Flying During the Holidays? How to Get the Best Deal for Your Family

Now is the time to start planning holiday travel, but for families facing tighter budgets, booking flights can feel overwhelming. Airfares are notoriously unpredictable, and the busy season only makes finding a good deal more challenging. Here’s what you need to know to book wisely, save money, and avoid travel disruptions.

What’s Driving Up Ticket Prices Right Now

Plane ticket prices are rising, and several factors are at play. In August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 6% jump in airline fares, up since July.  At the same time, airlines are cutting back on flights, with U.S. airlines’ domestic capacity dropping about 6% in August compared with July. 

Part of this volatility stems from tariff-related uncertainties and international travel advisories earlier in 2025. President Trump’s steep tariffs on imports and executive orders led several countries to issue advisories affecting travel to the U.S., contributing to a drop in visitors. To avoid flying empty planes, airlines slashed their prices to attract passengers, but as demand began to rebound, reduced flight capacity and higher operational costs pushed prices back up.

Here’s what you and your family can do to help save: 

Track Flights Before Booking

Start by familiarizing yourself with current prices. Free tools like Google Flights and Hopper let you set alerts for specific routes so you’ll know when prices rise or drop. Google Flights also compares fares to historical averages, while Kayak offers price forecasts, helping you decide whether to buy now or wait.

Be Flexible With Your Itinerary

Flexibility is key to finding the best fare. Compare one-way tickets on different carriers versus a round-trip, and check multiple airports in your area. Sometimes a small change in routing can save hundreds of dollars.

The Sweet Spot: When to Buy

For holiday travel, the ideal window to book is usually six to twelve weeks in advance. Airlines release schedules about a year ahead at higher prices, which often drop as demand fluctuates.

Travel expert Katy Nastro from Going.com advises, “Buy not too early, but not too late — be like Goldilocks.”

According to Hopper, Thanksgiving fares tend to be lowest through mid-October, while Christmas flights usually bottom out between mid-October and early November. Skyscanner suggests booking by early September for Thanksgiving and by mid-October for Christmas, depending on your route.

Use Points or Miles

Holiday travel can be an excellent time to redeem loyalty points or frequent flier miles, especially if you book early. Points costs rise with cash fares: domestic round-trip flights outside holidays average 38,000 miles, while Thanksgiving flights jump to 50,000 and Christmas to 60,000, according to Points Path.

Plan to Avoid Disruptions

Price isn’t the only factor. Winter weather and packed flights can create delays and cancellations. To reduce risk:

• Fly direct when possible.

• Choose early flights to allow time for missed connections.

Keep Monitoring Prices

Booking isn’t the end. Keep tracking fares after purchase — many airlines let you cancel and rebook if prices drop, except for the most restrictive basic economy tickets.