11 Smart Moves: Cheapest Day to Fly for Christmas (And the Day to Avoid)

Traveling for Christmas comes with one big question: when should you fly to spend the least on airfare without sacrificing too much convenience? Data from multiple travel authorities points to a clear winner. Christmas Day—December 25—has consistently been the least crowded travel day during the holiday week, and that lower demand often translates into lower fares. At the same time, the days immediately before and after Christmas drive the most demand and feature the steepest price spikes. This guide gives you a practical playbook: the exact day most likely to save money, the days to avoid when possible, and the booking moves that increase your chances of getting a deal. The recommendations below use travel-industry findings from NerdWallet, Google Flights (reported by USA Today), Expedia, and TSA passenger trends. They balance savings with real-world trade-offs like spending holiday time in an airport or adding a short overnight to avoid peak fares. Read through the numbered tips and pick the combination that fits your schedule—whether you need a full round-trip plan or a single cheap outbound leg. As of September 2025, these patterns held across multiple years of data and are the best available guidance for planning December travel.

1. Fly on Christmas Day (Dec. 25): The cheapest option most years

If your schedule allows, flying on Christmas Day is the most reliable way to cut airfare during the holiday period. Multiple travel analyses, including a multi-year look at TSA passenger volumes reported by NerdWallet, show December 25 as the least crowded travel day within the week around Christmas. Lower demand often forces airlines to price seats more competitively, and that can translate into noticeably cheaper fares than the days immediately before or after the holiday. Flight frequency may be reduced on Dec. 25, so nonstop options can be limited and departure times may cluster around midday. Expect fewer crowds at security and arrivals, but plan logistics carefully—airport dining and ground transportation may operate on holiday schedules, so verify options in advance. For many travelers, the trade-off is worth it: lower prices, quicker airport processing, and less stressful travel on the day itself. If you must arrive early on Dec. 25, compare arrival-time trade-offs against slightly higher fares on Dec. 24; otherwise, Dec. 25 is the best single-day bet for savings.