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

Wrap-up: Pick Dec. 25 if you want the best shot at low fares — avoid the pre- and post-holiday crush

The clearest pattern from travel data is straightforward: Christmas Day offers the most dependable opportunity to score lower fares during the holiday week, while the days immediately before (Dec. 22–23) and after (Dec. 26–30) tend to be the most expensive. To put those findings into action, aim to book within the roughly 32–73 day window highlighted by Google Flights, with a practical target near 51 days before departure. Use midweek or Saturday departures where they fit your schedule, set price alerts, and check nearby airports for meaningful savings. For international trips, favor Wednesdays and Saturdays when possible. Finally, balance price against convenience: lower fares on Dec. 25 can mean holiday-day logistics to manage, while the cost of arriving earlier or returning later might still be worth the comfort. With these strategies, you can reduce holiday airfare stress and make a clearer decision about the day to fly—and the one to avoid.