Best Time To Buy Christmas Flights (2026 Guide)

During the holiday season, there’s no beating the home-cooked meals, seasonal decorations, and catchy tunes (if you’re in the camp that calls Christmas music legitimately joyful). But while this time of the year has its magic, it’s also one of the busiest and most expensive times to travel, and finding cheap flights can feel like an odyssey.

Booking your flights for Christmas well in advance is key to getting the best deals. While specific timing can vary depending on your destination, there are some general rules for securing the best prices. Understanding how far in advance to purchase and what factors influence pricing can help you optimize your flight planning. Let’s dive in: When is the best time to book Christmas flights, and what do you need to know about securing the best deals?

Key takeaways

• Book domestic Christmas flights 3 to 5 months in advance and international flights 4 to 10 months in advance.
• Great fares pop up throughout the range, and the person checking regularly (or setting up price alerts) is the one who catches them.
• Fares are running noticeably higher in 2026 than in recent years, and they have not softened the way they usually do in the fall. This is a year to get ahead of the curve.
• Do not wait for a last-minute price drop. Once you’re within about three weeks of the holiday, fares reliably climb, not fall.
• Flying on off-peak days, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day themselves, can save you a noticeable amount.
• Set price alerts early so the deals come to you instead of you needing to refresh the search 40 times a day.

The best time to book Christmas flights

The best time to buy Christmas flights is 3 to 5 months ahead for domestic routes and 4 to 10 months ahead for international routes. For most people planning a Christmas 2026 trip, that means the ideal window opened over the summer and is closing as fall arrives.

Best time to book domestic flights for Christmas

Best time to book flights to Hawaii for Christmas

Hawaii is one of the most popular domestic destinations for Christmas. Who wouldn’t want to spend their holidays celebrating on sunny beaches and at festive luaus? As demand is high, you should book flights 3–5 months in advance, maybe even earlier, to find the best prices. 

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $377 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $200–$300 per night in resorts
• Food costs: $50–$80 per day
• Festive highlights: Waikiki’s Christmas parade

Best time to book flights to New York for Christmas

Thanks to movies like Home Alone 2 and Scrooged, New York City has positioned itself as one of the most popular places to visit during Christmas. With iconic landmarks like the Rockefeller Center tree and the famous holiday windows on Fifth Avenue, it’s a magical holiday spot to visit. To score a deal, book 3–5 months before your flight.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $155 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $200–$400 per night
• Food costs: $50–$100 per day
• Festive highlights: The Rockefeller tree, ice skating in Central Park, Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Best time to book flights to Miami for Christmas

Miami offers a sunny escape from the cold with vibrant holiday events this time of year. Flights for Christmas should be booked 3–5 months in advance. Demand for beach destinations like Miami is always high, so booking ahead of time ensures better-than-average prices.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $181 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $150–$300 per night
• Food costs: $50–$70 per day
• Festive highlights: Santa’s Enchanted Forest

Best time to book flights to Washington, DC, for Christmas

Washington, DC, is a popular destination during Christmas thanks to its holiday-themed events and timeless historical sites. To find affordable fares, book your flights 3–5 months ahead. 

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $143 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $150–$250 per night
• Food costs: $50–$80 per day
• Festive highlights: The National Christmas Tree, holiday events at Mount Vernon

Best time to book flights to Chicago for Christmas

The Windy City’s festive spirit and famous Christmas markets make it a must-visit during the holidays. These flights should be booked 3–5 months ahead. Remember that Christmastime in Chicago is peak season, and prices climb as the holiday approaches.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $147 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $150–$250 per night
• Food costs: $30–$80 per day
• Festive highlights: Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, Navy Pier's Winter WonderFest

Best time to book flights to Aspen for Christmas

Aspen is a luxury destination for Christmas, drawing skiers and families for the holiday season. Flights to Aspen should be booked 3–5 months in advance at the minimum, further ahead is even better, as this high-demand destination fills up quickly.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $290 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $250–$500 per night
• Food costs: $80–$100 per day
• Festive highlights: Snowmass torchlight parade

Best time to book flights to San Francisco for Christmas

San Francisco also offers holiday festivities in a mild-weather setting. Book flights 3–5 months in advance to find the best fares. 

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $172 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $150–$300 per night
• Food costs: $45–$90 per day
• Festive highlights: Ice skating at Union Square, Golden Gate Park light displays

Best time to book flights to Austin for Christmas

Austin’s lively music scene and warm weather make it a fantastic Christmas getaway. To find the best rates, book flights 3–5 months in advance. Early booking will help you lock in lower fares for this popular destination.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $180 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $100–$250 per night
• Food costs: $50–$80 per day
• Festive highlights: Zilker Park Trail of Lights, holiday concerts at the Paramount Theatre

Best time to book international flights for Christmas

Best time to book flights to Europe for Christmas

Europe becomes a fairytale land during the holiday season. Cities like Vienna, Prague, and Strasbourg transform into winter wonderlands with world-renowned Christmas markets and stunning decorations throughout their streets.

Needless to say, this charm draws many, meaning demand spikes. The ideal time to book flights to Europe for Christmas is 4–10 months in advance, and prices rise steeply after mid-September.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $513 roundtrip
• Accommodation: Hotels average $100–$220 per night in major cities.
• Food costs: $30–$80 per day, including festive treats at Christmas markets
• Festive highlights: Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt, Prague’s Old Town Square Market, and midnight Mass at Sacré-Cœur in Paris

Best time to book flights to Australia for Christmas

In Australia, Christmas falls during the summer, making cities like Sydney and Melbourne prime spots for beach celebrations and outdoor barbecues. Flights to Australia should be booked 4–10 months in advance, skewing on the earlier end, as holiday travel also coincides with the Australian school vacation period.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $800 roundtrip
• Accommodation: Hotels average $120–$250 per night in major cities.
• Food costs: $60–$100 per day, including seafood feasts (typical of Australian Christmas)
• Festive highlights: Sydney’s Bondi Beach Christmas Day party and Melbourne’s Christmas projections at Federation Square

Best time to book flights to Latin America for Christmas

Latin American countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil come alive with vibrant celebrations during Christmas. Cities like Mexico City host grand Nativity displays, while Rio de Janeiro celebrates with festive parades. Book flights 4–10 months in advance to secure good prices.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $346 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $60–$100 per night
• Food costs: $30–$70 per day
• Festive highlights: Posadas in Mexico City, the Feria de Cali in Colombia, and beachside festivities in Rio

Best time to book flights to India for Christmas

While India is not predominantly Christian, cities like Goa host elaborate Christmas celebrations with beach parties and midnight masses. Christmas in India is also known as Bada Din or "Big Day," and it’s a vibrant celebration that reflects the country's cultural diversity. To score a great deal, book 4–10 months in advance.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $690 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $55–$100 per night in major cities
• Food costs: $20–$40 per day, including festive Goa treats like rose cookies and Allahabadi cake
• Festive highlights: Christmas feasts in Goa, Kerala’s cultural performances

Best time to book flights to Africa for Christmas

Africa’s appeal during the holiday season is not limited to Christmas celebrations. While Christmas is observed in many countries, such as South Africa and Ethiopia, the continent also offers unique experiences this time of year.

For example, Zanzibar combines laidback beach vibes with vibrant New Year’s Eve celebrations. Flights to Africa should be booked 4–10 months in advance for optimal savings, especially since December coincides with summer.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $699 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $80–$200 per night (luxury safari lodges may cost significantly more)
• Food costs: $20–$70 per day
• Festive highlights: Cape Town’s summer concerts, Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas on January 7

Best time to book flights to Asia for Christmas

Asia offers a mix of holiday experiences, from cities like Tokyo that embrace Western Christmas traditions with dazzling illuminations to destinations like Bali, which focuses on tropical New Year’s celebrations.

In places such as the Philippines, where Christmas is celebrated as a major holiday, visitors can experience one of the longest festive seasons in the world, filled with parades and midnight masses. For the best prices, book flights to Asia at least 4–10 months in advance.

• Average Going deal cost during the holidays: $840 roundtrip
• Accommodation: $150–$200 per night in major cities
• Food costs: $20–$50 per day, including Tokyo’s Christmas-themed dining experiences
• Festive highlights: Chiang Mai Lantern Festival, Tokyo’s Christmas celebrations, Hội An’s lantern-lit streets

A month-by-month booking calendar for Christmas 2026

Here is how the ideal timeline plays out over the year. 

Ready to save on Christmas flights? Download the Going app today, and let the best deals come to you.

Do Christmas flights get cheaper last-minute?

This myth costs travelers their money every year. The idea of a last-minute holiday bargain seems reasonable, but it usually doesn’t work like that. And Christmas, especially, is different. Planes fill up, so airlines have no reason to drop prices, and the fares only move in one direction as the date approaches. Not only will you have higher prices, but you’ll have fewer options to choose from. 

Many airline fares carry an advance-purchase requirement, often around 21 days before departure. Once you cross that line the cheaper fare classes typically disappear, and you are left buying from the most expensive buckets. So if you are still holding out in December, the clock matters: Book before 21 days out from departure. 

Waiting for a drop that is not coming almost always means paying more, not less.

The cheapest days to fly at Christmas

When you fly matters almost as much as when you book. The most expensive days are the ones everyone wants: the days immediately leading up to Christmas and the days right after New Year when everyone heads home. 

The single best trick is to fly on the holiday itself. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are two of the quietest, cheapest days of the entire season because almost nobody wants to spend December 24 or 25 on a plane. In 2026, Christmas Day falls on a Friday, so a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day departure can save you a lot compared with flying out earlier that week.

If flying on the holiday is not for you, aim for the shoulders of the rush. Traveling the week before Christmas or waiting until the week after New Year to return home keeps you out of the most expensive peaks. Midweek flights, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays, tend to be cheaper than weekend departures, but this year, those also fall on the days leading up to Christmas, so it may pay off to shift your travels even earlier or on the holiday itself. 

How to get the cheapest flights for Christmas

Timing sets you up for success, but a few habits do the rest of the work. The biggest one is letting price trackers do the watching for you. Rather than checking fares over and over, set up alerts on your routes, and let the tools tell you when a price moves. 

→ Our guide to how to use Google Flights walks through the features most people miss.

Flexibility is your other superpower. If you can move your dates by a day or two, fly midweek, or consider a nearby airport, you give yourself far more chances to land a deal. Google Flights’ date grid and multi-airport options make this easy to compare at a glance.

If your holiday plans are flexible, watching several destinations at once means you can jump on whichever one drops in price first. Our roundup of the cheapest US cities to fly to and our flight hacks guide are full of ways to stretch your budget further. 

And if you want the deals delivered to you instead of hunting for them yourself, that is exactly what Going is built to do.

Book the cheapest Christmas flights with Going

All of this is easier when someone is watching the fares for you. Going scans flights around the clock and sends deals straight to your inbox, including mistake fares and steep drops you would almost never catch on your own. You tell us your home airports, and we do the searching.

A Going Premium membership unlocks the full range of domestic and international economy deals, with alerts tailored to the airports you actually fly from. If you prefer to travel up front, Going Elite surfaces premium economy, business, and first-class deals, which is often the only realistic way to find cheap upper-class flights over a high-demand stretch like the holidays (paying with points and miles is another way).