Google Reveals Best Times to Book Thanksgiving and Christmas Flights

Google Flights has shared insights to help travelers secure the best deals for Thanksgiving and Christmas flights. According to five years of aggregated data, the lowest fares for Thanksgiving are typically found about 34 days before departure, with the best prices appearing between 21 to 57 days ahead. This means the cheapest options often emerge in October.

For Christmas travel, Google found that prices are lowest around 56 days before departure, with the best deals available between 33 and 67 days in advance. This places the optimal booking window between late October and mid-November. November through early January is a peak travel period in the U.S., with airline tickets generally becoming more expensive as demand rises.

Garrett Scott, co-author of Uncertainty in Dynamic Pricing Environments, advises booking early and being flexible with travel dates and times. While some tickets may get cheaper closer to the departure date due to unsold capacity, this is not a reliable strategy, especially if the flight is full.

Google also provided general travel advice, suggesting that domestic flights should be booked 39 days in advance, while international flights should be booked 89 days ahead. Additionally, travelers are encouraged to explore alternative airports and less popular travel days to find cheaper deals.