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

6. Saturdays can be surprisingly affordable for holiday travel

Contrary to common belief, Saturdays can offer good value for holiday travel. Expedia’s 2025 analysis found Saturday flights average about 17% less than Sunday flights on many domestic routes. During the Christmas period, a Saturday departure or return may fall outside the standard workweek pressures and avoid the intense Sunday rush when most travelers wrap up trips. If your destination allows for a full-weekend stay or you can shift plans by a day, consider a Saturday travel option. Keep an eye on seat availability; some Saturday flights are limited on certain routes, and connecting options may be fewer. Saturday works best if you can be flexible with times and connections, and if you’re traveling from or to airports that maintain robust weekend schedules. Always compare Saturday results to midweek and Dec. 25 choices, since the overall cheapest option can vary by route and annual demand.