Americans flying home for Thanksgiving this year will pay an average of $402 for a domestic round trip, up 31%, or $95, from last year, according to travel-booking company Hopper's 2026 Holiday Travel Index.
Christmas is not much better. Domestic round trips for that holiday average $452, an $85 or 23% increase, while fares to Mexico and Central America are up 23% and flights to Europe have risen 15%.
Why fares are climbing
Hopper blames months of elevated jet fuel costs tied to the conflict in Iran, which it says have pushed holiday airfares to their highest level in a decade.
Months of elevated jet fuel costs due to the conflict in Iran have contributed to Thanksgiving and Christmas airfares reaching 10-year highs.
Hopper, travel-booking company
Across the market, fares are up more than 25% from a year earlier as airlines trim seats in the face of higher fuel bills and strong demand.
Hopper based its findings on a week of flight searches in September, focusing on lower-priced tickets and adjusting for the shift in Thanksgiving's date when comparing with last year.
How travelers can cut costs
Families will feel the increases most, said Gary Leff, a Texas-based aviation expert and travel blogger, because each fare hike is multiplied across four or more tickets.
It's a much bigger deal when you're multiplying increases by, you know, four or more passengers,
Gary Leff, aviation expert
Leff advised travelers to keep checking prices after they buy. Most tickets other than basic economy no longer carry change fees, he said, so a passenger can call the airline, move to a cheaper fare and generally get a credit for the difference.
He cautioned that familiar savings tactics can backfire. Flying from a more distant airport can add driving, parking or ride-hailing costs, and swapping a nonstop for a connection creates more chances for something to go wrong during the busy holiday season.
Leff also urged travelers to weigh paying with miles instead of cash, and said those without miles should consider building a balance for future trips.
