October appears to be a benchmark for booking airline tickets for travel for both Thanksgiving and Christmas for American travelers, as they are predicted to be considerably cheaper than they are today, Hopper reveals. Especially to Europe, the top destination for international travelers from the U.S., airfares are down 7% compared to this time last year.
Airline ticket prices for Thanksgiving travel now average $298 per round-trip ticket, up 10% from this time last year and 3% higher than pre-pandemic costs.
However, while prices are currently higher than historical levels, they are expected to fall by about $40, on average, until they reach their lowest point in early October.
It appears that October is what Hopper experts call “the sweet spot” for airline ticket bookings, with prices projected to be in line with those in 2023 and below 2019 levels.
But in addition to Thanksgiving bookings, October is also the best time to book Christmas flights.
Currently, airfare for Christmas travel averages $406 per round-trip ticket, according to Hopper. This marks a 4% increase, compared to this time last year, and a 13% increase, compared to pre-pandemic prices.
While these airline ticket prices may be higher than historical levels today, they too are expected to fall and, indeed, by about $80 by the time they reach their lowest point in October.
“When Christmas fares reach the ‘sweet spot’ in October, prices are likely to align with 2023 levels″, Hopper estimates.
Tips for saving money
Flexibility in travel dates is the beginning and end of saving money during the holiday season.
According to Hopper, it’s possible to save more than $100 on airfare during peak season by flying on less popular dates before and after each holiday week during both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.
“By departing the week before Thanksgiving or the Monday before the holidays, travelers will save the most money,” Hopper experts estimate. Specifically, travelers will save 23%, or about $60 per ticket, by departing the Thursday before Thanksgiving (11/21) or the Monday during Thanksgiving week (11/25) instead of opting for a weekend flight.”
As for the return flight after Thanksgiving, it should come as no surprise that the Sunday right after the big holiday is the most popular return day for travelers, but also the most expensive, according to Hopper.
Travelers returning on Sunday will pay 45% more money, or $137 per ticket more than those travelers returning the next day, Monday, according to Hopper. “Skip returning on Sunday and fly back on Black Friday, or Monday, December 2, to save money,” the platform notes.
Similarly, for Christmas, travelers hoping to get the best prices on travel should be flexible on their travel dates.
By departing the week before Christmas or on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, travellers will save the most money. Savvy travelers will save 26%, or about $100 per ticket, by departing on Christmas Eve instead of during the weekend before the holiday.
Meanwhile, the week after Christmas is a particularly expensive week for travel, as Americans return home from Christmas travel and prepare for New Year’s Eve travel.
For travelers returning home from the holidays, New Year’s Eve departures are the most advantageous, saving about $68 per ticket, on average.
Hopper advises travelers looking to find the best prices on Thanksgiving and Christmas airfare to book tickets by Monday, October 14.
“Airfares will decline between now and the end of September, then remain low and volatile in October before rising in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas,” the Hopper report said. It adds: “Over the coming weeks, while prices are volatile, travelers who monitor prices proactively could be alerted to exceptional, timely deals.”
