Google Reveals Best Times to Book Holiday Flights for 2026

Google has released its annual holiday travel analysis, offering insights into the best times to book flights for the 2026 holiday season. Based on five years of Google Flights data, the analysis reveals that the average lowest prices for US domestic flights occur 39 days before departure, while international trips to Europe hit their lowest point 90 days out. This data is crucial for travelers looking to save money and for travel brands planning their advertising strategies around booking peaks.

The analysis shows a shift in the cheapest booking window for Christmas trips, which now arrives about five days earlier than last year. For Thanksgiving flights, the sweet spot has moved 11 days closer to departure compared to 2024. The data also indicates that waiting rarely brings a lower price for trips to Europe, with the lowest prices occurring 90 days out and a low-price range starting 49 days before departure.

Google’s post, titled "Wheels up: Trends and tips for 2026 holiday travel," includes tools like Google Flights and AI Mode in Search, which provide personalized recommendations for travelers who know their destination and dates. These tools compare current prices with prior years and indicate whether prices are likely to rise or fall before departure.

The analysis also highlights trending destinations for the 2026 holidays, with Hilo, Hawaii; Buffalo, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Punta Gorda, Florida; and Greenville, South Carolina topping the list for domestic Thanksgiving trips. For international trips covering Christmas and New Year's Eve, Athens, Greece; Québec City, Canada; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Guatemala City, Guatemala are the most searched destinations.