The Best Time to Book Holiday Travel Is Coming Up

Summer just ended, and there’s Halloween candy at the grocery store and the pumpkin spice drinks at coffee shops again. That’s your sign — it’s time to start thinking about booking your holiday travel.

A 2024 report from Google Flights shows the best time to book flights for Thanksgiving is early October, when Thanksgiving flights are at their cheapest. For Christmas and New Year’s flights, it’s best to book by late October.

But if you’re planning on traveling abroad for either holiday, you’ll want to book as soon as you spot a deal. Prices are unlikely to drop for international flights between now and the holiday season. Wait too long, and you might pay more, get stuck with an inconvenient layover or be forced to book basic economy (read: middle seat).

Here are some tips to save on holiday travel this year.

Start tracking prices

No matter what you’ve heard, there are no hacks for getting cheap flights by booking on a Tuesday or late at night. Flight prices are at the mercy of travel demand, and the holidays are always a busy time to fly.

Fortunately, you don’t have to spend hours checking the demand.

Turn on price tracking on your preferred booking platform to get automatic email notifications when a flight you want goes down in cost. Search engines and online travel agencies have insights into the average costs for your specific route and nudge you when it's the best time to book.

Book early for international travel

Don't wait to book if you’re interested in crossing borders for the holidays. Google Flights data from 2024 suggests that airfares for international flights tend to increase around 50 days before departure.

One option to save money is to consider booking on an international budget airline, which can offer significant savings over legacy carriers, even when you factor in extra fees for baggage and meals.

You might also consider traveling internationally during Thanksgiving instead of Christmas or New Year’s. Because Thanksgiving is a U.S. holiday, there’s usually less demand to fly abroad since most people fly domestically for the feast.

Be flexible on your travel days

Being willing to accept the less-than-ideal flight will go a long way toward saving you money this holiday season.

If you find yourself outside of the best time to book holiday travel, you still have options. Consider extending your trip so you don’t have to fly on the busiest days around Thanksgiving (usually the Sunday after Thanksgiving) or Christmas. Check prices at nearby airports.