of great, time-sensitive deals.”

Airfare deals by region

Here’s one last bit of parting information that may be helpful. If your holiday plans are not tied to a specific location, consider bringing the family party to a bargain destination.

Hopper says airfare to international destinations in Mexico and Central America, popular for shorter holiday trips, is down compared to last year, with prices averaging $464 per round-trip ticket.

Airfare to Europe, the top destination for international travellers from the US, is down seven percent compared to last year.

You’re welcome.