Holiday airfare is down as much as 40% — here’s where (and when) to find the best deals

If you’ve been holding off on buying holiday flights, this might be the year it finally pays off. According to new data from Dollar Flight Club, airfare hasn’t looked this reasonable since 2022. Their analysis of about 250 high-volume holiday routes shows domestic fares averaging 19% lower and international fares 9% lower than in recent years, with some routes down nearly 40%.

“Flex a day and swap airports — that’s where the biggest wins are,” said Jesse Neugarten, CEO and Founder of Dollar Flight Club. The study looked at 80+ airports across 40 U.S. metro areas, comparing 2025 holiday fares with data from 2022–2024.

Below are some of the most dramatic drops and smartest booking windows this holiday season.

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Biggest price drops

• New York City → Miami/Fort Lauderdale
  From $98 round-trip, down roughly 40% vs last year. Added competition between MIA and FLL is driving prices down. Midweek departures booked 3–6 weeks out tend to hit the sweet spot.
• Chicago → Cancún
  From $221 round-trip, about 32% cheaper than 2024. More leisure routes and shoulder-season overlap mean better deals for travelers willing to shop early and fly mid-week.
• Los Angeles → Rome
  From $297–$401 round-trip, nearly 30% lower. Airlines are cutting fares on Christmas-week departures, especially Dec. 24–25 and Jan. 1 flights.
• Houston/Dallas → Mexico City
  From $178 round-trip, roughly 28% down. Multiple carriers are adding capacity between Texas and Mexico, creating a buyer’s market.
• Mid-Atlantic → Orlando
  From $38–$120 round-trip, around 40% less than 2024. Increased seat counts into both Orlando International and Sanford airports mean real savings.

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Why prices are falling

After a few brutal years of holiday travel costs, airlines are finally aligning supply with demand.

• More capacity on popular sun and Europe routes
• Better competition between nearby airports
• Softened peak-day demand as travelers shift to off-peak or holiday-day flights
• Lower jet fuel costs compared with 2024

The combination is pulling fares down sharply — especially for travelers willing to shift departure dates by a day or two.

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Where it’s cheapest

Florida and Mexico dominate the bargains this year. Boston to Fort Lauderdale can dip under $80, Houston to Orlando under $40, and Dallas to Cancún under $210. Even long-haul trips are seeing relief, with Los Angeles to São Paulo from $371 and Chicago to Rome under $500.

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When to book

• Thanksgiving: 3–7 weeks out for domestic; 6–10 weeks for international
• Christmas/New Year: 4–8 weeks domestic; 6–12 weeks international

If prices spike, try alternate airports (like EWR/JFK/LGA or MIA/FLL) or adjust dates by a few days. The best prices often appear when flying on the holiday itself or returning right after New Year’s.

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Best travel tactics

• Fly early in the day — fewer delays and often cheaper fares.
• Book direct with airlines for easier rebooking if weather hits.
• Carry-on only if you can — it makes rebooking faster.
• Use travel cards with delay or interruption coverage; it’s worth more than a small fare difference.

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After several pricey travel seasons, 2025 is finally offering some breathing room — but only for travelers willing to stay flexible. Even small tweaks, like flying on Dec. 25 instead of Dec. 23 or swapping Miami for Fort Lauderdale, can save hundreds.

This year, it might actually pay to procrastinate a little — just not too much.

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