- Thanksgiving airfares saw an average 55% increase, with the return weekend (Nov 29-30) being the most expensive travel period.
- The cheapest time to fly for Thanksgiving is the Sunday and Monday before the holiday (Nov 23-24), which saw minor price decreases.
- Frontier Airlines and JetBlue recorded the largest percentage price increases for both Thanksgiving and Christmas travel.
- Southwest Airlines exhibited the most steady pricing during Christmas, showing only a 28% increase, which is significantly lower than competitors
A new study by Upgraded Points, which analyzed over 40,000 flights on the ten busiest U.S. domestic routes, confirms that flexibility in travel dates is key to avoiding significant holiday airfare surcharges. The data reveals that most days around Thanksgiving and Christmas are substantially more expensive than fares in early November.
During the Thanksgiving period, the average one-way fare increased by 55%. The most expensive travel window is the return weekend, with Saturday (Nov 29) seeing a massive 167% increase and Sunday (Nov 30) rising by nearly 115%. To secure savings, travelers should target the weekend before Thanksgiving (Sunday/Monday, Nov 23/24), which showed slight price decreases, or opt to fly on Thanksgiving Day itself.
The study also highlighted significant differences in pricing by carrier. Frontier Airlines recorded the largest seasonal increase for both holidays, with prices surging by nearly 200% around Christmas. JetBlue and Spirit Airlines also saw triple-digit percentage increases. Conversely, Southwest Airlines stood out for its relatively steady pricing during Christmas, reporting only a 28% increase, significantly less volatile than its competitors. The findings underscore that a smart booking strategy requires travelers to carefully select both their travel day and their chosen airline to avoid predictable surge pricing.