Thanksgiving airfares have climbed sharply this year, and some travelers are responding by staying home. Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, found average holiday fares up 31% in August versus a year earlier, while bookings for the period fell 1.6%.

Why are Thanksgiving airfares so high?

Airlines are passing along higher operating costs. Jet fuel, their second-biggest expense after payroll, has become more expensive because of the war in Iran, and carriers have raised fares, added surcharges and trimmed routes in response. Payroll costs have also risen under newly negotiated contracts with pilots and flight attendants.

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United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told analysts last week that "it's expensive to fly airplanes." Carriers say they expect fares to stay elevated even if the Middle East conflict eases, since fuel costs remain well above last year's levels.

Where are bookings falling the most?

The decline is not spread evenly. Cirium found double-digit drops at several major airports, with Newark down about a quarter from last year, Seattle off roughly 15%, and Miami, Dallas, San Francisco and Denver each down between about 12% and 13%. Hopper puts the average domestic round-trip Thanksgiving fare at $402, roughly $95 more than in 2025, and Christmas fares at about $452.

Can travelers still save on holiday flights?

Yes, timing matters. Hopper data suggests departing Monday, Nov. 23, is the cheapest option at about $370, and returning Monday or Tuesday after the holiday could cost around $350 instead of $604 for a Sunday return. Returning on Black Friday averages about $420. Travelers are also booking earlier than in past years, and Christmas hotel rates are up 18% to about $197 a night.

FAQ

Are airlines cutting routes?

Yes. To offset higher fuel and labor costs, carriers have raised fares, added passenger surcharges and cut some routes, according to reporting on Cirium's data.

Will fares drop before Thanksgiving?

Airline executives say no. They expect prices to remain high through the season and warn fares could rise further.