We’ve been urging travelers to lock in their holiday flights, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, for weeks now, as we are worried prices will continue to climb as we get closer to the holidays. Some people should even consider booking spring break trips now.
Our last check with our partners at Points Path showed average prices of $675 for Christmas domestic flights and $647 for Thanksgiving. Those prices have climbed steadily in the past several weeks.
With no sign of fuel costs dropping anytime soon, airlines are likely to continue raising prices as the holidays approach. That’s why we are telling consumers to lock in prices as soon as possible.
It’s also why we were surprised to see the results of our recent survey and learn how few Americans had locked in their travel plans.
Costs are at the heart of the new survey of American travel sentiment ahead of the holidays that TPG has conducted with YouGov. Our survey finds holiday travelers are worried about high airfare, crowded airports, and flight disruptions. The combination of fears of overspending and other disruptions could make this an especially rough holiday travel season.
Are Americans Traveling for the Holidays?
We asked Americans if they plan to travel between Thanksgiving and New Year’s in 2026. While a majority (55%) said they weren’t planning on traveling, many will.
Note: respondents could select multiple answers.
Road trips to visit family and friends are popular this year (despite higher gas prices), with 23% saying that was their plan. Another 13% said they would road trip for a vacation. There were 11% who said they will take a domestic flight to visit family or friends, and 9% who said they will take a domestic flight for a vacation.
At TPG, we frequently suggest traveling internationally during the holidays for lower prices and smaller crowds, and some Americans are planning on doing just that. Some 6% said they would fly internationally for vacation, while 5% said they would do so to visit family or friends.
Have You Booked Your Holiday Flights?
According to the survey conducted Sept. 18–22, among respondents planning holiday travel, just 15% of holiday travelers had already booked all their travel. Another 15% had booked only part of their trips, while a whopping 65% hadn’t booked anything yet. Another 5% said they didn’t know.
Why Are People Waiting to Book?
Respondents could select multiple reasons:
- 43% said they needed to confirm plans with family/friends.
- 42% said they hoped prices would go down.
- 34% said they needed to earn/save enough money to pay for travel.
- 30% said they just kept putting it off.
- 30% said they needed to see about time off from work or other responsibilities.
That means a lot of folks will be busy booking over the next few weeks — and they may end up paying even more as a result.
High Airfare Tops Travelers’ Booking Considerations
By a wide margin, cost is the biggest consideration among Americans traveling this holiday season. Among respondents planning to fly, 48% said cost was the most important factor when booking flights — nearly twice the 25% who prioritized convenience. Some 7% said brand loyalty was most important, and only 5% said the ability to redeem or earn travel rewards and miles topped their list.
Holiday travelers are very aware of the higher prices we keep highlighting. Some 39% of respondents said they’re worried about high airfare this holiday season.
But price isn’t the only thing worrying holiday travelers. Some 37% said they were worried about the large volume of other travelers, 37% were worried about airline delays and cancellations, and 36% are concerned about weather-related travel delays. Other concerns scored lower: 18% worried about lost luggage, and 16% cited other travel headaches.
With prices already elevated and the majority of holiday travelers yet to book, those still waiting risk paying significantly more — making now the best time to lock in flights before costs climb further.
