# Holiday Airfare Hits a 10-Year High: Thanksgiving Flights Average $402, Up 31%, and Christmas Flights $452, Up 23%

Hopper blames months of high jet fuel costs tied to the Iran conflict. An aviation expert tells Fox the hit is biggest for families and offers ways to save.

- Section: [Economy](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/economy/)
- Published: 2026-11-01
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/holiday-airfare-10-year-high-thanksgiving-402-christmas-452-hopper-fox-news/

Flying home for the holidays will cost more than it has in a decade, Fox News reports, citing the travel-booking company Hopper.

The prices. Hopper's 2026 Holiday Travel Index puts the average domestic round-trip fare for Thanksgiving at $402, up 31% or $95 from last year. For Christmas the average is $452, up 23% or $85. Christmas flights to Mexico and Central America are up 23%, and fares to Europe are up 15%.

The cause. Hopper says "months of elevated jet fuel costs due to the conflict in Iran" pushed fares to 10-year highs. Its report says the 2026 holiday season is "on track to be the most expensive in a decade."

Who feels it. Gary Leff, an aviation expert who runs the blog View from the Wing, told Fox the increases hit hardest when multiplied across four or more passengers.

How to save. Leff's advice:
- Keep watching prices after you book. Most tickets other than basic economy no longer carry change fees, so you can often rebook and get a credit for the difference if the fare drops.
- Do not assume a cheaper airport or a connection saves money. A farther airport adds driving, parking or rideshare costs, and a connection adds risk during a busy season.
- Consider using miles if you have them.

What to keep in mind. Hopper's figures come from one week of flight searches in September and focus on lower-priced tickets, so they are not an average of every ticket sold. Fox adjusted for the change in Thanksgiving's date in the comparison.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/travel/holiday-airfare-hits-10-year-high-thanksgiving-christmas-travel-costs-soar)