What’s the Cheapest Day to Fly Around Christmas? A Smart Traveler’s Guide

Every year, millions of travelers try to figure out the cheapest day to fly around Christmas. Yet the same frustration appears on every search engine: skyrocketing prices and limited seats. Before choosing the best day to fly, it’s important to understand why are flights so expensive in December in the first place.

December is one of the busiest travel months worldwide. Families reunite, students travel home, and vacationers head out for winter getaways. With so much demand packed into just a couple of weeks, airfare prices surge almost instantly. Airlines know the holiday rush is unavoidable and adjust fares dynamically — which is why early planning becomes essential.

So, What’s the Cheapest Day to Fly Around Christmas?

Based on travel trends from recent years, the cheapest days to fly during the Christmas season are:

1. December 24 (Christmas Eve)

Most travelers prefer to arrive before Christmas Eve, so prices drop for last-minute departures on the 24th.

2. December 25 (Christmas Day)

This is consistently the cheapest day of all.

People avoid traveling on Christmas Day, which means airlines reduce fares to fill empty seats. Airports are quieter, security lines are shorter, and flights often cost significantly less.

3. December 26 (The Day After Christmas)

If you don’t need to be home exactly on the 25th, flying on December 26 often brings lower fares compared to peak dates like December 22–23.

Bonus Tip:

For return flights, January 1–3 are expensive, but January 4–7 typically offer more affordable fares.

Why Are These Days Cheaper?

Airfare is driven heavily by passenger behavior. Most people travel between December 20–23, making those the most expensive days of the month. The reason why flights are so expensive in December comes down to three major factors:

High demand within a short window

• Limited discounted seats released by airlines

• Dynamic pricing algorithms reacting to search volume

• When fewer people choose to fly — like on Christmas Day — the prices naturally drop.

How to Save the Most on Christmas Travel

• Here are smart strategies to cut your costs even further:

• Book early (ideally before mid-November)

• Use fare alerts to track price drops

• Compare airlines and nearby airports

• Be flexible with your travel dates

Check Christmas Day fares even if you don’t prefer flying that day

A little flexibility can save you hundreds of dollars.

Final Thoughts

If you're wondering what the cheapest day to fly around Christmas is, the answer is clear:

Christmas Day (December 25) usually offers the lowest fares, followed closely by December 24 and December 26.

And understanding why flights are so expensive in December helps you plan smarter, avoid peak dates, and secure the best possible deals.

Traveling during the holidays doesn’t have to break the bank — it just requires timing, flexibility, and smart decision-making.