KAYAK releases 2026 holiday travel booking tips for Thanksgiving and Christmas

KAYAK has published its 2026 Holiday Travel Check-In report to help travelers navigate the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas travel seasons, according to the Daily Gazette.

The report analyzes historical fare trends to identify optimal booking windows and highlights long-haul trips that are cheaper than last year, aiming to ease the common challenges of holiday travel such as crowds, weather delays, and high prices.

For Thanksgiving, KAYAK notes that fares typically bottom out about five weeks before the holiday and then rise sharply within two weeks of departure, with prices increasing up to 16% the week before and 21% during Thanksgiving week last year.

Travelers who have not yet booked tickets are still in a good position to find deals, as the data maps out when to book to avoid steep increases.

Flying on Thanksgiving Day itself can offer savings, though it may require missing the main meal, the report adds.