Should I Book My Flights Now or Wait? Summer Fares (2026)

Key takeaways

• Summer 2026 flights are more expensive than last year. Domestic average fares for June–August are around $464 roundtrip (up 18% year over year), while international fares average $1,162 roundtrip (up 7.5%).
• August is the cheapest month to fly. August fares are about 20% cheaper than on other summer dates. The first two weeks of June and the last two weeks of August offer the best value in the summer window.
• The Caribbean offers the best international value this summer. Hurricane season suppresses demand, keeping fares low. Destinations like Aruba, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica have strong deal availability, and several sit below the hurricane belt.
• If Europe is a must, aim for August. June and July fares to Europe are elevated, with peak-summer roundtrips from major US cities now running $600–$800+ (up from the typical $500–$700), and great deals becoming increasingly rare. August remains the most realistic window for a European deal.
• Your points and miles might go further this summer than cash. With cash fares elevated across the board, points could be your best friend. Going’s flight booking tool, shouldibookthisflight.com, can help you decide whether it’s smarter to book with cash or points. 

Summer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the more complex travel seasons in recent memory. Economic uncertainty, oil prices, and geopolitical tensions are throwing the typical summer approach for a loop. Fares are generally higher than last year, but pockets of value still exist for travelers who know where to look.

According to Going data, the average median roundtrip prices for domestic fares for June through August sit around $464 roundtrip, up roughly 18% year over year. International average median fares are around $1,162, a more modest increase of around 7.5% compared to last year. (Note: These are normal prices, not Going deal prices.) 

The bottom line? Cheap summer flights are harder to find than they were 12 months ago. But deals haven't disappeared. They've just moved.

Why flight tickets are so expensive now: What fuel prices mean for travel

According to Going’s flight experts, two things are currently playing out simultaneously: a slow, steady climb in overall fare levels, and some sharp swings on specific routes. Think of it like the stock market: The index moves gradually, but individual stocks can surge. Same idea here, just with flight routes instead of tickers.

Domestic fares are up about 18% year-over-year, according to Going data. Mid-tier tickets rose 15% per person compared to last summer ($464 vs. $403). More shockingly, budget fares jumped nearly 19% at the low end ($352 vs. $297), indicating that the people flying on the tightest budgets are bearing the heaviest load.

International fares are also elevated—up 7.5% ($1,162 vs. $1,115), or about $47 more per ticket, with a 10% increase for the lowest tier tickets ($843 vs. $765).

Demand remains a wildcard. Some airlines are testing just how much travelers will pay before backing off. If the economy softens further, demand could pull back, and fares could follow. But that's a big "if," and it's not a strategy worth banking on for your summer trip.

Long story short: This summer, international travel is the relative value play. If you’re deciding between flying to a domestic city or hopping across the pond, the math has shifted in favor of going abroad. And, as travel experts advise in a recent Forbes article, it’s important to book that trip in the very near future. As travel dates approach, those fares will likely spike, according to Marketwatch. 

Why August is the cheapest month to fly

Going data shows that, of the three peak months, August emerges as the most budget-friendly for both domestic and international flights, averaging $579 domestically and $1,320 internationally. That’s more than $270 cheaper than flying overseas in June, and $90 less than domestic prices in July, making late-summer travel a sweet spot for deal-seekers. 

Why? Many schools in the South head back in session by early August, meaning fewer families are traveling, and that effect grows as the month goes on. 

This year, the weeks of August 17 and August 24 form a consistent price floor for both domestic ($538 to $542) and international ($1,264 to $1,265) travel. August 28 is the single date that cracks the top five cheapest days for both domestic and international travel.

“If you’re looking for a good deal on summer travel, your best bet is to aim for the first two weeks of June or the last two weeks of August. Prices peak during the middle eight weeks when just about everyone’s out of school, but things are a bit more scattered at the edges. Take Hawaii, for example, which sees fewer tourists in September than in any other month of the year. If you can target the very end of August into Labor Day, you just might score the best of both worlds, fewer crowds and better fares,” says Nastro.

Where travelers want to go 

Going's search data reveals a striking mismatch between where Americans want to travel and where deals are popping up. Coastal cities and Hawaii are surging domestically: Searches to San Jose/San Francisco are up 101%, New York metro as much as 91%, and Honolulu 68%, while Orlando (-53%), Las Vegas (-43%), and Miami (-61%) are all down significantly. 

Internationally, Italy is up 20% and Portugal 22%, while the United Kingdom has dropped 48% and Ireland 57%. The Dominican Republic is the breakout destination, with searches more than doubling year over year.

The challenge: Not all heavily searched destinations are heavily discounted.

Cheap summer destinations in 2026

Higher fares don't mean deals have disappeared. 

“With airfare unpredictability, the best strategy for travelers is leaning into destinations that are predictably affordable. Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean are unsurprisingly seeing the strongest deal activity this year. Hurricane risk naturally helps ease prices, but if you want to avoid weather and cost risk, target islands below the hurricane belt like Aruba and Curaçao for the best-case scenario,” says Nastro.

Cheap US flights for summer 2026

Broadly, a few domestic areas reliably show up: the Northeast (Providence, Upstate New York), secondary Florida markets (Fort Myers, Tampa, Jacksonville), and Alaska (via Anchorage). Smaller airports like Grand Junction and Provo are also showing unusually wide summer availability.

These are sample domestic deals that Going has recently sent to members:

• Dallas and Bozeman to Zion National Park for $298 roundtrip
• Charleston to Fort Lauderdale for $98 roundtrip
• Chicago and Los Angeles to NYC for $119–$154 roundtrip (or vice versa)
• Grand Rapids, Hartford, and Des Moines to Miami for $179–$189 roundtrip

Cheap Caribbean flights for summer 2026

The Caribbean is one of the better-kept secrets for summer travel value. Airlines tend to price the region more conservatively in July and August than other destinations. Why? Hurricane season dampens demand enough that you can find stellar deals throughout the season. A couple of weeks ago, we saw the first major fare war to the Caribbean since the economic turbulence began, and it included summer dates across the region.

>> Read more about cheap Caribbean vacations here.

Some travelers are wary of booking into hurricane territory, but here's what most people don't know: Not all Caribbean destinations carry the same risk. Cartagena, Trinidad, and the Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) sit below the traditional hurricane belt. You might get some rain, but it's more of an inconvenience than a trip-ruiner. Airlines discount them anyway because they're lumped in with the broader Caribbean in most travelers' minds. That's your opportunity.

Of particular note: Puerto Rico is about as close to a sure thing as we've got this summer, with no real off-season and solid availability across most departure airports. Jamaica is also worth a look, with nearly three times the deal volume we're seeing elsewhere in the Caribbean.

These are sample Caribbean deals that Going has recently sent to members:

• Cleveland to Aruba for $375 roundtrip
• Miami and Phoenix to Trinidad for $295–$395 roundtrip
• Boston to Bermuda for $390 roundtrip

Cheap international flights for summer 2026

In addition to the Caribbean, Canada is showing a wide range of deals for June, but keep an eye on the FIFA World Cup schedule. Cities and dates tied to matches could shift quickly. 

For Europe, it might be difficult to find a reasonable deal in June and July. If a European summer is on your list, your best realistic window right now is August. 

During peak summer, you’d typically pay in the $500s–$700s roundtrip to head to Europe from a major US city, but this year, don’t be surprised to find yourself in the $600s–$800s range. For smaller airports, it's closer to $1,000+. (Off-peak, those numbers are regularly sub-$500 and sub-$600 respectively, so calibrate your expectations accordingly.)

Summer prices to Africa and the Middle East, similar to Europe, are elevated. Surprisingly, fares to Asia and South America are slightly down this summer compared to other months. 

These are sample international deals that Going has recently sent to members:

• Portland and Palm Springs to Toronto for $295 roundtrip
• Austin to Costa Rica for $379 roundtrip
• 12 airports coast to coast to Iceland for $502–$679 roundtrip
• NYC, Boston, or Chicago to Rome for $709–$763 roundtrip (peak summer) 
• Upstate New York, Boston, and Hartford to London for $764–$787 roundtrip

Tips to score the best fares this summer

1. Book early, and don’t count on last-minute deals. Use the Goldilocks Window. Book 3–7 months ahead for domestic and 4–10 months ahead for international travel. Counting on last-minute availability (or falling for the Bargain Bin Trap), especially in summer, is a gamble. This year, with oil prices looking like they'll stay stubbornly high, according to the US Energy Information Administration, it's a gamble that's not worth taking.
2. Set a flight alert. Prices change fast, especially for places to go in the summer. Setting a flight alert in the Going app lets you track specific routes and get notified the moment prices drop, so you never miss a great deal.
3. Book main economy, not basic economy. Unlike basic economy, main economy tickets can be rebooked if fares drop. Main also offers earlier boarding, which means better odds of overhead bin space. The Going app alerts you the moment prices fall on your route.
4. Fly on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and avoid Sundays. When it comes to timing your trip, your departure day can make a big difference. Airfare trends consistently show that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly, while Sundays are the most expensive, by about 16%.
5. Redefine what a “deal” looks like. During peak summer, $600 roundtrip to Europe is often a great fare from major US cities. For smaller airports, it’s closer to $900. (By contrast, off-peak prices are regularly sub-$500 and sub-$600, respectively.)
6. Get creative with routing. Can’t find a cheap flight to your final destination? Use the Greek Islands Trick—fly to a cheaper nearby city, then book a separate budget flight, train, bus, or ferry to get to your intended end point. It can save hundreds per ticket.
7. Act fast, and use the 24-hour rule. Airlines let you cancel within 24 hours if you book at least 7 days before departure. Use this window to grab a deal now and firm up plans later.
8. Use your points, but read the fine print. With cash fares elevated, miles stretch further this summer, though carriers are quietly raising award fees. Not sure if a deal is good? Check out shouldibookthisflight.com.
9. Expect to pay more for bags. All six major US carriers raised checked bag fees. To save, always pre-pay online, consider a co-branded card with a free bag perk, or consider shipping luggage. 
10. Don't rule out fall. If summer fares are putting you off, there's a real case for skipping it entirely. We're entering the Goldilocks Window for fall travel, when prices, crowds, and weather tend to align. A great fall deal might be the smarter move.
11. If you have a major international trip booked, stay alert. Foreign carriers may cut summer capacity amid fuel uncertainty, so make sure the airline has an accurate email on file (not an OTA's), and know the train alternatives.
12. Let Going do the work. We search flights 24/7 and alert our 2+ million members when we find great deals. Members save an average of $200 for domestic tickets and $550 for international tickets.

Top deals that Going members are seeing in their inbox

Going's deal data consistently shows there's a sweet spot for booking summer flights: early enough to lock in good fares, but not so early you're paying peak-anticipation prices. Historically, that window runs through late March and April. But with fares already elevated and airlines predicting rougher times ahead, travelers who wait are more likely to find fewer deals and steeper prices.

One reason Going exists is to find deals hiding in a rising market. Even in high-fare environments, like the summer of 2022 when average airfare was at its peak coming out of the pandemic, Going members benefited from expert sourcing to uncover NYC to Cartagena for just $370, and Atlanta to New Orleans for $120 roundtrip.

So it comes as no surprise that, despite these uncertain times that we’re in, Going flight experts are still sourcing deals such as the ones below—ones that travelers should be jumping on in the Going app right now: 

• Los Angeles or Oklahoma City to Vancouver for $180–$265 (55% off)
• Portland (ME) to Cartagena for $347 (51% off)
• Boston to Curaçao for $339 (50% off)
• San Jose to Tokyo for $614 (44% off)
• NYC to Charleston for 9,000 points on Jetblue ($350 avg price)
• Denver to Iceland for $604 (35–40% off)
• Tampa to Denver for $199 (50% off)

Related Going guides to help you score cheap flight deals this summer

• How to use Google Flights
• How to find cheap flights
• Cheapest international cities to fly to
• Cheapest US cities to fly to
• Cheapest European cities to fly to
• Best time to book a cheap flight
• How to use Google Flights alerts
• When do flight prices drop?