In short: The holiday season is approaching. For most people, that means visiting family and friends, which is (usually) fun, but often also air travel, which is anything but fun. Google takes the stress out of the process by analyzing years of Google Flights data to find the cheapest fares for Thanksgiving and Christmas flights in the US.
Google’s trends and tips for vacation travel in 2026 illustrate how many travelers face the dilemma of buying airline tickets now or waiting to see if the price drops.
By aggregating five years of Google Flights data, Google found that the lowest prices for domestic flights occur 39 days before departure, with the price range being 21 to 57 days before.
For international flights, the cheapest prices apply 89 days before departure. There is a price drop between 50 and 133 days, but it is insignificant.
Google also highlights the best booking times for specific holidays. Those traveling for Thanksgiving should book 34 days before departure to get the lowest prices, while the lowest price is 21 to 57 days in advance.
The ever-popular Christmas travel season requires a longer booking to secure a cheap flight: 56 days before departure, while the lowest range is 33 to 67 days.
According to Google, October 21-23 is the best time to book a cheap flight for Thanksgiving. If you’re traveling over Christmas you could get the best deal between October 27th and 29th.
Other holiday destinations examined by Google include trips to Mexico or the Caribbean – book these 43 days before departure (the lowest price range is between 24 and 69 days).
Go to Europe? Similar to general international travel, prices are lowest 90 days before departure. The low price range is 49 days or more before departure.
Finally, spring break flights 50 days before departure (low price range 29 – 64 days) are cheapest for travel in March or April. Summer vacation prices bottom out 21 days before travel (low price range is 20 to 47 days) for trips in July or August.
Google also writes that rumors that you can get cheaper flights if you buy them on certain days of the week are a myth, even though Sunday is by far the most expensive day.
However, the days and times you fly do matter. If you fly out on Monday and return on Tuesday or Wednesday, you can save around 14% compared to weekend travel. For domestic travel, savings can be up to 20% compared to a return trip on Sunday. Choosing a connecting flight can also save costs, as non-stop tickets cost on average 20% more.
