Google published its 2026 holiday-travel analysis on October 5, using five years of aggregated Google Flights data for trips departing the United States. The report gives typical low-price windows for domestic, international, Thanksgiving and Christmas travel. Its averages cover US departures; the current price for a particular route and date needs a route-specific check in Google Flights or AI Mode in Search. Source

Start with the route and dates you will actually fly

When the destination and dates are fixed, search that itinerary in Google Flights or AI Mode in Search. Google points users to the “cheapest time to book” insight, which compares current fares with historical patterns and indicates whether prices for that itinerary are likely to move before departure. For a fixed schedule, Google’s guidance favors booking early enough to protect the itinerary. Source

Travelers with flexible dates can use the broader averages as an initial planning range, then check the same route again before paying. The aggregate figures describe past patterns across US departures, while the route-specific screen reflects the destination and dates entered by the traveler. Source

Use 39 days for domestic and 89 days for international as benchmarks

US domestic fares reached their lowest average 39 days before departure, within a broader low-price range of 22 to 57 days. International fares were lowest at 89 days, but the average change across the 50-to-133-day low range was insignificant. Google therefore advises booking international and Europe trips as early as practical. The benchmark was 90 days for Europe and 43 days for Mexico or the Caribbean. Source

Thanksgiving fares reached their lowest average 34 days before departure, with a low-price range of 21 to 57 days. Christmas reached its lowest average 56 days out, within a range of 33 to 67 days—roughly late October through mid-November. That Christmas benchmark moved five days earlier than in Google’s 2025 analysis. The corresponding averages were 50 days for March or April spring-break trips and 21 days for July or August summer trips. Source

Compare travel days and connections before chasing a purchase weekday

The weekday used to buy a ticket made little difference. Wednesday purchases averaged only 1.4% less than Sunday purchases, which Google describes as negligible. A Monday departure with a Tuesday or Wednesday return averaged about 14% less than weekend travel. For US domestic trips, the difference reached 20% compared with leaving and returning on Sunday. Nonstop tickets averaged 20% more than itineraries with a connection. Source

A practical comparison starts with the booking-time insight for the exact route. Next, test whether the outbound or return date can move to a weekday. Finally, compare nonstop and connecting options while keeping total travel time and baggage conditions visible. This order keeps route-specific fares ahead of a market-wide average. Source

Google’s trending lists rank destinations by their largest relative increase in Google Flights searches compared with 2025, rather than by total bookings or total search volume. Hilo, Buffalo, Columbus, Punta Gorda and Greenville led the US Thanksgiving list. Athens, Québec City, Rio de Janeiro, Hanoi and Guatemala City led the international list for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. That definition matters when using the list as a demand signal. Source