When to Book Holiday Flights for the Best Deals
If you’ve already booked your Thanksgiving or Christmas flights, you might’ve jumped the gun. According to Google Flights, the cheapest fares tend to pop up later than most people expect.
For Thanksgiving travel, the sweet spot is between 24 and 59 days before departure, with the absolute lowest prices showing up around 35 days out. That means if you're flying out on Wednesday, November 27th, your best bet is to book on October 23rd.
Christmas flights follow a similar pattern. The best deals usually appear 32 to 73 days before you fly, with the cheapest fares around 51 days out. So if you're planning to leave on Saturday, December 20th, aim to book on October 31st.
In general, domestic flights are cheapest about 39 days before departure, while international flights hit their low point around 49 days out.
Bottom line: booking early isn’t always better. Mark your calendar and book smart to save big this holiday season.