Life · Air travel · published 2026-10-09 · via The Points Guy

Holiday Flights Are Costing More in 2026: Tips for Finding Deals

Airfares have climbed about 23% overall in 2026 after global oil prices rose following the start of the war in Iran. Domestic Thanksgiving flights are projected to cost roughly 31% more than last year, while Christmas and New Year’s fares are up about 23%, according to Hopper. Airlines have not signaled relief, and Delta’s CEO said demand remains strong, so travelers are advised to book strategically.

Expanded Detail

In 2026, airfares have averaged 23% higher after global oil costs climbed when the war in Iran began. Hopper projects domestic Thanksgiving tickets will cost about 31% more than last year, while Christmas and New Year’s fares are up roughly 23%. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said demand remains strong and he sees no slowdown.

Since August, holiday fares have stayed high but relatively steady, with no major autumn spike yet. Last year, both cash and award prices jumped in the final weeks before the holidays. Travelers are advised to book soon, avoid basic fares if they want flexibility, and consider AI tools that can help capture later price drops.

Count words? First para: In(1) 2026(2), airfares(3) have(4) averaged(5) 23%(6) higher(7) after(8) global(9) oil(10) costs(11) climbed(12) when(13) the(14) war(15) in(16) Iran(17) began(18). Hopper(19) projects(20) domestic(21) Thanksgiving(22) tickets(23) will(24) cost(25) about(26) 31%(27) more(28) than(29) last(30) year(31), while(32) Christmas(33) and(34) New(35) Year’s(36) fares(37) are(38) up(39) roughly(40) 23%(41). Delta(42) CEO(43) Ed(44) Bastian(45) said(46) demand(47) remains(48) strong(49) and(50) he(51) sees(52) no(53) slowdown(54). Second: Since(55) August(56), holiday(57) fares(58) have(59) stayed(60) high(61) but(62) relatively(63) steady(64), with(65) no(66) major(67) autumn(68) spike(69) yet(70). Last(71) year(72), both(73) cash(74) and(75) award(76) prices(77) jumped(78) in(79) the(80) final(81) weeks(82) before(83) the(8

Context

". Plain text. No markdown? Fine. Need maybe no extra. Ensure EXPANDED has 2 short paragraphs. Under 120 words total. We can include line break between paragraphs. CONTEXT one paragraph. Output only. Need not mention "ADVERTISEMENT" etc. Good. Potential issue: "airfares have averaged 23% higher" maybe "risen by an average of 23%" source. Fine. "global oil costs climbed when the war in Iran began" source says after start of war in Iran triggered surge in global oil prices. Fine. "Delta CEO Ed Bastian said demand remains strong and he sees no slowdown." Source says "We're not seeing any slowdown at all — our consumer is resilient." Good. Need maybe "Christmas and New Year’s fares are up roughly 23%" source says if hoping to fly Christmas and New Year's, pay on average about 23% more than last holiday season. Fine. Need "Since August, holiday fares have stayed high but relatively steady, with no major autumn spike yet." Source says no major autumn surge, prices high but fairly consiste

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.

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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Holiday airfare surges in 2026: How to find the best deals before it's too late.” Browse more stories.