# Holiday airfare hits 10-year high as Thanksgiving and Christmas travel costs soar

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/holiday-airfare-hits-10-year-high-as-thanksgiving-and-christmas-travel-costs-soar/
- Published: 2026-11-01T18:20:48+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T21:05:08+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Far right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/travel/holiday-airfare-hits-10-year-high-thanksgiving-christmas-travel-costs-soar
- Topics: Culture, Travel, World

## Key points

- US holiday airfares have reached a 10-year high.
- Thanksgiving domestic returns average $402, up 31%.
- Checking fares after booking may help travellers save.

## Summary

Holiday airfares in the United States are at their highest level in a decade, raising the cost of Thanksgiving and Christmas trips. Hopper says higher jet fuel costs have helped drive the increase, meaning families travelling together may face a particularly large rise in their total bill.

Hopper’s analysis of September flight searches found average domestic return fares of $402 for Thanksgiving, up 31% or $95 from last year, and $452 for Christmas, up 23% or $85. Christmas fares to Mexico and Central America rose 23%, while fares to Europe increased 15%. Aviation expert Gary Leff advises travellers to keep checking fares after booking, as many tickets other than basic economy allow changes that may yield credit if prices fall.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.