It’s time to book: When to buy holiday, spring break and summer flights for the best fares in 2026-27
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Editor’s Note
This is a recurring article that is updated regularly with the latest information.
Midweek travel remains the most effective way to secure the lowest prices for both domestic and holidays—are typically expensive, the rising cost of jet fuel has pushed prices even higher.
Airfare this summer was as much as 27% more expensive than the previous year. Although holiday pricing does not appear quite as extreme yet, it remains significantly higher than it was at this time last year.
Current data from Points Path, a partner of TPG, indicates that cash fares for Thanksgiving travel have been trending 9% to 13% higher year-over-year during the last few weeks.
Christmas travel fares are currently tracking between 12% and 18% higher, while international holiday flights have seen a 16% increase.
Because of these trends, understanding the optimal time to book is more critical than ever.
Securing great deals during busy travel periods depends on several variables. Here is what industry experts suggest regarding how timing affects pricing, helping you maximize your savings on your travelers book domestic flights one to two months in advance and international flights three to five months ahead of time.
However, the current airfare landscape is unique due to sustained high jet fuel costs, year-over-year price increases, and ongoing uncertainty regarding the conflict in Iran.
Those planning trips for the holidays should begin monitoring prices immediately rather than waiting for traditional booking windows. If you find a fare that aligns with your budget, book it. Otherwise, utilize Google Flights alerts to capture deals the moment they become available.
Even if you secure your holiday flights now, there are methods to protect yourself from paying too much.
Tip: Track your flights after you book
If you booked early and subsequently discover a lower price, there is good news: you can often receive a trip credit for the difference if the fare drops, provided you did not purchase a basic economy ticket.
Several new AI-powered tools can assist with this process by automatically monitoring your flights and securing trip credits when prices decrease. Options include services like Autopilot, pAiback, and Junova.
This lesser-known strategy has personally saved me hundreds of dollars.