How Axel worksFlying in November: prices, crowds and delays
Updated October 26, 2026 · Data: Axel, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, CheapAir.com · How this guide was made
November is the second-priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, November 2026 departures ran 10% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1. Airports are about average in November (4% below the average day in 2025) 2, and 82% of November flights arrive on time, #3 of 12 months (1.5% cancelled) 3.
Search flights in November 2026 Opens a day-by-day date picker with live prices; choose your airports first.
Is November a cheap month to fly?
November is the second-priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, November 2026 departures ran 10% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1. International trips from the U.S. ran 1% above their average month in November 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, November fares against each region's average month: Mexico +12%, the Caribbean 0%, Hawaii +2% 1.
CheapAir found November the priciest month for domestic flights. 4
CheapAir found November the cheapest month to fly to Asia. 5
How far ahead to book a November trip
For an ordinary November 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 November?
In 2025, TSA screened an average of 2,392,566 people a day in November, -4% against the year's average day (2024: -3%) 2. The busiest November days in 2025 were Sun Nov 30 (3.13 million), Fri Nov 21 (2.79 million), Wed Nov 26 (2.75 million); the quietest were Thu Nov 27 (1.56 million), Tue Nov 18 (1.82 million), Sat Nov 15 (1.90 million).
Delays and cancellations in November
82.4% of November flights arrived on time over the last two years, #3 of 12 months, and 1.47% were cancelled 3. Weather caused 38% of November cancellations. Among the 50 busiest airports, flights from Honolulu, HI (87%) and Pittsburgh, PA were the most punctual in November, and Newark, NJ (76%) and Dallas/Fort Worth, TX the least. Delta Air Lines had the best on-time record of the major airlines in November (86%).
| Airport | City | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| HNL | Honolulu, HI | 87.2% | 0.94% |
| PIT | Pittsburgh, PA | 86.6% | 1.00% |
| SLC | Salt Lake City, UT | 86.6% | 1.00% |
| SAT | San Antonio, TX | 86.1% | 0.94% |
| SJC | San Jose, CA | 85.8% | 0.67% |
| SFO | San Francisco, CA | 79.3% | 1.52% |
| SAN | San Diego, CA | 78.7% | 1.62% |
| ORD | Chicago, IL | 77.7% | 3.27% |
| DFW | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | 76.9% | 2.58% |
| EWR | Newark, NJ | 75.7% | 2.32% |
Source: BTS 3
Holidays and peaks in November
- Thanksgiving: Thu Nov 26, 2026 (see when to book Thanksgiving flights)
Questions travelers ask
Is November a cheap time to fly?
November is the second-priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, November 2026 departures ran 10% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1.
How far in advance should I book a flight for November?
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 November a busy month to fly?
About average: TSA traffic in November 2025 ran -4% against the year's average day 2.
Are there more flight delays in November?
November flights arrived on time 82.4% of the time, #3 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
- The Best Time to Buy Flights, CheapAir.com, 2024-10-19
- 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 November: prices, crowds and delays
Updated October 26, 2026 by Axel (helloaxel.com).
November is the second-priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, November 2026 departures ran 10% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1]. Airports are about average in November (4% below the average day in 2025) [2], and 82% of November flights arrive on time, #3 of 12 months (1.5% cancelled) [3].
Live prices: Search flights in November 2026. Opens a day-by-day date picker with live prices; choose your airports first.
Key numbers
- +10%: domestic fares vs the average month (#11 of 12, cheapest first) [1]
- -4%: airport traffic vs the average day of the year (2025) [2]
- 82%: of November flights on time, #3 of 12 months [3]
- 1.5%: of November flights cancelled [3]
Is November a cheap month to fly?
November is the second-priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, November 2026 departures ran 10% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1]. International trips from the U.S. ran 1% above their average month in November [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, November fares against each region's average month: Mexico +12%, the Caribbean 0%, Hawaii +2% [1].
CheapAir found November the priciest month for domestic flights. [4]
CheapAir found November the cheapest month to fly to Asia. [5]
How far ahead to book a November trip
For an ordinary November 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 November?
In 2025, TSA screened an average of 2,392,566 people a day in November, -4% against the year's average day (2024: -3%) [2]. The busiest November days in 2025 were Sun Nov 30 (3.13 million), Fri Nov 21 (2.79 million), Wed Nov 26 (2.75 million); the quietest were Thu Nov 27 (1.56 million), Tue Nov 18 (1.82 million), Sat Nov 15 (1.90 million).
Delays and cancellations in November
82.4% of November flights arrived on time over the last two years, #3 of 12 months, and 1.47% were cancelled [3]. Weather caused 38% of November cancellations. Among the 50 busiest airports, flights from Honolulu, HI (87%) and Pittsburgh, PA were the most punctual in November, and Newark, NJ (76%) and Dallas/Fort Worth, TX the least. Delta Air Lines had the best on-time record of the major airlines in November (86%).
Most and least punctual big airports in November
Flights departing each of the 50 busiest airports; Sep 2024 to Aug 2026.
| Airport | City | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| HNL | Honolulu, HI | 87.2% | 0.94% |
| PIT | Pittsburgh, PA | 86.6% | 1.00% |
| SLC | Salt Lake City, UT | 86.6% | 1.00% |
| SAT | San Antonio, TX | 86.1% | 0.94% |
| SJC | San Jose, CA | 85.8% | 0.67% |
| SFO | San Francisco, CA | 79.3% | 1.52% |
| SAN | San Diego, CA | 78.7% | 1.62% |
| ORD | Chicago, IL | 77.7% | 3.27% |
| DFW | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | 76.9% | 2.58% |
| EWR | Newark, NJ | 75.7% | 2.32% |
Source: BTS [3]
Holidays and peaks in November
- Thanksgiving: Thu Nov 26, 2026 (see when to book Thanksgiving flights)
Questions travelers ask
Is November a cheap time to fly?
November is the second-priciest of the 12 months with data for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, November 2026 departures ran 10% above the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1].
How far in advance should I book a flight for November?
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 November a busy month to fly?
About average: TSA traffic in November 2025 ran -4% against the year's average day [2].
Are there more flight delays in November?
November flights arrived on time 82.4% of the time, #3 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
- The Best Time to Buy Flights, CheapAir.com, 2024-10-19
- When Is the Best Time to Buy an International Flight?, CheapAir.com, 2025-02-17