Holiday travel can be one of the most stressful — and expensive — times of the year. As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, airfare spikes become almost as predictable as long security lines and packed gates. But just how much more do travelers pay to fly during the holidays, and which days offer the best chance to save?

To find out, we analyzed more than 40,000 flights across the 10 busiest domestic routes in the U.S. using data from Google Flights. We compared flight prices during a typical week in early November to fares during the 10 days surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas, breaking down the differences by airline and day of the week.

The results show just how much timing matters when booking a holiday trip, as well as where travelers can find the best value this season

How Flight Prices Change Around Thanksgiving


Airfare sees a sharp increase in the days around Thanksgiving. Across all flights analyzed, the average one-way fare during the control week in early November was $178, compared to $276 during the 10 days surrounding Thanksgiving — a 55% increase. For travelers, that means timing and airline choice can make a significant difference in cost.

Cost Increases on Thanksgiving Flights by Airline

These price surges are more prevalent on some airlines than others. The biggest jumps come from carriers that typically serve busier domestic routes or offer limited low-cost options during peak travel weeks.

Airlines with the largest price increases:

• Frontier Airlines: 163.6% increase (+$188)
• JetBlue Airways: 99.6% increase (+$210)
• Spirit Airlines: 88% increase (+$83)
• American Airlines: 55.4% increase (+$118)
• United Airlines: 51.2% increase (+$95)

Frontier, JetBlue, and Spirit all experience average increases of over 85%. The travelers who will likely feel that increase the most are those who fly with Frontier, as its prices experience a 160% jump in airfare compared to a more standard week.

A possible reason for these increases for JetBlue and Frontier could be their heavier reliance on domestic routes, which face strong demand leading up to the holiday. Full-service carriers like American and United also have climbing fares as business and family travelers compete for limited seats during a busy travel period.

Airlines with the smallest price increases:

• Hawaiian Airlines: 34.5% increase (+$54)
• Delta Air Lines: 43.4% increase (+$88)
• Alaska Airlines: 43.9% increase (+$72)
• Southwest Airlines: 48.9% increase (+$70)

Hawaiian’s smaller route network keeps its prices steadier — just a 35% increase compared to the 55% average, while lower-cost carriers like Southwest (49% increase) offer flexible fare options that help them remain more affordable for early planners.

Even though every major carrier sees higher fares, some manage to keep increases in check, making them a better bet for travelers focused on value.

What Days Around Thanksgiving Are the Cheapest To Fly?

The day you fly can be even more important than the airline you choose when it comes to savings. Across all flights analyzed, travelers paid an average of 55% more per one-way flight around Thanksgiving compared to our control week. But the timing of your departure makes a big difference.

Day-by-day cost changes:

• Fri, Nov. 21: 25.6% increase (+$48)
• Sat, Nov. 22: 40.6% increase (+$62)
• Sun, Nov. 23: 5.9% decrease (-$14)
• Mon, Nov. 24: 3.2% decrease (-$6)
• Tue, Nov. 25: 88% increase (+$108)
• Wed, Nov. 26: 93.4% increase (+$120)
• Thur, Nov. 27 (Thanksgiving): 8.4% increase (+$15)
• Fri, Nov. 28 (Black Friday): 30.3% increase (+$57)
• Sat, Nov. 29: 167% increase (+$254)
• Sun, Nov. 30: 114.9% increase (+$279)

The sharpest spikes come the weekend following Thanksgiving, when travelers begin heading home. Saturday and Sunday flights are more than double the price compared to a normal week. On the other hand, flying on Thanksgiving Day or the Monday before offers the best opportunity to save. Prices early in the week remain close to baseline, giving flexible travelers a clear advantage.

In short, avoiding the post-holiday rush is the best way to dodge peak pricing.

Next, we’ll turn our attention to Christmas week, where prices follow a different but equally telling pattern.

How Flight Prices Change Around Christmas


Airfare climbs even higher during Christmas week than it does at Thanksgiving. Across all flights analyzed, the average one-way fare rose from $178 in early November to $282 during the 10 days surrounding Christmas — a 58% increase. For travelers, the holiday season’s biggest challenge isn’t finding a flight, but finding one that fits their budget.

Cost Increases on Christmas Flights by Airline

Much like Thanksgiving week, Christmas travel drives up prices across every airline in our study. However, the size of those increases shifts a bit as we head deeper into the holiday season.

Airlines with the largest price increases:

• Frontier Airlines: 199.4% increase (+$229)
• Spirit Airlines: 154.3% increase (+$146)
• JetBlue Airways: 144% increase (+$304)
• American Airlines: 67.5% increase (+$144)
• Hawaiian Airlines: 60.4% increase (+$94)

JetBlue’s 144% increase could reflect the high demand for its East Coast routes, which serve major hubs for holiday travel. Frontier (200% increase) and Spirit (154% increase) also see sizable jumps — a common trend among lower-cost carriers during peak seasons when cheaper fares fill quickly. Even legacy airlines like American aren’t immune to demand-driven price hikes, though the proportional increase isn’t quite as stark as smaller carriers.

Airlines with the smallest price increases:

• Southwest Airlines: 27.7% increase (+$40)
• United Airlines: 40.9% increase (+$76)
• Delta Air Lines: 53.6% increase (+$108)
• Alaska Airlines: 56.9% increase (+$93)

Southwest sees an increase of just 28%, making it stand out for its relatively steady pricing, likely helped by its flexible fare policies and early booking culture among frequent flyers. United, Delta, and Alaska also keep costs more stable, all seeing jumps between 40% to 60%.

While the Christmas travel rush affects all carriers, some manage to maintain more consistent prices. This gives travelers planning early a valuable edge.

What Days Around Christmas Are Cheapest To Fly?

On average, Christmas week flights cost 58% more than those in our control week, but the premium fluctuates depending on the day.

Day-by-day cost changes:

• Fri, Dec. 19: 53.4% increase (+$101)
• Sat, Dec. 20: 86.3% increase (+$131)
• Sun, Dec. 21: 21% increase (+$51)
• Mon, Dec. 22: 36% increase (+$69)
• Tue, Dec. 23: 107.3% increase (+$132)
• Wed, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve): 74.5% increase (+$96)
• Thu, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day): 26.9% increase (+$48)
• Fri, Dec. 26 (Boxing Day): 74.4% increase (+$140)
• Sat, Dec. 27: 125% increase (+$190)
• Sun, Dec. 28: 20.1% increase (+$49)

The most expensive day to fly is the Saturday following the holiday, followed closely by Boxing Day (the day after Christmas). The cheapest fares appear midweek, particularly on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when most travelers are already at their destinations. Flights earlier in the week also stay closer to normal levels before surging again after the holiday.

The data shows that avoiding the days immediately following Christmas offers the best opportunity to save. As the holidays approach, flexibility remains the traveler’s best tool for avoiding costly fares and crowded airports.

Methodology

To determine how much more travelers can expect to pay to fly during the holidays this year, we pulled Google Flights airfare cost data for the 10 busiest U.S. domestic flight routes during the first week of November (control), the week of Thanksgiving, and the week of Christmas in October 2025. Using this method, our analysis encompassed over 40,000 flights.

We compared the control week flight data (Sunday to Saturday) to the 10 days surrounding the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We were able to determine the average cost increase for flights during the holidays, the airlines that see the largest increases, and the days of the holiday weeks when travelers can expect flights to be the most and least expensive.

All flight cost data is based on one-way, economy flights.

Final Thoughts

Holiday airfare consistently costs more — about 56% more per one-way flight compared to a normal week — but travelers can still find savings by flying on less popular days. Skipping the post-holiday rush or opting to travel on the holiday itself can make a noticeable difference in price.

While you can’t control airline pricing, you can control how you plan and pay for your trips. Using the right travel rewards card or redeeming points for flights can help offset these seasonal price spikes.

At Upgraded Points, our goal is to help travelers maximize every mile and dollar, whether that means finding the best time to fly, the best card to earn rewards, or both.