Avoid Flying on These Dates During the Holiday and Christmas Season to Save Big on Flights
Let’s be real for a second. The holiday season is one of the most exciting times of the year! From Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas lights to New Year’s Eve celebrations, it’s all about family, friends, and making memories. But let’s also be real about something else — it’s crazy expensive to travel during the holidays. Airfares skyrocket, and it’s like the airlines have a holiday gift of their own: making sure you pay top dollar.
But here’s the thing: you can avoid that holiday price hike if you plan ahead and avoid certain peak travel dates. Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through the exact dates to dodge to save some serious cash. Plus, I’ll show you how to use Skyscanner and some of my favorite hacks to land affordable luxury flights, so you can sip that juice or soda (my go-to!) in business class without breaking the bank.
Why Holiday Flights Cost So Much
Before we dive into the best dates to avoid, let’s chat about why holiday travel is so expensive in the first place. Airlines aren’t just out to get us (well, not entirely). The fact is, the demand for flights shoots up around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Everyone wants to get home to their loved ones, and airlines know that they can charge a premium during these times. This spike in demand is called “peak travel season,” and it’s the number one reason you’ll see those jaw-dropping flight prices.
But here’s the kicker: not all holiday dates are created equal. While flying on certain days can have you paying through the nose, flying just a few days earlier or later can make a world of difference.
The Dates You Need to Avoid for Holiday Travel
If you’re looking to save big this year, avoid flying on these specific dates:
1. The Wednesday Before Thanksgiving (November 27th, 2024)
You’re probably not surprised by this one. The day before Thanksgiving is notoriously the busiest and most expensive day to fly in the entire year. Everyone is scrambling to make it to Thanksgiving dinner, and airlines know they can charge premium prices. If you can, try flying out on the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving instead. You’ll save a nice chunk of change and avoid the airport chaos.
2. Sunday After Thanksgiving (December 1st, 2024)
After a long weekend of family, food, and Black Friday shopping, everyone is trying to get home. This is another one of the busiest (and most expensive) travel days of the year. Try flying home on Saturday or even stretching your visit until Monday. That little change could save you hundreds of dollars.
3. Christmas Eve (December 24th, 2024)
Now, some people assume flying on Christmas Eve will be cheaper, but that’s not usually the case. A lot of folks wait until the last minute to book their Christmas travel, driving up the prices on the 24th. Instead, aim to fly out on the 22nd or even the 20th to lock in cheaper fares.
4. The Weekend Before Christmas (December 21st-22nd, 2024)
While Christmas itself is pricey, the weekend before can be even worse. With Christmas falling midweek this year, everyone is going to try and fly out on the weekend before. Airlines will take full advantage of that rush. Try to leave a few days earlier, say the 19th or 20th, to get ahead of the crowd (and the high prices).
5. December 26th, 2024 (The Day After Christmas)
This one catches a lot of people by surprise. After Christmas Day, you’d think flights would get cheaper. But nope — December 26th is a prime day for travelers heading home or heading off on post-Christmas vacations. Push your return flight to the 27th or 28th if you want to save.
6. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (December 31st, 2024 — January 1st, 2025)
Just like Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve can come with some hefty ticket prices, especially as people look to ring in the new year in style, often in a new city. And flying on New Year’s Day? It’s a high-demand day for travelers heading home after their celebrations. Your best bet? Fly out on the 30th if you’re going somewhere for NYE or wait until January 2nd to return.
The Best Dates to Fly This Holiday Season
Now that we’ve tackled the dates to avoid, let’s talk about the best times to fly. If you’re flexible, these dates will save you from the holiday price spike:
- For Thanksgiving Travel: Fly out on Monday, November 25th or Tuesday, November 26th, and return on Friday, November 29th or Monday, December 2nd.
- For Christmas Travel: Fly out on December 19th or 20th and return on December 27th or 28th.
- For New Year’s Travel: Fly out on December 30th and return after January 2nd.
With just a little flexibility, you can save hundreds on your flights!
How to Find the Best Deals: The Zachus Travel Secret Sauce
Okay, so now that you know when to fly, let’s talk about how to find those killer deals that will let you enjoy affordable luxury without maxing out your credit card. Here’s how I do it.
1. Skyscanner Is Your Best Friend
When it comes to finding cheap flights, there’s no better tool than Skyscanner. It’s my go-to for finding the best deals no matter where I’m headed. Whether you’re planning a holiday trip to Europe, Asia, or just across the country, Skyscanner compares all the airlines and gives you the cheapest options. Set up price alerts and book when you see that sweet spot. Trust me, Skyscanner will save you a bundle, especially during the holidays.
2. The American Express Gold Card
You know I love a good deal, but what I love even more is stacking up those points and miles! The American Express Gold Card is the best way to start earning your way to free flights and upgrades. With a 90,000-mile intro offer when you sign up, you’ll be swimming in points in no time. And don’t forget — after you’ve got the Gold, your next move is the American Express Platinum for an even bigger points boost (150K!). Get both cards in this order, and you’ll be set for some amazing future travel hacks.
3. My Ultimate Travel Guide and Cheat Sheets
Planning a trip, especially during the holidays, can be stressful. That’s why I’ve created my Ultimate Travel Guides to take the headache out of the process. Everything is done for you — from booking flights and hotels to setting up tours and itineraries. Want a seamless, worry-free trip? Let me do the heavy lifting. You’ll thank me later when you’re enjoying your journey without a care in the world.
Pro Tips for Booking Hotels and Tours
Once you’ve got your flights locked down, the next step is finding a place to stay. Thankfully, Skyscanner isn’t just great for flights — it’s awesome for hotels too. Pair it with Agoda, and you’ve got a combo that’ll snag you luxury hotel deals at up to 50–70% off. Yes, you read that right. Don’t settle for budget accommodations when you can enjoy top-tier hotels for less.
And while you’re booking your trip, don’t forget to check out Viator for tours. Whether you’re hitting up NYC for the holidays or enjoying Christmas markets in Europe, Viator offers amazing tours that make exploring any city fun and easy.
The Insurance You Can’t Travel Without
This might not be the most glamorous tip, but it’s one of the most important: Nomad Health Insurance by SafetyWing. Whenever you’re traveling, especially internationally, you need solid travel health insurance. Nomad Health Insurance covers everything from medical emergencies to unexpected trip cancellations. Don’t leave home without it!
Final Thoughts: Your Holiday Travel Blueprint
The holidays should be a time for joy, not stress — especially when it comes to travel. By avoiding those peak travel dates and using smart booking tools like Skyscanner, you can save yourself a lot of money and still enjoy affordable luxury. Throw in those American Express Gold and Platinum cards to start racking up points, and you’re well on your way to traveling in style without draining your bank account.
So, whether you’re headed home for the holidays or jetting off to a sunny getaway, remember this: the key to affordable luxury travel is all in the timing and the tools you use.
Until next time here’s to smooth skies, good company, a journey full of happy memories. I’m your Travel Hack Guide to affordable luxury tips. Catch you later. Peace
Travel Hack Guy
