Year-end holidays are often an opportunity to reunite with the family, escape the cold, or just take a few days off. This year, however, organizing that trip might require more planning. The price of fuel is pushing tariffs and choosing the wrong date could cost hundreds of additional dollars.
Hopper flight comparison estimates that a domestic flight ticket to Thanksgiving currently costs an average of $402 USD. That’s $95 more than during the same period last year.
For Christmas, the landscape is not encouraging either: domestic return flights have an average price of $452 dollars, about $85 more than in 2025. Hopper also notes that domestic flight rates have increased by 31% compared to the same period of the previous year.
“The high prices of aircraft fuel over the past few months, due to the conflict in Iran, have contributed to airfare prices for Thanksgiving and Christmas to peak in the last 10 years,” Hopper said.
The conflict in the Middle East has affected the region’s oil supply. The lower availability has pressured the price of crude and, with it, the cost of derivative products such as aircraft fuel and diesel.
Fuel can account for up to 30% of an airline’s operating costs, according to industry analysts. Before the start of the war with Iran, the average global price of aircraft fuel was around $99 per barrel, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
“When you see that cost doubles, it’s inevitable that prices have to rise to offset it,” Hayley Berg, Hopper’s economist, told CBS News.
Brent, an international benchmark, briefly surpassed $101 per barrel on Monday, before falling back to $97.83.
With rates still under pressure, changing some plans can represent a significant savings. One of the first recommendations is to be flexible with fate. If the goal is to enjoy warm weather, for example, it is advisable to compare different cities that offer a similar experience. Berg recommends looking for alternatives before focusing on a single destination.
“Seek different destinations that offer a similar experience,” Berg advises, adding that this strategy can save hundreds of dollars on a return ticket.
The recommendation applies both for Thanksgiving and Christmas, because no significant reduction in rates is expected as the holidays approach.
Another important point is to carefully choose the days of travel. For Thanksgiving, which this year will be held on November 26, Berg recommends flying the previous Monday or Tuesday instead of Wednesday, when a greater number of travellers are expected.
For the return, an alternative is to avoid Sunday, November 29. “You can travel on Black Friday, Saturday morning, Monday or Tuesday, but you’ll pay $250 more for a return ticket if you fly on Sunday,” Berg said.
The same strategy can be applied during Christmas.To reduce the cost, it is recommended to avoid the days 18, 19 and 20 December, in addition to Sunday 27 December, when a higher demand is expected.
Travellers who have flexible dates can still find significant differences between a combination of days and another. Checking multiple dates, comparing destinations, and booking in advance can make a significant difference when prices are under pressure.
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