What is the cheapest day to fly near Christmas?

The cheapest days to fly near Christmas are on Christmas Day itself (December 25) or Christmas Eve (December 24). Flying on these days, as well as New Year’s Eve (December 31) or New Year's Day, offers the best value compared to the peak, expensive travel days just before and after the holiday.

What is the cheapest day to fly around Christmas?

Additional days expected to have the least amount of fliers—and likely lower airfares—are Christmas Day and New Year's Day, according to Airlines for America's data. In general, the cheapest days to travel are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, according to Google's 2025 holiday flight report.

Are flights cheaper on Boxing Day?

Yes, flights can be cheaper on Boxing Day because airlines offer significant, limited-time sales and discounts for travel in the upcoming months (especially January-March), but prices for peak holiday travel around Boxing Day itself can be high due to demand, so it's best to book deals for future travel, not immediate trips. You'll find deals on both domestic and international flights from many carriers, often extending through early January, so it's a prime time to plan trips for spring break or later. 

Do flight prices go down at Christmas?

For Christmas, the closer the holiday gets, the more prices climb. But we tend to see last-minute price drops for New Year's Day - especially after Boxing Day. To cut costs even further - try flying on the day of the holiday.

When should I buy my plane tickets for Christmas?

A 2025 report from Google Flights shows the best time to book flights for Thanksgiving is mid- to late-October, when Thanksgiving flights are at their cheapest. For Christmas and New Year's flights, it's best to book by the end of October.

How to BOOK CHEAP FLIGHTS (Tricks that ACTUALLY work)

Why is December 3 the cheapest day to book flights?

On Dec. 3, in the wake of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, companies from airlines and hotels to rental platforms capitalize on consumerism, dropping limited-time booking promotions for travelers from operators around the world.

How to get cheap flights for Christmas?

Because winter breaks are a bit more spread out, you have many more affordable options when it comes to Christmastime travel. Based on the 2024 Expedia's Holiday Travel Outlook, the least expensive days will be either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day itself or the Monday through Wednesday of the week prior (Dec.

When to book flight tickets for December?

Festive & Holiday Season (October–January)

Book at least 90 days in advance. Diwali, Christmas, and New Year witness some of the highest domestic airfare rates.

When to book flights the cheapest?

The cheapest time to buy flights involves booking 1-3 months ahead for domestic and 2-6 months for international (longer for peak holidays), flying on Tuesdays/Wednesdays, and targeting the shoulder seasons (spring/fall) instead of peak summer/winter, using price alerts to track fluctuations as airlines use dynamic pricing now, rather than a fixed "Tuesday rule".

What is the sweet spot for flight prices?

For domestic flights, the sweet spot tends to fall around one to three months in advance, with many fares reaching their lowest price around 44 days out. International flights usually follow a longer timeline—three to five months ahead is often ideal, especially for trips to Europe.

Do airlines do cheap last-minute flights?

Which airlines usually offer the cheapest last-minute flight tickets? For the best last-minute airline tickets, try Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air.

Is December 22 a bad day to fly?

People can expect airports to be the most crowded on Dec. 26, with more than 3.1 million seats scheduled for U.S. domestic flights, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company. The other busiest days to fly for year-end trips include Dec. 21, 22, 28 and 29.

Is December 2nd a cheap flight day?

Dec 2 is basically the Black Friday of cheap travel deals. If you want to travel more in 2026 you'll want to make sure that you are maximizing all of the cheap flight and hotel deals that Travel Tuesday brings #cheaptravel #traveltuesday2025 #traveldeals #travelreels.

Is December 28 a good day to travel?

🗓️December 28: The last highly auspicious travel day of the month! Use it to finalise or start any major travel plans for 2026. ⚠️ Be cautious between December 6 and 25. During this period, double-check all tickets, schedules, and communication multiple times to avoid issues.

Why is December 3rd the cheapest day to buy plane tickets?

On Dec. 3, in the wake of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, companies from airlines and hotels to rental platforms capitalize on consumerism, dropping limited-time booking promotions for travelers from operators around the world.

When to buy flights for Christmas?

For the cheapest domestic trips, plan on booking Thanksgiving flights in early to mid-October and Christmas airfare by Halloween. The cheapest holiday deals are generally available in October. According to Google, Christmas airfare prices are usually at their lowest 32 to 73 days before the holiday.

What is the cheapest date to fly in December?

Flights on Christmas Day are often cheaper, but those either side can move considerably in the other direction.

Do airlines reduce prices closer to departure?

Generally, no, flights do not get cheaper closer to the date; prices usually increase, especially for popular routes, as airlines cater to less price-sensitive business travelers or those with fixed plans. However, rare last-minute bargains can appear on quieter routes or if a flight is undersold, but relying on this is risky and more like gambling. For the best prices, book domestic flights 1-3 months out and international flights 2-8 months out, and use price alerts to monitor fluctuations. 

How to get notified when flight prices drop?

When the price for a flight or route you're tracking changes significantly, you can get email updates.

1. Go to Google Flights.
2. At the top, choose the number of stops, cabin class, and how many tickets you need.
3. Choose your departure airport and destination.
4. To track prices for this route, turn on Track prices.

Will flight prices go down around Christmas?

High demand and limited capacity cause airfare to peak during the holiday season. The cheapest day to fly for Christmas is typically December 24, according to Expedia data. Airfare prices tend to drop significantly after the holiday rush, particularly around late January.

What is the trick to find cheap flights?

How to find the cheapest flights

• Check the cheapest days to fly out. ...
• Be flexible with your flight destination. ...
• Use flight price search engines. ...
• Book through travel agents for students. ...
• Last-minute deals aren't always cheaper so book early. ...
• Beware of extra costs on budget airlines. ...
• Go incognito when booking flights.

What is the cheapest day to fly before Christmas?

The Cheapest Days: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Analysis of over 40,000 flights shows Christmas Eve runs 75% above baseline but still costs less than the surrounding peak days, while Christmas Day offers the best value of the holiday period at just 27% above normal fares.