Airfares are high. Can you still find holiday travel deals?

Thanksgiving and Christmas airfare is expected to be among the costliest in a decade, driven by months of elevated jet fuel prices linked to the conflict in Iran, according to Hopper’s 2026 holiday travel index. Economist Hayley Berg said round-trip domestic fares average $402 for Thanksgiving, up 31% from last year. For Christmas, domestic round trips average about $452, a 23% increase versus 2025. The biggest jumps are for Central and South America. Berg also noted travelers are booking earlier than in prior years. To reduce costs, Hopper advises monitoring prices now and aiming to book flights and hotels before Oct. 31, with additional date flexibility around major travel peaks.