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When to book New Year's flights

Updated October 26, 2026 · Data: Axel, Google (The Keyword blog), Expedia Group, Transportation Security Administration · How this guide was made

The short answer

Book New Year's flights 33 to 67 days (about 5 to 10 weeks) before you fly: for New Year's 2027 (Fri Jan 1), that means booking between Mon Oct 26 and Sun Nov 29. In Axel's fares for New Year's 2027, setting out on Wed Dec 30 cost least (-15% vs a normal day) and Sat Dec 26 most (+22%), and the priciest day to come home was Sat Jan 2 (+102%) 1.

Search New Year's flights, Wed Dec 30 to Sat Jan 2, 2027 Choose your airports; the dates are the usual holiday trip and can be changed.

before departure: the booking window the evidence supports 23
33-67 days
fare on the cheapest departure day vs a normal day 1
-15%
fare on the priciest departure day vs a normal day 1
+22%
travelers on the busiest day vs the period average 4
+8%
of flights on time over New Year's 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 New Year's flights?

Book New Year's 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), the closest published figure; Expedia, 2026: New Year's Eve trips by Nov 7 domestic, Dec 4 international; Expedia, 2026: Out Dec 30, back Jan 1 cheapest; Jan 2 priciest 23.

What the studies say about booking New Year's flights
SourceAdviceBased on
Google Flights, 2026Christmas fares lowest about 56 days out (33 to 67), the closest published figureAverage fares
Expedia, 2026New Year's Eve trips by Nov 7 domestic, Dec 4 internationalExpedia.com bookings
Expedia, 2026Out Dec 30, back Jan 1 cheapest; Jan 2 priciestExpedia.com bookings
KAYAK, 2026A Jan 2 departure is the best domestic value after ChristmasSearches

Book-by dates for New Year's

Booking windows33 to 67 days before departure.
TripBest time to bookStatus (Oct 26, 2026)
New Year's 2027 (Fri Jan 1)Mon Oct 26, 2026 to Sun Nov 29, 2026Open now; ends Sun Nov 29
New Year's 2028 (Sat Jan 1)Tue Oct 26, 2027 to Mon Nov 29, 2027Opens Tue Oct 26

Cheapest days to fly for New Year's

For New Year's 2027, the cheapest day to set out in Axel's fares was Wed Dec 30, -15% against departing on a normal day, and the priciest was Sat Dec 26 (+22%) 1. Coming home, Sat Jan 2 cost most (+102%) and Thu Jan 7 least (+34%). 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 (New Year's 2027)Round trips, the same routes; return date held fixed.
  • Sat Dec 26127 routes+22%
  • Sun Dec 2792 routes+15%
  • Mon Dec 2873 routes-1%
  • Tue Dec 29112 routes-7%
  • Wed Dec 3073 routes-15%
  • Thu Dec 3155 routes-14%
  • Fri Jan 132 routes-13%

Source: Axel fare data 1

Return day: fare vs a normal day (New Year's 2027)Round trips, the same routes; departure date held fixed.
  • Sat Jan 2149 routes+102%
  • Sun Jan 3151 routes+94%
  • Mon Jan 4103 routes+62%
  • Tue Jan 587 routes+47%
  • Wed Jan 658 routes+42%
  • Thu Jan 744 routes+34%

Source: Axel fare data 1

What other studies found

  • Expedia names Dec 30 out and Jan 1 back as the cheapest New Year's dates and Jan 2 as the priciest 3.
  • Expedia's 2023 outlook found Dec 30 45% cheaper than Dec 26 7.

Busiest and quietest days to fly around New Year's

At airport checkpoints, the busiest day of the New Year's period is Dec 27, about 8% above the period's average day, and the quietest is Dec 31, 12% below 4. Because New Year's moves across the week, the exact peak shifts from year to year. New Year's itself averages -7% against the season's average day.

Travelers screened by TSA, vs the period averageAverage over 5 years (2019, 2022 onward).
  • 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 New Year's

Across the 3 New Year's 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.

  • The weekend after Christmas, when many travelers head home before New Year's, was the worst stretch of the season: about 59% to 62% on time in 2024 and 2025 5.
New Year's on-time record
PeriodOn timeCancelled
2023-12-18 to 2024-01-0482.2%0.55%
2024-12-18 to 2025-01-0474.9%0.96%
2025-12-18 to 2026-01-0471.6%1.90%

Source: BTS 5

Is New Year's travel more expensive this year?

Expedia says holiday ticket prices are up 15% domestic and 20% international on 2025 3. The federal airline-fare price index was up 22.4% year over year in September 2026 8.

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 9.
  • 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 New Year's flights?

Book New Year's flights 33 to 67 days (about 5 to 10 weeks) before you fly, which for New Year's 2027 means booking between Mon Oct 26, 2026 and Sun Nov 29, 2026. Fares climb fastest in the last two to three weeks.

What is the cheapest day to fly for New Year's?

In Axel's fares for New Year's 2027, setting out on Wed Dec 30 cost least (-15% against departing on a normal day) and Sat Dec 26 cost most (+22%) 1.

Are New Year's flights more expensive this year?

Expedia says holiday ticket prices are up 15% domestic and 20% international on 2025 3.

Is it cheaper to fly on New Year's Day?

Yes: in Axel's fares, leaving on New Year's Day itself ran -13% against departing on a normal day, with the return date held fixed 1. At the airport it is a quieter day, about 7% below the season's average 4.

When should I book flights for New Year's?

The window the evidence supports for New Year's 2027 (Fri Jan 1) is Mon Oct 26, 2026 to Sun Nov 29, 2026 (open now; ends Sun Nov 29). 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

  1. 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
  2. Google Flights data to find holiday deals and trending destinations, Google (The Keyword blog), 2026-10-05
  3. Flight Prices Are Up 15% This Holiday Season, But Expedia Reveals the Best Time to Book and Save, Expedia Group, 2026-09-29
  4. TSA checkpoint travel numbers (people screened per day), 2019 to Oct 25 2026, Transportation Security Administration, retrieved October 26, 2026
  5. Reporting Carrier On-Time Performance (airline on-time data), U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics
  6. Axel price checks: the same flights and fare type, checked after booking, September to October 2026, Axel, October 2026
  7. 'Tis The Season to Get Away: Expedia Reveals the Best Days to Fly for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve, Expedia Group, 2023-10-27
  8. Consumer Price Index - September 2026, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026-10-14
  9. 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 New Year's flights

Updated October 26, 2026 by Axel (helloaxel.com).

Book New Year's flights 33 to 67 days (about 5 to 10 weeks) before you fly: for New Year's 2027 (Fri Jan 1), that means booking between Mon Oct 26 and Sun Nov 29. In Axel's fares for New Year's 2027, setting out on Wed Dec 30 cost least (-15% vs a normal day) and Sat Dec 26 most (+22%), and the priciest day to come home was Sat Jan 2 (+102%) [1].

Live prices: Search New Year's flights, Wed Dec 30 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]
  • -15%: fare on the cheapest departure day vs a normal day [1]
  • +22%: fare on the priciest departure day vs a normal day [1]
  • +8%: travelers on the busiest day vs the period average [4]
  • 76%: of flights on time over New Year's 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 New Year's flights?

Book New Year's 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), the closest published figure; Expedia, 2026: New Year's Eve trips by Nov 7 domestic, Dec 4 international; Expedia, 2026: Out Dec 30, back Jan 1 cheapest; Jan 2 priciest [2][3].

What the studies say about booking New Year's flights

SourceAdviceBased on
Google Flights, 2026Christmas fares lowest about 56 days out (33 to 67), the closest published figureAverage fares
Expedia, 2026New Year's Eve trips by Nov 7 domestic, Dec 4 internationalExpedia.com bookings
Expedia, 2026Out Dec 30, back Jan 1 cheapest; Jan 2 priciestExpedia.com bookings
KAYAK, 2026A Jan 2 departure is the best domestic value after ChristmasSearches

Book-by dates for New Year's

Booking windows

33 to 67 days before departure.

TripBest time to bookStatus (Oct 26, 2026)
New Year's 2027 (Fri Jan 1)Mon Oct 26, 2026 to Sun Nov 29, 2026Open now; ends Sun Nov 29
New Year's 2028 (Sat Jan 1)Tue Oct 26, 2027 to Mon Nov 29, 2027Opens Tue Oct 26

Cheapest days to fly for New Year's

For New Year's 2027, the cheapest day to set out in Axel's fares was Wed Dec 30, -15% against departing on a normal day, and the priciest was Sat Dec 26 (+22%) [1]. Coming home, Sat Jan 2 cost most (+102%) and Thu Jan 7 least (+34%). 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 (New Year's 2027)

Round trips, the same routes; return date held fixed.

ValueNote
Sat Dec 26+22%127 routes
Sun Dec 27+15%92 routes
Mon Dec 28-1%73 routes
Tue Dec 29-7%112 routes
Wed Dec 30-15%73 routes
Thu Dec 31-14%55 routes
Fri Jan 1-13%32 routes

Source: Axel fare data [1]

Return day: fare vs a normal day (New Year's 2027)

Round trips, the same routes; departure date held fixed.

ValueNote
Sat Jan 2+102%149 routes
Sun Jan 3+94%151 routes
Mon Jan 4+62%103 routes
Tue Jan 5+47%87 routes
Wed Jan 6+42%58 routes
Thu Jan 7+34%44 routes

Source: Axel fare data [1]

What other studies found

  • Expedia names Dec 30 out and Jan 1 back as the cheapest New Year's dates and Jan 2 as the priciest [3].
  • Expedia's 2023 outlook found Dec 30 45% cheaper than Dec 26 [7].

Busiest and quietest days to fly around New Year's

At airport checkpoints, the busiest day of the New Year's period is Dec 27, about 8% above the period's average day, and the quietest is Dec 31, 12% below [4]. Because New Year's moves across the week, the exact peak shifts from year to year. New Year's itself averages -7% against the season's average day.

Travelers screened by TSA, vs the period average

Average over 5 years (2019, 2022 onward).

ValueNote
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 New Year's

Across the 3 New Year's 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.

  • The weekend after Christmas, when many travelers head home before New Year's, was the worst stretch of the season: about 59% to 62% on time in 2024 and 2025 [5].

New Year's on-time record

PeriodOn timeCancelled
2023-12-18 to 2024-01-0482.2%0.55%
2024-12-18 to 2025-01-0474.9%0.96%
2025-12-18 to 2026-01-0471.6%1.90%

Source: BTS [5]

Is New Year's travel more expensive this year?

Expedia says holiday ticket prices are up 15% domestic and 20% international on 2025 [3]. The federal airline-fare price index was up 22.4% year over year in September 2026 [8].

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 [9].
  • 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 New Year's flights?

Book New Year's flights 33 to 67 days (about 5 to 10 weeks) before you fly, which for New Year's 2027 means booking between Mon Oct 26, 2026 and Sun Nov 29, 2026. Fares climb fastest in the last two to three weeks.

What is the cheapest day to fly for New Year's?

In Axel's fares for New Year's 2027, setting out on Wed Dec 30 cost least (-15% against departing on a normal day) and Sat Dec 26 cost most (+22%) [1].

Are New Year's flights more expensive this year?

Expedia says holiday ticket prices are up 15% domestic and 20% international on 2025 [3].

Is it cheaper to fly on New Year's Day?

Yes: in Axel's fares, leaving on New Year's Day itself ran -13% against departing on a normal day, with the return date held fixed [1]. At the airport it is a quieter day, about 7% below the season's average [4].

When should I book flights for New Year's?

The window the evidence supports for New Year's 2027 (Fri Jan 1) is Mon Oct 26, 2026 to Sun Nov 29, 2026 (open now; ends Sun Nov 29). 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

  1. 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
  2. Google Flights data to find holiday deals and trending destinations, Google (The Keyword blog), 2026-10-05
  3. Flight Prices Are Up 15% This Holiday Season, But Expedia Reveals the Best Time to Book and Save, Expedia Group, 2026-09-29
  4. TSA checkpoint travel numbers (people screened per day), 2019 to Oct 25 2026, Transportation Security Administration, retrieved October 26, 2026
  5. Reporting Carrier On-Time Performance (airline on-time data), U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics
  6. Axel price checks: the same flights and fare type, checked after booking, September to October 2026, Axel, October 2026
  7. 'Tis The Season to Get Away: Expedia Reveals the Best Days to Fly for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve, Expedia Group, 2023-10-27
  8. Consumer Price Index - September 2026, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026-10-14
  9. Refunds and other consumer protections: the 24-hour reservation rule (14 CFR 259.5), U.S. Department of Transportation

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