Google Flights says the best time to book Christmas flights is 54 days before travel.Steve Parsons/PA Images/Getty Images
- Google Flights recently shared its 2024 travel trends report.
- According to the report, the best time to book plane tickets for Thanksgiving is early October.
It may seem like the holiday season is still a while away, but thinking about your travel plans now could save you money.
In September, travel agency Hopper reported that airfare for a Thanksgiving trip averaged $298 for a round-trip ticket, 10% more than last year. Christmas flights averaged $406 for a round-trip ticket, an increase of 4% from the same time last year.
However, the company also suggested that prices would fall slightly in October, making it a good time to book flights.
Whether you plan to travel to a new destination or visit family and friends, Google Flights analyzed four years of airfare data and produced a report highlighting the best times to book holiday tickets this year.
Beginning with an overview of the best and cheapest days of the week to specific insights on domestic, international, and holiday travel, these are Google Flights’ guidelines on when to book your tickets.
Cheapest days of the week to fly
Booking midweek flights is 13% cheaper as compared to weekend flights. Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle/Getty Images
Cheapest days to fly: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Most expensive days: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
If your holiday plans are flexible, historical price trends show booking your flight for a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday will get you the best deal: a ticket that’s 13% cheaper than one on a Friday or the weekend.
For domestic travel
To source the cheapest domestic travel tickets, search 38 days in advance. Scott Olson/Getty Images
Cheapest booking time: 38 days before departure
Low price range: 21 to 52 days before departure
If you plan to travel within the US, the best time to book your trip is 38 days before your planned date, Google Flights reported.
For example, if you’re considering taking a trip from New York to Los Angeles, start looking for flights about a month to 1 1/2 months before your planned take-off date.
For international travel
To get the best deal on your international travel tickets, search at least 101 days in advance. Urbanandsport/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Cheapest booking time: 101 days before departure
Low price range: 50 days or more before takeoff
International flights, Google Flights says, are the cheapest when booked 101 days before your planned date of take-off — so, the earlier you book, the better the deal.
However, if you can’t book that far in advance, historical trends show that, on average, ticket prices remain low when booked 50 days or more before the departure date.
Prices usually begin to increase when the date of departure is fewer than 50 days away.
For Thanksgiving
Last year, the AAA predicted that about 4.7 million would travel by air during Thanksgiving, a 6.6% increase from 2022 and the highest number since Thanksgiving 2005. Scott Olson/Getty Images
Cheapest booking time: 45 days before departure
Low price range: 26 to 59 days before takeoff
According to Hopper, booking tickets before October 14 can save you some money on domestic travel. Similarly, Google Flights recommends early October as the best time to confirm your Thanksgiving trip, especially if you’re heading to a popular destination.
Therefore, the best time range, according to Google Flights, is 45 days before departure, and historical trends show the lowest price range is from 26 to 59 days before you plan to fly out.
For Christmas
Scenes from LAX during the Christmas holidays last year, one of the busiest travel periods. Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Cheapest booking time: 58 days before departure
Low price range: 36 to 72 days before takeoff
If you’re planning a domestic trip, it’s best to book early for Christmas, as this is one of the busiest travel seasons.
The lowest-priced tickets will be available 58 days before your intended travel date. Based on historical trends, the lowest price range is between 36 and 72 days before departure.
It means late October is your last best bet for the most affordable Christmas travel deals.
For trips to Europe
Tourists stroll over the lena Bridge and take photos of themselves with the Olympic Rings in Paris. Magali Cohen / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP/Getty Images
Cheapest booking time: 94 days before departure
Low price range: 50 days or more before takeoff
If you’re planning a Parisian getaway, the 94-day window gives you the best shot at cheap tickets.
Historically, the lowest price range — as is the case for most international destinations — has been 50 days or more before the departure date.
For trips to Mexico or the Caribbean
A boat with tourists cruises among the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. ULISES RUIZ / AFP/Getty Images
Cheapest booking time: 44 days before departure
Low price range: 26 to 68 days or more before takeoff
If you’d like to travel internationally but are working on a tighter planning schedule, Mexico and the Caribbean are great alternatives, given their flexible price deadlines.
To get the cheapest rate, you’d have to book your tickets 44 days in advance, per Google Flights. However, you could still get cheap tickets between 26 and 68 days before the departure date.
Overall, you’d benefit from booking your international tickets far in advance and for domestic travel, remaining within the 40 to 45-day window on most occasions.
Finally, if you’re OK with spending more time getting to your destination to spend less money, then you could opt for a flight with a layover. Per Google Flights, flights without stops, on average, cost 25% more than flights that do have stops.