The time to book your flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas is right now! The 2026 holiday travel is on track to be the most expensive in a decade, according to travel experts.
“Months of elevated jet fuel costs due to the conflict in Iran have contributed to Thanksgiving and Christmas airfares reaching 10-year highs,” economist Hayley Berg explained in Hopper’s 2026 holiday travel index.
Hopper is an online travel agency. Round-trip domestic airfare around Thanksgiving is averaging $402, up 31% from last year. For Christmas, domestic airfare averages around $452, a 23% increase from 2025.
“Bookings for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel have increased compared to this time in previous years, as travelers have begun to book trips weeks earlier
than they have historically,” Berg continued.
Hopper advised booking flights and hotel stays before Halloween to get the lowest prices for holiday season travel. And luckily, there are flights out of Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport to popular destinations such as New York City and Miami that are just under those high average prices.
How you can stretch your holiday travel budget
Hopper provided tips on ways to save on holiday travel this year:
- Rethink you Thanksgiving travel dates: Depart Nov. 23 or Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26 this year). Skip the Sunday return and fly home early in the week after the holiday.
- Avoid peak Christmas dates: Depart a few days before Christmas instead of Dec. 18-20. Return midweek rather than Dec. 27, and before prices are expected to jump on Jan. 2.
- Book before Halloween: Start monitoring prices now and aim to lock in flights and hotels before Oct. 31 for the best prices and availability.
- Build in flexibility: Consider flexible booking options like Cancel for Any Reason and Disruption Assistance and review refund terms.
- Use available rewards: Put travel credits, points or miles toward holiday bookings to offset higher costs.
In general, Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly domestically, according to Expedia. Sunday is typically the most expensive. Booking 15-30 days before departure can save an average of $130.
What are the best days to fly for Thanksgiving?
Holiday travel is highly concentrated, with millions of people flying to and from their destinations on the same dates. Being flexible when you fly for the holidays can save you a few bucks.
Nov. 23 is the most affordable day for travelers to depart, with fares about $50 less expensive than flights departing the day before Thanksgiving, according to Hopper. Departing on Thanksgiving Day itself is the next best option.
Nov. 29 will be one of the single most expensive days of the year to travel. So avoid that date, if you can.
What are the best days to fly for Christmas?
The best dates to go on a Christmas trip this year are Dec. 21 and 22. Returning mid-week after the holiday also offers lower prices, according to Hopper.
Where to fly for a holiday vacation from Knoxville
If you’re looking for holiday getaways and ticket deals, some flights out of McGhee Tyson Airport might fit your holiday vacation budget.
You could head to Dallas, Las Vegas, Orlando or Chicago for under $300 per round-trip ticket. And a little more could get you to Houston, Denver or Boston. These flights are available in November and December.
Affordable holiday flights from Knoxville as of Oct. 21 include:
Knoxville deals in November
- Baltimore, Maryland | $200
- Dallas, Texas | $248
- Orlando, Florida | $270
- Phoenix, Arizona $272
- Las Vegas, Nevada | $276
- Tampa, Florida | $300
- Chicago, Illinois | $340
- Minneapolis, Minnesota | $340
- Houston, Texas | $370
- Denver, Colorado | $371
- Detroit, Michigan | $373
- New York City, New York | $382
- Miami, Florida | $401
December
- Orlando, Florida | $214
- Washington, D.C. | $246
- Buffalo, New York | $250
- Chicago, Illinois | $264
- Los Angeles, California | $293
- Newark, New Jersey | $360
- Miami, Florida | $378
- New York City, New York | $393
- Dallas, Texas | $408
- Boston, Massachusetts | $410
- Phoenix, Arizona | $428
Prices listed are per round-trip ticket. The list includes direct and indirect flights. One or more connections are possible. Hopper found these prices for Knox News on Oct. 21.
Some of these tickets are likely through budget airlines available at McGhee Tyson, including Allegiant and Avelo or Southwest Airlines. Discount airlines often have the lowest fares but charge additional fees for carry-on bags, seat assignments and other amenities.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Airfares are soaring. Have you waited too late to book a holiday trip?
