How Axel worksWhen to book flights for Christmas and New Year (the whole holiday)
Updated October 26, 2026 · Data: Axel, Google (The Keyword blog), KAYAK, Transportation Security Administration · How this guide was made
Book Christmas and New Year flights 33 to 67 days (about 5 to 10 weeks) before you fly: for Christmas and New Year 2026 (Fri Dec 25), that means booking between Mon Oct 19 and Sun Nov 22. In Axel's fares for Christmas and New Year 2026, even the cheapest day to set out, Wed Dec 16, ran +30% against a normal day; Fri Dec 18 cost most (+60%), and the priciest day to come home was Sat Jan 2 (+64%) 1.
Search Christmas to New Year flights, Tue Dec 22 to Sat Jan 2, 2027 Choose your airports; the dates are the usual holiday trip and can be changed.
- fare on the cheapest departure day vs a normal day 1
- +30%
- fare on the priciest departure day vs a normal day 1
- +60%
- travelers on the busiest day vs the period average 4
- +10%
- of flights on time over Christmas and New Year in recent years 5
- 76%
- of Axel bookings departing December 2026 and January 2027 saw the same fare drop later (so far) 6
- 23%
When should I book Christmas and New Year flights?
Book Christmas and New Year flights 33 to 67 days (about 5 to 10 weeks) before you fly. That is where the published studies point: Google Flights, 2026: Christmas fares lowest about 56 days out (33 to 67); KAYAK, 2026: 4 to 7 weeks out; Expedia, 2026: By Nov 10 (Christmas) and Nov 7 (New Year) domestic 237.
In Axel's fares for Christmas and New Year 2026 departures, comparing the same routes and departure dates, prices were lowest when seen 2-3 months out 1, inside that window. Fares closer than about 53 days out haven't been seen yet for Christmas and New Year 2026.
- 6-8 weeks1,145 fareslowest
- 2-3 months1,547 fareslowest
- 3-4 months705 fares+13%
- 4-6 months750 fares+9%
Source: Axel fare data 1
| Source | Advice | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Google Flights, 2026 | Christmas fares lowest about 56 days out (33 to 67) | Average fares |
| KAYAK, 2026 | 4 to 7 weeks out | Searches |
| Expedia, 2026 | By Nov 10 (Christmas) and Nov 7 (New Year) domestic | Expedia.com bookings |
| Forecasters | Holiday season counted from Dec 17-22 to Jan 1-7 | A4A, AAA, Hopper, KAYAK definitions |
Book-by dates for Christmas and New Year
| Trip | Best time to book | Status (Oct 26, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas to New Year 2026 (Fri Dec 25) | Mon Oct 19, 2026 to Sun Nov 22, 2026 | Open now; ends Sun Nov 22 |
| Christmas to New Year 2027 (Sat Dec 25) | Tue Oct 19, 2027 to Mon Nov 22, 2027 | Opens Tue Oct 19 |
Cheapest days to fly for Christmas and New Year
For Christmas and New Year 2026, the cheapest day to set out in Axel's fares was Wed Dec 16, +30% against departing on a normal day, and the priciest was Fri Dec 18 (+60%) 1. Coming home, Sat Jan 2 cost most (+64%) and Wed Jan 6 least (+15%). Each day is compared with normal days for the same routes (away from other holidays), holding the other end of the trip fixed.
- Wed Dec 1677 routes+30%
- Thu Dec 1799 routes+49%
- Fri Dec 18140 routes+60%
- Sat Dec 19130 routes+60%
- Sun Dec 20125 routes+50%
- Mon Dec 21104 routes+46%
- Tue Dec 22106 routes+40%
- Wed Dec 23112 routes+44%
- Thu Dec 24111 routes+34%
Source: Axel fare data 1
- Fri Jan 1113 routes+31%
- Sat Jan 2149 routes+64%
- Sun Jan 3151 routes+57%
- Mon Jan 4103 routes+31%
- Tue Jan 587 routes+19%
- Wed Jan 658 routes+15%
Source: Axel fare data 1
Putting both ends together, the cheapest pair in Axel's fares was out Wed Dec 23 and back Thu Dec 31 (+45% against a typical trip in normal weeks) 1.
| Depart \ Return | Thu Dec 31 | Fri Jan 1 | Sat Jan 2 | Sun Jan 3 | Mon Jan 4 | Tue Jan 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Dec 16 | +130% | +52% | ||||
| Thu Dec 17 | +85% | +142% | +102% | |||
| Fri Dec 18 | +86% | +217% | +176% | +139% | +187% | |
| Sat Dec 19 | +91% | +125% | +200% | +197% | +109% | |
| Sun Dec 20 | +152% | +89% | ||||
| Mon Dec 21 | +72% | +78% | +77% | |||
| Tue Dec 22 | +61% | +51% | +132% | +100% | ||
| Wed Dec 23 | +45% | +90% | +97% | +146% | ||
| Thu Dec 24 | +52% | +92% | +158% | +143% | +108% | +112% |
| Fri Dec 25 | +70% | +89% | +144% | +154% | +124% |
Source: Axel fare data 1
Busiest and quietest days to fly around Christmas and New Year
At airport checkpoints, the busiest day of the Christmas and New Year period is Dec 22, about 10% above the period's average day, and the quietest is Dec 25, 18% below 4. Because Christmas and New Year moves across the week, the exact peak shifts from year to year.
- Dec 15+2%
- Dec 16-5%
- Dec 17-7%
- Dec 180%
- Dec 19+4%
- Dec 20+7%
- Dec 21+9%
- Dec 22+10%
- Dec 23+6%
- Dec 24-16%
- Dec 25-18%
- Dec 26+7%
- Dec 27+8%
- Dec 28+7%
- Dec 29+8%
- Dec 30+8%
- Dec 31-12%
- Jan 1-7%
- Jan 2+4%
- Jan 3+1%
- Jan 4-2%
- Jan 5-2%
- Jan 6-11%
Source: TSA 4
Delays and cancellations over Christmas and New Year
Across the 3 Christmas and New Year travel periods in the federal on-time data, 76.2% of flights arrived on time and 1.15% were cancelled, against 78.3% on time across all days 5. Leave slack in connections, and take early flights where you can.
| Period | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-18 to 2024-01-04 | 82.2% | 0.55% |
| 2024-12-18 to 2025-01-04 | 74.9% | 0.96% |
| 2025-12-18 to 2026-01-04 | 71.6% | 1.90% |
Source: BTS 5
Is Christmas and New Year travel more expensive this year?
Hopper's 2026 index puts Christmas domestic round trips at about $452, up 23% from 2025 8. The federal airline-fare price index was up 22.4% year over year in September 2026 10.
Already booked?
- Watch the price after you book: on 23% of the flights Axel booked departing December 2026 and January 2027, the same fare later dropped at least 5% and $25 6. Most of those trips haven't flown yet, so the share can still rise.
- Within 24 hours of booking, if you booked at least 7 days before departure, you can cancel for a full refund and rebook at a lower price 11.
- On most standard (non-basic) fares from Delta, United, American and Southwest, you can change to the same flight at the lower price with no change fee; the difference usually comes back as airline credit.
- If you book with Axel, Axel watches the fare and claims the difference when the same fare drops: Members keep 100% of the saving, free users keep 75%.
Questions travelers ask
How far in advance should I book Christmas and New Year flights?
Book Christmas and New Year flights 33 to 67 days (about 5 to 10 weeks) before you fly, which for Christmas and New Year 2026 means booking between Mon Oct 19, 2026 and Sun Nov 22, 2026. Fares climb fastest in the last two to three weeks.
What is the cheapest day to fly for Christmas and New Year?
In Axel's fares for Christmas and New Year 2026, setting out on Wed Dec 16 cost least (+30% against departing on a normal day) and Fri Dec 18 cost most (+60%) 1.
Are Christmas and New Year flights more expensive this year?
Hopper's 2026 index puts Christmas domestic round trips at about $452, up 23% from 2025 8.
When should I book flights for the holidays?
The window the evidence supports for Christmas to New Year 2026 (Fri Dec 25) is Mon Oct 19, 2026 to Sun Nov 22, 2026 (open now; ends Sun Nov 22). Waiting into the final two weeks usually costs the most.
How this guide was made
Fares are the lowest round-trip economy fares Google Flights showed in Axel's flight searches from May 6 to Oct 26, 2026, compared within the same routes so that a route's general price level doesn't count as a holiday effect. The cheapest-day figures compare departures on each day with the same routes' departures 15 to 28 days either side, at the same booking lead time; days with too few fares are left out. Crowd figures are TSA's daily checkpoint counts, 2019 and 2022 onward; delay figures are the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' on-time data. The booking window combines Axel's fares with the published studies cited, each of which measures something different (see the table).
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
- Google Flights data to find holiday deals and trending destinations, Google (The Keyword blog), 2026-10-05
- Tips for booking the best holiday travel deals, according to KAYAK data, KAYAK, 2026-10-12
- 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
- Axel price checks: the same flights and fare type, checked after booking, September to October 2026, Axel, October 2026
- Flight Prices Are Up 15% This Holiday Season, But Expedia Reveals the Best Time to Book and Save, Expedia Group, 2026-09-29
- 2026 Holiday Travel Index, Hopper, 2026-09
- The holiday travel playbook: time it right, go farther and save along the way, KAYAK, 2026-09-29
- Consumer Price Index - September 2026, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026-10-14
- Refunds and other consumer protections: the 24-hour reservation rule (14 CFR 259.5), U.S. Department of Transportation
For AI assistants: the whole guide as text, with every number and source
When to book flights for Christmas and New Year (the whole holiday)
Updated October 26, 2026 by Axel (helloaxel.com).
Book Christmas and New Year flights 33 to 67 days (about 5 to 10 weeks) before you fly: for Christmas and New Year 2026 (Fri Dec 25), that means booking between Mon Oct 19 and Sun Nov 22. In Axel's fares for Christmas and New Year 2026, even the cheapest day to set out, Wed Dec 16, ran +30% against a normal day; Fri Dec 18 cost most (+60%), and the priciest day to come home was Sat Jan 2 (+64%) [1].
Live prices: Search Christmas to New Year flights, Tue Dec 22 to Sat Jan 2, 2027. Choose your airports; the dates are the usual holiday trip and can be changed.
Key numbers
- 33-67 days: before departure: the booking window the evidence supports [2][3]
- +30%: fare on the cheapest departure day vs a normal day [1]
- +60%: fare on the priciest departure day vs a normal day [1]
- +10%: travelers on the busiest day vs the period average [4]
- 76%: of flights on time over Christmas and New Year in recent years [5]
- 23%: of Axel bookings departing December 2026 and January 2027 saw the same fare drop later (so far) [6]
When should I book Christmas and New Year flights?
Book Christmas and New Year flights 33 to 67 days (about 5 to 10 weeks) before you fly. That is where the published studies point: Google Flights, 2026: Christmas fares lowest about 56 days out (33 to 67); KAYAK, 2026: 4 to 7 weeks out; Expedia, 2026: By Nov 10 (Christmas) and Nov 7 (New Year) domestic [2][3][7].
In Axel's fares for Christmas and New Year 2026 departures, comparing the same routes and departure dates, prices were lowest when seen 2-3 months out [1], inside that window. Fares closer than about 53 days out haven't been seen yet for Christmas and New Year 2026.
Christmas to New Year 2026 fares by how far ahead they were seen
Lowest round-trip economy fare vs the cheapest point; same routes and departure dates.
| Value | Note | |
|---|---|---|
| 6-8 weeks | lowest | 1,145 fares |
| 2-3 months | lowest | 1,547 fares |
| 3-4 months | +13% | 705 fares |
| 4-6 months | +9% | 750 fares |
Source: Axel fare data [1]
What the studies say about booking Christmas and New Year flights
| Source | Advice | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Google Flights, 2026 | Christmas fares lowest about 56 days out (33 to 67) | Average fares |
| KAYAK, 2026 | 4 to 7 weeks out | Searches |
| Expedia, 2026 | By Nov 10 (Christmas) and Nov 7 (New Year) domestic | Expedia.com bookings |
| Forecasters | Holiday season counted from Dec 17-22 to Jan 1-7 | A4A, AAA, Hopper, KAYAK definitions |
Book-by dates for Christmas and New Year
Booking windows
33 to 67 days before departure.
| Trip | Best time to book | Status (Oct 26, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas to New Year 2026 (Fri Dec 25) | Mon Oct 19, 2026 to Sun Nov 22, 2026 | Open now; ends Sun Nov 22 |
| Christmas to New Year 2027 (Sat Dec 25) | Tue Oct 19, 2027 to Mon Nov 22, 2027 | Opens Tue Oct 19 |
Cheapest days to fly for Christmas and New Year
For Christmas and New Year 2026, the cheapest day to set out in Axel's fares was Wed Dec 16, +30% against departing on a normal day, and the priciest was Fri Dec 18 (+60%) [1]. Coming home, Sat Jan 2 cost most (+64%) and Wed Jan 6 least (+15%). Each day is compared with normal days for the same routes (away from other holidays), holding the other end of the trip fixed.
Departure day: fare vs a normal day (Christmas to New Year 2026)
Round trips, the same routes; return date held fixed.
| Value | Note | |
|---|---|---|
| Wed Dec 16 | +30% | 77 routes |
| Thu Dec 17 | +49% | 99 routes |
| Fri Dec 18 | +60% | 140 routes |
| Sat Dec 19 | +60% | 130 routes |
| Sun Dec 20 | +50% | 125 routes |
| Mon Dec 21 | +46% | 104 routes |
| Tue Dec 22 | +40% | 106 routes |
| Wed Dec 23 | +44% | 112 routes |
| Thu Dec 24 | +34% | 111 routes |
Source: Axel fare data [1]
Return day: fare vs a normal day (Christmas to New Year 2026)
Round trips, the same routes; departure date held fixed.
| Value | Note | |
|---|---|---|
| Fri Jan 1 | +31% | 113 routes |
| Sat Jan 2 | +64% | 149 routes |
| Sun Jan 3 | +57% | 151 routes |
| Mon Jan 4 | +31% | 103 routes |
| Tue Jan 5 | +19% | 87 routes |
| Wed Jan 6 | +15% | 58 routes |
Source: Axel fare data [1]
Putting both ends together, the cheapest pair in Axel's fares was out Wed Dec 23 and back Thu Dec 31 (+45% against a typical trip in normal weeks) [1].
Depart and return: round-trip fare vs normal weeks (Christmas to New Year 2026)
Each cell: the round-trip fare for that departure and return pair against a typical 3-to-9-night trip on the same routes in normal weeks, so it includes both ends of the trip. Blank: too few fares.
| Depart \ Return | Thu Dec 31 | Fri Jan 1 | Sat Jan 2 | Sun Jan 3 | Mon Jan 4 | Tue Jan 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Dec 16 | +130% | +52% | ||||
| Thu Dec 17 | +85% | +142% | +102% | |||
| Fri Dec 18 | +86% | +217% | +176% | +139% | +187% | |
| Sat Dec 19 | +91% | +125% | +200% | +197% | +109% | |
| Sun Dec 20 | +152% | +89% | ||||
| Mon Dec 21 | +72% | +78% | +77% | |||
| Tue Dec 22 | +61% | +51% | +132% | +100% | ||
| Wed Dec 23 | +45% | +90% | +97% | +146% | ||
| Thu Dec 24 | +52% | +92% | +158% | +143% | +108% | +112% |
| Fri Dec 25 | +70% | +89% | +144% | +154% | +124% |
Source: Axel fare data [1]
What other studies found
- Hopper finds Dec 18 to 20 departures the priciest and Jan 2 returns above $560 [8].
- KAYAK finds a Jan 2 domestic departure up to 45% cheaper than Dec 27 [9].
Busiest and quietest days to fly around Christmas and New Year
At airport checkpoints, the busiest day of the Christmas and New Year period is Dec 22, about 10% above the period's average day, and the quietest is Dec 25, 18% below [4]. Because Christmas and New Year moves across the week, the exact peak shifts from year to year.
Travelers screened by TSA, vs the period average
Average over 5 years (2019, 2022 onward).
| Value | Note | |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 15 | +2% | |
| Dec 16 | -5% | |
| Dec 17 | -7% | |
| Dec 18 | 0% | |
| Dec 19 | +4% | |
| Dec 20 | +7% | |
| Dec 21 | +9% | |
| Dec 22 | +10% | |
| Dec 23 | +6% | |
| Dec 24 | -16% | |
| Dec 25 | -18% | |
| Dec 26 | +7% | |
| Dec 27 | +8% | |
| Dec 28 | +7% | |
| Dec 29 | +8% | |
| Dec 30 | +8% | |
| Dec 31 | -12% | |
| Jan 1 | -7% | |
| Jan 2 | +4% | |
| Jan 3 | +1% | |
| Jan 4 | -2% | |
| Jan 5 | -2% | |
| Jan 6 | -11% |
Source: TSA [4]
Delays and cancellations over Christmas and New Year
Across the 3 Christmas and New Year travel periods in the federal on-time data, 76.2% of flights arrived on time and 1.15% were cancelled, against 78.3% on time across all days [5]. Leave slack in connections, and take early flights where you can.
- Christmas Day was one of the three most punctual days of the season every year; the weekend after Christmas was the worst, about 59% to 62% on time in 2024 and 2025 [5].
- Delta (79.9%) and United (79.7%) had the best records over the whole season among the large airlines; JetBlue (61.4%) the worst [5].
Christmas and New Year on-time record
| Period | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-18 to 2024-01-04 | 82.2% | 0.55% |
| 2024-12-18 to 2025-01-04 | 74.9% | 0.96% |
| 2025-12-18 to 2026-01-04 | 71.6% | 1.90% |
Source: BTS [5]
Is Christmas and New Year travel more expensive this year?
Hopper's 2026 index puts Christmas domestic round trips at about $452, up 23% from 2025 [8]. The federal airline-fare price index was up 22.4% year over year in September 2026 [10].
Already booked?
- Watch the price after you book: on 23% of the flights Axel booked departing December 2026 and January 2027, the same fare later dropped at least 5% and $25 [6]. Most of those trips haven't flown yet, so the share can still rise.
- Within 24 hours of booking, if you booked at least 7 days before departure, you can cancel for a full refund and rebook at a lower price [11].
- On most standard (non-basic) fares from Delta, United, American and Southwest, you can change to the same flight at the lower price with no change fee; the difference usually comes back as airline credit.
- If you book with Axel, Axel watches the fare and claims the difference when the same fare drops: Members keep 100% of the saving, free users keep 75%.
Questions travelers ask
How far in advance should I book Christmas and New Year flights?
Book Christmas and New Year flights 33 to 67 days (about 5 to 10 weeks) before you fly, which for Christmas and New Year 2026 means booking between Mon Oct 19, 2026 and Sun Nov 22, 2026. Fares climb fastest in the last two to three weeks.
What is the cheapest day to fly for Christmas and New Year?
In Axel's fares for Christmas and New Year 2026, setting out on Wed Dec 16 cost least (+30% against departing on a normal day) and Fri Dec 18 cost most (+60%) [1].
Are Christmas and New Year flights more expensive this year?
Hopper's 2026 index puts Christmas domestic round trips at about $452, up 23% from 2025 [8].
When should I book flights for the holidays?
The window the evidence supports for Christmas to New Year 2026 (Fri Dec 25) is Mon Oct 19, 2026 to Sun Nov 22, 2026 (open now; ends Sun Nov 22). Waiting into the final two weeks usually costs the most.
How this guide was made
Fares are the lowest round-trip economy fares Google Flights showed in Axel's flight searches from May 6 to Oct 26, 2026, compared within the same routes so that a route's general price level doesn't count as a holiday effect. The cheapest-day figures compare departures on each day with the same routes' departures 15 to 28 days either side, at the same booking lead time; days with too few fares are left out. Crowd figures are TSA's daily checkpoint counts, 2019 and 2022 onward; delay figures are the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' on-time data. The booking window combines Axel's fares with the published studies cited, each of which measures something different (see the table).
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
- Google Flights data to find holiday deals and trending destinations, Google (The Keyword blog), 2026-10-05
- Tips for booking the best holiday travel deals, according to KAYAK data, KAYAK, 2026-10-12
- 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
- Axel price checks: the same flights and fare type, checked after booking, September to October 2026, Axel, October 2026
- Flight Prices Are Up 15% This Holiday Season, But Expedia Reveals the Best Time to Book and Save, Expedia Group, 2026-09-29
- 2026 Holiday Travel Index, Hopper, 2026-09
- The holiday travel playbook: time it right, go farther and save along the way, KAYAK, 2026-09-29
- Consumer Price Index - September 2026, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026-10-14
- Refunds and other consumer protections: the 24-hour reservation rule (14 CFR 259.5), U.S. Department of Transportation