Travel
Thanksgiving and Christmas travel will be cheaper this year — but by how much?
Here’s something to be thankful for.
Encouraging new data points to a sizable dip in holiday airfare averages for the weeks to come — with travelers finally catching a break after years of inflation and booked-to-the-limit planes.
“Thanksgiving prices have dropped 6%, while the December holidays are seeing a 9% dip this year,” the number crunchers at Kayak announced.
Researchers for the travel website said interest in domestic flights has now hit a three-year low; the average Thanksgiving fare in 2024 is $439.
The most popular destinations this Turkey Day are Orlando, San Juan, Honolulu, and Miami.
The report also noted that Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) are expected to be the busiest airports in the country during the festive season.
International travel will be the hot mover this time around — with a whopping 71% of flight interest around the Christmas period centered on just three places: Cancún, Tokyo, and London.
And when it comes to Thanksgiving travel, those headed home to the folks in the Twin Cities can expect to save big — fares to Minneapolis are averaging at just $337 during the busy time.
Around Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve, Minneapolis once again takes the prize, with fares averaging $362.
International destinations that are still within reach at peak times later this year included The Bahamas, with fares averaging $633, Mexico City at $688, Tulum, Mexico $712, Reykjavik, Iceland $715 and Cancun, Mexico for $784.
Google Flights also recently reported strong interest in international travel at the holidays — Cancun, Tokyo, London and Paris were all in the Top 10 most searched spots for Thanksgiving trips.