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If you’re struggling to wrap your head around the fact that it’s already October and the holidays are fast approaching, you’re certainly not alone.
Soon, you’ll be planning festive meals, coordinating with relatives and figuring out who’s bringing the side dishes and desserts.
But before you can get into the holiday spirit, there’s one important detail to sort out first: your travel plans.
However, the window to book holiday travel is rapidly shrinking, which means prices are only going to go up.
So, when is the best time to book flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas? The consensus is the sooner, the better.
Consumer savings and budgeting expert Andrea Woroch says the best time to book domestic flights is generally about six to eight weeks before the departure date. However, when it comes to holiday travel, that rule goes out the window.
“Airfare prices tend to keep going up once October hits, so the sooner you book, the better off you’ll be and the better price you will snag,” Woroch told The Independent. “Those who wait to book will miss out on the cheaper economy booking options and the best flight departure and route options.”
Anton Radchenko, CEO of flight compensation company AirAdvisor, added to The Independent: “Holiday travel isn’t like a regular weekend trip. You’ve got millions of people chasing the same few dates.”
The busiest days to travel during the holiday season typically include the two days before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after, as well as the three-to-four days before Christmas. In 2025, the TSA marked the single busiest day of travel in its history: the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when 3.13 million people were screened through security checkpoints nationwide.
Katy Nastro, aviation correspondent at Flighty, told The Independent there is no ideal date to book holiday travel
“Travelers shouldn’t be waiting for the ‘perfect’ date to book on, ever, but this year especially because odds are they won’t find it,” Nastro said, adding, “Average prices are already running between 20-30 percent higher year-over-year.
“The longer travelers wait this year for the ‘perfect price, the higher the risk they’ll be left with fewer ‘perfect’ options and a much higher cost,” Nastro continued.
“Airlines have no incentive in a normal year to bring prices down for the holidays, and this year more than ever that dream goes out the window. If considering traveling for either Thanksgiving or Christmas, get those flights booked now.”
Even if you’re unsure about Christmas, the experts all agree that Thanksgiving flights should absolutely be booked as soon as possible.
