This is the date you need to book 2024 Thanksgiving and Christmas flights by (and other holiday travel tips)

Last week, Google released their top travel tips, tricks and insights to help travelers get the lowest prices possible, especially during the holiday season. This week, the team at Hopper broke down when to book, when to fly and how to save the most money on Thanksgiving and Christmas travel this year.

In Hopper’s just released 2024 Holiday Travel Outlook, they claim that nearly 75% of their customers say, “they plan to spend the same or more than what they spent on the holidays last year.”

In order to get the best prices for holiday travel, Hopper’s experts recommend booking both Thanksgiving and Christmas flights by October 14th. Below are their recommendations for when to book, when to fly and what it will cost to travel this holiday season:

When to book?

• Thanksgiving: Prices for Thanksgiving trips have dropped by more than $80 per ticket since earlier this summer and are set to continue falling until the sweet spot in early October. Prices will be the lowest through the first two weeks of October, before rising rapidly as the holiday approaches. Prices will spike by 5-10% each day, or by as much as $30 per day, in the final two weeks before Thanksgiving as flights sell out and travelers scramble to book last-minute trips.
• Christmas: Prices will begin to drop in the next few weeks before reaching their lowest point between mid-October and early November. Prices will rise quickly in November and accelerate even more in December, rising more than 32% in the last 3-4 weeks before the holiday. Travelers should plan to book in mid-October to ensure low prices and sufficient available seats on the routes they’re shopping. Holiday flights often sell out on peak dates if you book too late!”

When to fly?

Thanksgiving: 

• Domestic: 
  • Cheapest days to depart: Departing the week before Thanksgiving or on the Monday ahead of the holiday will save travelers the most. Savvy travelers will save 23% 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.
  • Cheapest days return: Sunday, December 1st will be the busiest and most expensive. To save the most, plan to head home on Black Friday or Monday, December 2nd. You’ll pay an additional $137 per ticket to return on the Sunday after the holiday.

• International:
  • Cheapest days to depart: On average travelers will save 20% on airfares by starting an international trip the week of Thanksgiving instead of the week or weekend before. For those heading to Europe, Wednesday, November 27th or Thanksgiving Day will be the cheapest to depart.
  • Cheapest days to return: Return the week following Thanksgiving for the best all in airfare, as December 1st will be the busiest and most expensive day to return.

Christmas: 

• Domestic:
  • Cheapest days to depart: Departing the week before Christmas or on Christmas Eve or Day will save travelers the most. Savvy travelers will save 26% or about $100 per ticket by departing on Christmas Eve instead of taking a flight the weekend before the holiday.
  • Cheapest days to return: For travelers headed home from the holiday, New Year’s Eve departures will be the most cost effective, saving travelers about $68 per ticket on average.

• International:
  • Cheapest days to depart: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. On average, travelers can save around 30% on round trip international airfare by departing on the holidays themselves, which are generally low demand days for travel.
  • Cheapest days to return: Head home on New Year’s Eve or from January 2nd for the best deals on international airfares.

What will it cost to travel for the holidays this year?

Thanksgiving:

• Domestic: $298 round-trip (up 10% from 2023 prices; up 3% from 2019 prices)
• Europe: $550 round-trip (down 7% from 2023 prices; up 3% from 2019 prices)
• Asia: $1,046 round-trip (down 13% from 2023 prices; up 36% from 2019 prices)

Christmas:

• Domestic: $406 round-trip (up 4% from 2023 prices; up 13% from 2019 prices)
• Europe: $830 round-trip (down 11% from 2023 prices; up 11% from 2019 prices)
• Asia: $1,654 round-trip (down 6% from 2023 prices; up 37% from 2019 prices)

Most Searched Destinations for Thanksgiving 2024:

Domestic:

1. New York City, New York ($310 round-trip – up 17% from 2023 prices)
2. Orlando, Florida ($280 round-trip – up 6% from 2023 prices)
3. Los Angeles, California ($312 round-trip – up 11% from 2023 prices)

International: 

1. Tokyo, Japan ($949 round-trip – down 9% from 2023 prices)
2. London, United Kingdom ($573 round-trip – down 10% from 2023 prices)
3. Paris, France ($514 round-trip – down 15% from 2023 prices)

Most Searched Destinations for Christmas 2024:

Domestic:

1. New York City, New York ($365 round-trip – up 15% from 2023 prices)
2. Orlando, Florida ($383 round-trip – up 1% from 2023 prices)
3. Miami, Florida ($424 round-trip – down 9% from 2023 prices)

International: 

1. Tokyo, Japan ($1,592 round-trip – in line with 2023 prices)
2. London, United Kingdom ($816 round-trip – down 7% from 2023 prices)
3. Paris, France ($783 round-trip – down 16% from 2023 prices)”

You can find Hopper’s full 2024 Holiday Travel Outlook here with their initial consumer guidance across holiday flights, accommodations and rental cars.

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