Flights just before Christmas cost 39% more this year and it might only get more expensive (2024)

FAQs

Do flights get more expensive closer to Christmas? ›

Winter: Travel around the Christmas and New Year holidays will usually cost more no matter what; otherwise, winter can be an affordable time to travel. For non-holiday travel, you can buy plane tickets a mere 26 days in advance and still get a good deal.

Demand is outpacing supply

High demand + low supply = higher fares. Once the summer travel boom subsides, lower demand means lower fares. We're already seeing it today; recent fares like $352 nonstop roundtrip to London and $210 nonstop roundtrip to Cancún have been commonplace, but for travel in the fall and winter.

Some experts predict airfares to international destinations will drop even lower in 2024. According to the American Express Global Business Travel Air Monitor 2024 report, prices on certain international routes may drop as much as 12%.

Flights departing on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day average 26% lower than peak prices during the Christmas season, according to the 2023 Holiday Travel Outlook from travel booking site Hopper.

Christmas and New Year are the most celebrated holidays in the world. Which means they're peak times for travel. So, what should you remember? Flights will cost more, and booking in advance is even more critical.

Customer Demand for holiday flights is high

Some people will roadtrip, but others will hop a flight. This increased demand means that there could be more people out there competing for flights. And that's simple economics. Increased demand means increased prices.

As previously mentioned, booking airfare on Sunday is cheaper than other days of the week, especially Fridays. Be willing to fly mid-week. Since Thursdays tend to be the cheapest day to fly, see if you can tweak your travel plans so you depart and fly home during the week instead of on weekend days.

No single day of the week is best to book a flight. You can find deals any day of the week since flight prices fluctuate with demand. Airlines might offer sales, increase the number of seats on a route or even lower prices to match a competitor, so there's no actual pattern in what day of the week has the best deals.

Airfares: what to expect in 2024

Global airfares are expected to rise between 3%-7% next year, as airlines grapple with high fuel costs, sustainability changes and fleet upgrades, according to the FCM Consulting's "Global Trend Report" for the third quarter of 2023.

Generally, flights are available to book around 11 months in advance, although it will differ from airline to airline.

What is the best day to buy airline tickets? ›

Best Day To Buy Airline Tickets: Sunday

This ensures that you receive a message if the price rises or drops, and if it drops, you can quickly book it to lock in a low fare. In addition, there are no guarantees that you will get a lower price when booking on Sunday versus any other day of the week.

Is there a cheapest month to fly? If you're looking for a bargain month to travel, January is best. Flights in February are a close second for being most affordable. At the other end of the spectrum, November and July are the first and second most expensive months to travel, on average.

During the Christmas season, there are always great offers on flights to Orlando, especially if you book early. You'll also find hotels for half the price than usual. For the value of money, Orlando is a fairly affordable Christmas destination compared to other states in the US.

At a minimum, book three weeks in advance

While fares fluctuate throughout the holiday season, Nastro advises that, at the very least, book before you're three weeks out from your travel day.

At a minimum, book three weeks in advance

On day 20, that price disappears, and a new (often much higher) fare takes its place.” Hopper's report also noted that in the week before Thanksgiving, you can expect the prices to rise an average of $30 per day (or more). For Christmas, it's more than $40 per day.

Based on Hipmunk's historical data, departing on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve makes for the most inexpensive flights, with median round-trip prices for domestic flights under $400. Most people choose to depart earlier, with 68% of people booking flights departing between December 21-23.

To save money, we flew on Christmas Eve

This personal revelation was also backed up by research. According to a 2023 study from the flight-search site CheapAir.com, Christmas Eve is the best-priced departure date for the holiday season.