x
Breaking News
More () »

Here's when to buy holiday flights, according to Google Trends

It's almost time to start booking your holiday travel.

WASHINGTON — It may technically still be summer, but if you’re looking for cheap travel this holiday season, it may be time to start looking.

Google Trends put together a report on when flight prices have historically been the lowest and trending holiday locations this year. Here’s what we learned:

  • Thanksgiving
    The low price range for domestic flights for Thanksgiving will be 26 to 59 days before departure, with the lowest prices typically being 45 days before. Aim for early October.

  • Christmas
    The low price range for domestic flights for Christmas will be 36 to 72 days before departure, with the lowest prices typically being 58 days before. Aim for the second half of October.

  • Spring break
    The low price range for domestic flights in March and April will be 33 to 59 days before departure, with the lowest prices typically being 44 days before. 

  • Summer vacation
    The low price range for domestic flights in July and August will be 13 to 43 days before departure, with the lowest prices typically being 21 days before.

In general, for domestic flights, trends say the low price range is historically 21 to 52 days before departure, with the lowest prices typically being 38 days before.

International flights, on the other hand, travelers should book as early as possible. The lowest is typically 101 days before, but tickets don’t begin to rise until after 50 days before.

If you’re traveling to Europe specifically, flights from the U.S. are typically cheapest 94 days before and also rise after 50 days before departure. 

Trips to Mexico or the Caribbean, however, are an exception to international travel trends. The low price range is 26 to 68 days before, and the lowest prices are typically 44 days before.

Google also included the top 20 destinations being searched for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Here’s where people want to go:

Thanksgiving

  1. Orlando

  2. Cancun

  3. New York

  4. Tokyo

  5. London

  6. Miami

  7. Paris

  8. Los Angeles

  9. Las Vegas

  10. Honolulu

  11. Mumbai

  12. Phoenix

  13. San Juan

  14. Delhi

  15. Chicago

  16. Punta Cana

  17. Barcelona

  18. Bangkok

  19. Dallas

  20. Rome

Christmas and New Year’s Eve

  1. Tokyo

  2. Orlando

  3. Cancun

  4. Miami

  5. New York

  6. London

  7. San Juan

  8. Honolulu

  9. Paris

  10. Las Vegas

  11. Los Angeles

  12. Manila

  13. Bangkok

  14. Madrid

  15. Mumbai

  16. San Jose

  17. Mexico City

  18. Punta Cana

  19. Sydney

  20. Rome

RELATED: How the 'passport makeup' trend could make you miss your next vacation

RELATED: A top Delta executive is leaving weeks after the airline's slow response to tech outage

Before You Leave, Check This Out