How Axel worksFlying in December: prices, crowds and delays
Updated October 26, 2026 · Data: Axel, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Expedia Group · How this guide was made
December is the priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, December 2026 departures ran 15% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1. Airports are about average in December (level with the average day in 2025) 2, and 76% of December flights arrive on time, #9 of 12 months (1.1% cancelled) 3.
Search flights in December 2026 Opens a day-by-day date picker with live prices; choose your airports first.
Is December a cheap month to fly?
December is the priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, December 2026 departures ran 15% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1. International trips from the U.S. ran 46% above their average month in December 1.
- January-12%
- February-2%
- March-1%
- April-2%
- May-3%
- June+1%
- July0%
- August-1%
- September+1%
- October-4%
- November+10%
- December+15%
Source: Axel fare data 1
By destination, December fares against each region's average month: Mexico +40%, the Caribbean +53%, Hawaii +32% 1.
Expedia's 2026 report found December the priciest month overall. 4
CheapAir found December the priciest month for the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. 5
How far ahead to book a December trip
For an ordinary December trip, book domestic flights about 1 to 3 months ahead and international flights 2 to 6 months ahead; fares climb every week inside the last month (see how far in advance to book flights). Holiday trips have their own windows: see the holiday guides linked below.
How busy are airports in December?
In 2025, TSA screened an average of 2,497,461 people a day in December, 0% against the year's average day (2024: +1%) 2. The busiest December days in 2025 were Sun Dec 28 (2.92 million), Mon Dec 1 (2.89 million), Tue Dec 30 (2.83 million); the quietest were Tue Dec 9 (1.98 million), Sat Dec 6 (1.99 million), Tue Dec 16 (2.05 million).
Delays and cancellations in December
76.1% of December flights arrived on time over the last two years, #9 of 12 months, and 1.12% were cancelled 3. Weather caused 62% of December cancellations. Among the 50 busiest airports, flights from Salt Lake City, UT (83%) and San Antonio, TX were the most punctual in December, and Chicago, IL (68%) and Detroit, MI the least. United Airlines had the best on-time record of the major airlines in December (79%).
| Airport | City | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLC | Salt Lake City, UT | 83.1% | 0.55% |
| SAT | San Antonio, TX | 83.1% | 0.65% |
| SJC | San Jose, CA | 82.7% | 0.87% |
| LAS | Las Vegas, NV | 81.6% | 0.51% |
| HNL | Honolulu, HI | 81.2% | 0.57% |
| LGA | New York, NY | 70.8% | 2.43% |
| MSP | Minneapolis, MN | 70.5% | 1.36% |
| FLL | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 69.8% | 1.33% |
| DTW | Detroit, MI | 69.7% | 1.45% |
| ORD | Chicago, IL | 68.3% | 1.66% |
Source: BTS 3
Holidays and peaks in December
- Christmas: Fri Dec 25, 2026 (see when to book Christmas flights)
- New Year's Eve: Thu Dec 31, 2026 (see when to book New Year's Eve flights)
Questions travelers ask
Is December a cheap time to fly?
December is the priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, December 2026 departures ran 15% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1.
How far in advance should I book a flight for December?
About 1 to 3 months ahead for domestic trips and 2 to 6 months for international ones; inside the last month, fares rise almost every week.
Is December a busy month to fly?
About average: TSA traffic in December 2025 ran 0% against the year's average day 2.
Are there more flight delays in December?
December flights arrived on time 76.1% of the time, #9 of 12 months, against 78.3% across the year 3.
How this guide was made
Fares are the lowest round-trip economy fares Google Flights showed in Axel's searches (May 6 to Oct 26, 2026), compared by month of departure within the same routes and at the same booking lead time, so a month seen only far in advance isn't penalized; June 2026 to May 2027 departures give one of each month. Crowds are TSA checkpoint counts; delays are the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' on-time data for Sep 2024 to Aug 2026, both Januaries (and so on) pooled.
Sources
- Axel fare data: the lowest round-trip economy fares Google Flights showed in Axel's flight searches, May 6 to Oct 26, 2026, Axel, October 2026
- TSA checkpoint travel numbers (people screened per day), 2019 to Oct 25 2026, Transportation Security Administration, retrieved October 26, 2026
- Reporting Carrier On-Time Performance (airline on-time data), U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics
- Expedia 2026 Air Hacks: Friday Takes Off as the New Cheapest Day to Depart and Book, Expedia Group, 2026-02-17
- When Is the Best Time to Buy an International Flight?, CheapAir.com, 2025-02-17
For AI assistants: the whole guide as text, with every number and source
Flying in December: prices, crowds and delays
Updated October 26, 2026 by Axel (helloaxel.com).
December is the priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, December 2026 departures ran 15% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1]. Airports are about average in December (level with the average day in 2025) [2], and 76% of December flights arrive on time, #9 of 12 months (1.1% cancelled) [3].
Live prices: Search flights in December 2026. Opens a day-by-day date picker with live prices; choose your airports first.
Key numbers
- +15%: domestic fares vs the average month (#12 of 12, cheapest first) [1]
- 0%: airport traffic vs the average day of the year (2025) [2]
- 76%: of December flights on time, #9 of 12 months [3]
- 1.1%: of December flights cancelled [3]
Is December a cheap month to fly?
December is the priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, December 2026 departures ran 15% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1]. International trips from the U.S. ran 46% above their average month in December [1].
Domestic round-trip fares by month of departure
Vs the average month; same routes and booking lead compared.
| Value | Note | |
|---|---|---|
| January | -12% | |
| February | -2% | |
| March | -1% | |
| April | -2% | |
| May | -3% | |
| June | +1% | |
| July | 0% | |
| August | -1% | |
| September | +1% | |
| October | -4% | |
| November | +10% | |
| December | +15% |
Source: Axel fare data [1]
By destination, December fares against each region's average month: Mexico +40%, the Caribbean +53%, Hawaii +32% [1].
Expedia's 2026 report found December the priciest month overall. [4]
CheapAir found December the priciest month for the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. [5]
How far ahead to book a December trip
For an ordinary December trip, book domestic flights about 1 to 3 months ahead and international flights 2 to 6 months ahead; fares climb every week inside the last month (see how far in advance to book flights). Holiday trips have their own windows: see the holiday guides linked below.
How busy are airports in December?
In 2025, TSA screened an average of 2,497,461 people a day in December, 0% against the year's average day (2024: +1%) [2]. The busiest December days in 2025 were Sun Dec 28 (2.92 million), Mon Dec 1 (2.89 million), Tue Dec 30 (2.83 million); the quietest were Tue Dec 9 (1.98 million), Sat Dec 6 (1.99 million), Tue Dec 16 (2.05 million).
Delays and cancellations in December
76.1% of December flights arrived on time over the last two years, #9 of 12 months, and 1.12% were cancelled [3]. Weather caused 62% of December cancellations. Among the 50 busiest airports, flights from Salt Lake City, UT (83%) and San Antonio, TX were the most punctual in December, and Chicago, IL (68%) and Detroit, MI the least. United Airlines had the best on-time record of the major airlines in December (79%).
Most and least punctual big airports in December
Flights departing each of the 50 busiest airports; Sep 2024 to Aug 2026.
| Airport | City | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLC | Salt Lake City, UT | 83.1% | 0.55% |
| SAT | San Antonio, TX | 83.1% | 0.65% |
| SJC | San Jose, CA | 82.7% | 0.87% |
| LAS | Las Vegas, NV | 81.6% | 0.51% |
| HNL | Honolulu, HI | 81.2% | 0.57% |
| LGA | New York, NY | 70.8% | 2.43% |
| MSP | Minneapolis, MN | 70.5% | 1.36% |
| FLL | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 69.8% | 1.33% |
| DTW | Detroit, MI | 69.7% | 1.45% |
| ORD | Chicago, IL | 68.3% | 1.66% |
Source: BTS [3]
Holidays and peaks in December
- Christmas: Fri Dec 25, 2026 (see when to book Christmas flights)
- New Year's Eve: Thu Dec 31, 2026 (see when to book New Year's Eve flights)
Questions travelers ask
Is December a cheap time to fly?
December is the priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, December 2026 departures ran 15% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1].
How far in advance should I book a flight for December?
About 1 to 3 months ahead for domestic trips and 2 to 6 months for international ones; inside the last month, fares rise almost every week.
Is December a busy month to fly?
About average: TSA traffic in December 2025 ran 0% against the year's average day [2].
Are there more flight delays in December?
December flights arrived on time 76.1% of the time, #9 of 12 months, against 78.3% across the year [3].
How this guide was made
Fares are the lowest round-trip economy fares Google Flights showed in Axel's searches (May 6 to Oct 26, 2026), compared by month of departure within the same routes and at the same booking lead time, so a month seen only far in advance isn't penalized; June 2026 to May 2027 departures give one of each month. Crowds are TSA checkpoint counts; delays are the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' on-time data for Sep 2024 to Aug 2026, both Januaries (and so on) pooled.
Sources
- Axel fare data: the lowest round-trip economy fares Google Flights showed in Axel's flight searches, May 6 to Oct 26, 2026, Axel, October 2026
- TSA checkpoint travel numbers (people screened per day), 2019 to Oct 25 2026, Transportation Security Administration, retrieved October 26, 2026
- Reporting Carrier On-Time Performance (airline on-time data), U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics
- Expedia 2026 Air Hacks: Friday Takes Off as the New Cheapest Day to Depart and Book, Expedia Group, 2026-02-17
- When Is the Best Time to Buy an International Flight?, CheapAir.com, 2025-02-17