The holidays are fast-approaching and the clock is ticking to score the best travel deals.
Despite ongoing inflation, domestic airfare for Thanksgiving and Christmas is actually cheaper than this time last year, according to travel-booking site Hopper.
"Thanksgiving flights [are down] 14 percent from last year and Christmas prices down 12 percent from last year," Hopper Lead Economist Hayley Berg told Newsweek. "Prices won't remain low for long, high demand for holiday travel and rising fuel prices will push prices up as the holidays approach so travelers should book now to get the best deals."
Hopper's analysts urge you to book airfare for either holiday by October 14 for the best deals.
Ticket Prices
For Thanksgiving, airfares are averaging $268 per ticket, reflecting a decline of 14 percent from last year and a 7 percent drop compared to 2019, pre-pandemic. If you're driving to Thanksgiving gatherings, rentals are hovering around $42 per day, a notable 17 percent dip from last year's $52 daily rate. The typical trend? Most opt for a five-day rental.
Christmas flights are down an average of 12 percent from last year, at around $400, but up by nearly 30 percent compared to 2019. Car rental rates remain steady for the Christmas season, averaging $53 per day, consistent with last year's figures.
"Travelers will save 20 percent or $57 per ticket by departing on the Thursday before Thanksgiving (11/16) instead of taking a weekend flight," Hopper's travel outlook says. "Travelers returning on Sunday will pay a 40 percent premium, or $121 per ticket more than those travelers who return the following day, Monday."
So when are the best and worst days to fly this holiday season? Here's a breakdown for 2023, according to a report by NerdWallet.
Best and Worst Days to Fly
Thanksgiving (Best):
- Monday, November 20
- Tuesday, November 21
- Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving Day)
Thanksgiving (Worst):
- Wednesday, November 22
- Sunday, November 26
Christmas (Best):
- Thursday, December 21
- Monday, December 25 (Christmas Day)
- Tuesday, December 26
Christmas (Worst):
- Friday, December 22
- Saturday, December 23
- Sunday, December 24
Busiest Airports
A report by KAYAK highlighted the airports expected to see a significant surge in traffic during the holiday season. Travelers should brace for bigger crowds at major hubs like LAX (Los Angeles), SFO (San Francisco), BOS (Boston), ATL (Atlanta), ORD (Chicago O'Hare) and DEN (Denver).
Top Destinations
- For Thanksgiving, Hopper data shows the top five U.S. destinations are: New York City, Orlando, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington, D.C.
- For Christmas, Hopper data lists the top five U.S. destinations as: New York City, Orlando, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Denver
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About the writer
Alex is a Newsweek editor based in New York City. She previously worked as a TV news anchor, reporter and ... Read more
