Holiday airfare hits 10-year high as Thanksgiving and Christmas travel costs soar
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.
In short
- US holiday airfares have reached a 10-year high.
- Thanksgiving domestic returns average $402, up 31%.
- Checking fares after booking may help travellers save.
Explained simply
Thanksgiving and Christmas are among the busiest times for travel in the United States, as many people fly to spend the holidays with family and friends. Airfares are the prices airlines charge for tickets, and they can rise when demand is high or when airlines face higher costs, such as for jet fuel.
Hopper is a travel company that tracks flight searches and prices. Its figures cover average fares, which means an individual traveller’s ticket may cost more or less depending on the route, dates and type of ticket. Families buying several tickets can feel price increases more sharply because the cost applies to each traveller.