Google Says Book Your Holiday Flights ASAP: Here’s When Thanksgiving and Christmas Airfares Are Usually Cheapest

If you haven’t booked your Thanksgiving or Christmas flights yet, you might not want to wait much longer. Google just released its latest holiday travel trends and airfare data, based on five years of aggregated Google Flights data, and its advice for travelers is: Book your holiday flights ASAP.

That’s not surprising but what’s worse is that this year because holiday airfares are already expensive. As I recently wrote, my family and I booked our holiday flights months ago because I wanted to make sure we could get the seats we wanted, including the bulkhead row.

The fares were roughly double what we paid last year, both in cash and miles, but I booked anyway knowing that if prices dropped, I could cancel and rebook. I’ve been monitoring the flights with alerts and manually checking several times a week. So far, the prices haven’t dropped.

Google’s latest data provides some helpful guidance for travelers still trying to figure out whether to buy now or gamble on lower fares later.

When is the cheapest time to book Thanksgiving flights?

According to Google, Thanksgiving airfares have historically reached their lowest average price 34 days before departure. For travelers planning to fly on Wednesday, November 25, the day before Thanksgiving, that puts the sweet spot at October 22, just two weeks from today (October 8).

But don’t circle that one day on your calendar. Google says the broader low-price range is 21 to 57 days before departure. For someone flying November 25, that translates to September 29 through November 4. In other words, we’re already in the sweet spot, and there’s still time to find a deal.

Of course, historical data isn’t a guarantee that prices will drop on October 22 or any other particular day. If you already know where you’re going and your dates aren’t flexible, waiting for the absolute lowest fare can backfire, especially during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. That’s why Google’s recommendation is to book holiday flights as soon as possible.

Christmas flights should be booked even earlier

Christmas travelers have an even bigger reason to start looking now. Google’s data shows that Christmas airfares have historically reached their lowest point 56 days before departure, with a low-price range of 33 to 67 days before departure.

For travelers planning to fly on Wednesday, December 23, two days before Christmas, the historical sweet spot of 56 days out falls on October 28, just 20 days from today (October 8).

But just like Thanksgiving, there’s a much wider window to keep in mind. For a December 23 departure, Google’s low-price range of 33 to 67 days out translates to October 17 through November 20. So we’re approaching the beginning of that window right now.

Interestingly, the Christmas sweet spot has moved five days earlier compared to last year, and Google says the best deals generally fall between late October and mid-November.

Again, I wouldn’t obsess over hitting October 28 exactly. If you find a fare you’re comfortable with and your dates are fixed, I would book it. Waiting for the perfect price during one of the busiest travel periods of the year can easily backfire.

Forget the myth about the cheapest day to buy airline tickets

You’ve probably heard people say you should always buy flights on Tuesday. Google’s latest data found that Wednesday actually edged out Tuesday as the cheapest day to book. But the difference is negligible.

According to Google, buying a ticket on Wednesday saves only about 1.4% compared to Sunday, which was the most expensive day to book. Instead of worrying about whether you’re clicking the “buy” button on Tuesday, Wednesday or Sunday, spend that energy being flexible with your travel dates. That’s where you can find much bigger savings.

The days you fly matter much more

Google found that departing on a Monday and returning on a Tuesday or Wednesday can save travelers about 14% compared to flying on the weekend.

For domestic flights, the difference can be even larger. Travelers can save as much as 20% compared to departing and returning on Sunday.

Obviously, that’s not always easy during Thanksgiving and Christmas when school and work schedules dictate when families can travel. But if you have some flexibility, even shifting your trip by a day could make a significant difference.

A connection could save you money

I’m a huge fan of nonstop flights and almost always prefer them, especially when traveling with my family. Every connection adds another opportunity for something to go wrong, whether it’s a delay, missed connection or mishandled bag.

But there’s often a price to pay for that convenience. Google’s analysis found that nonstop flights are about 20% more expensive on average than flights with connections.

If you’re traveling solo and trying to save as much money as possible, taking a connection may be worth considering. For families, I’d carefully weigh the savings against the added hassle and risk of a connection, particularly during winter when weather can wreak havoc on airline schedules.

What about regular domestic and international flights?

Google’s analysis isn’t limited to the holidays. For domestic flights, the lowest average prices have historically appeared 39 days before departure, with a low-price range of 22 to 57 days.

For international trips, the lowest average price occurs around 89 days before departure, but Google says the price difference throughout the broader 50-to-133-day low-price range is insignificant. Their advice for international travelers is simple: Book as soon as you can.

Trips to Europe follow a similar pattern, with the lowest prices appearing around 90 days before departure and little reason to wait for a last-minute bargain.

Mexico and the Caribbean are different. Google found the lowest average fares around 43 days before departure, with a low-price range of 24 to 69 days.

Google reveals 2026’s trending Thanksgiving destinations

Google also released its trending holiday destinations, which aren’t necessarily the most popular destinations overall. Instead, these are places seeing the largest relative increase in Google Flights searches compared to 2025.

For domestic Thanksgiving travel, the five top trending destinations are:

1. Hilo, Hawaii
2. Buffalo, New York
3. Columbus, Ohio
4. Punta Gorda, Florida
5. Greenville, South Carolina

It’s an interesting mix, ranging from a Hawaiian getaway to smaller regional cities that don’t usually dominate holiday travel lists.

My advice for booking holiday flights

The biggest mistake travelers can make right now is waiting for some magical airfare sale that may never arrive. If your Thanksgiving or Christmas dates are fixed and you see a reasonable fare, I would book it, especially if you’re traveling as a family and need multiple seats together. Then keep monitoring the price.

Depending on the airline and the type of ticket you purchase, you may be able to cancel or change your ticket and rebook if the fare drops. Just make sure you understand the airline’s rules before relying on this strategy since Basic Economy and other restrictive fares may have different policies.

I also recommend setting up a price alert on Google Flights. Enter your route and dates and turn on price tracking so Google can notify you when fares change. But don’t rely solely on alerts. If it’s an important trip, I still check prices myself periodically. And remember: Flexibility is the key to finding cheaper flights.