Quick answer: For Thanksgiving 2026, the cheapest day to leave is Monday, November 23. The best days to come home are Friday, November 27 (Black Friday) or Tuesday, December 1. The day to avoid is Sunday, November 29, which one estimate puts about 40% above Black Friday.
What is the cheapest day to fly for Thanksgiving? If you want one answer, it is Monday, November 23, the Monday before the holiday. Two travel sources named that day this month, and each one used its own data to get there.
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26 this year, and flights are not cheap. Hopper, a travel app, puts the average domestic round trip at $402, up 31% from last year. Going, a flight deals service, sees a smaller jump of 15% for domestic fares. The two don’t measure things the same way, so the numbers differ. They agree on the big picture: fares are higher than last year, so the day you pick matters.
Below you get a day-by-day view, where the experts agree, where they don’t, and a few ways to book without overpaying.
The cheapest day to fly for Thanksgiving, day by day
Here is how each day around the holiday looks, based on what the sources say. I name each source so you can judge for yourself.
| Day | What the sources say | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Sat and Sun, Nov 21 and 22 | Going says the weekend before the holiday is peak pricing | Skip if you can |
| Mon, Nov 23 | Cheapest day to leave, says The Points Guy (using Points Path data), and Going agrees | Best day to leave |
| Tue, Nov 24 | NerdWallet lists it among the less crowded days before Thanksgiving | Good backup |
| Wed, Nov 25 | None of the sources I checked call it a bargain | Check your route first |
| Thu, Nov 26 (Thanksgiving Day) | Hopper calls it off-peak, and NerdWallet says it is generally the cheapest day to fly | Cheap, but you may miss the meal |
| Fri, Nov 27 (Black Friday) | The Points Guy suggests it for the trip home, and Hopper calls it off-peak | Good day to come home |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Going says the weekend after the holiday is peak pricing | Skip if you can |
| Sun, Nov 29 | Points Path puts it about 40% above Black Friday, and Hopper says fares can top $600 | Avoid |
| Mon, Nov 30 (Cyber Monday) | Hopper calls it off-peak | Good day to come home |
| Tue, Dec 1 | The Points Guy suggests it for the trip home | Good day to come home |
Fares change every day, so treat this table as a guide and not a promise. Always check your own route and dates.
Best days to leave
Monday, November 23 is the pick for the trip out. The Points Guy, citing Points Path data in its holiday airfare report, names it the cheapest day to depart. Going, as reported by Time Out, says the same.
If you can take Monday off or work from anywhere, look at that day first. If you can’t, Tuesday, November 24 is a fair second choice, since NerdWallet ranks it among the less crowded days before Thanksgiving.
One thing to know: the sources split on Saturday. NerdWallet looks at how crowded each day is and puts Saturday as the quietest day before the holiday. Going looks at fares and calls the weekend before the holiday peak pricing. Check Saturday prices yourself before you rule it in or out.
Best days to come home (and the day to avoid)
The trip home is where many people lose the most money. The Points Guy suggests flying back on Black Friday or the Tuesday after, December 1. Hopper adds Cyber Monday, November 30, to its list of cheaper days.
The day to avoid is Sunday, November 29. Points Path estimates it at roughly 40% more than Black Friday, according to The Points Guy, which also calls it the likely busiest day at the airport. Hopper says fares on the Sunday after Thanksgiving can spike past $600.
Moving your return flight by a day or two can save more than any other trick in this guide. If your plans are flexible, start there.
Is it really cheaper to fly on Thanksgiving Day?
Often, yes. NerdWallet says Thanksgiving Day itself is generally the cheapest day to fly. Hopper lists it as an off-peak day, and The Points Guy says it was the quietest day at the airport last year.
The catch is simple: you may miss dinner. If you host and your guests fly in, it is a poor fit. If you are the guest and can leave late in the day, it can save real money. Look at the actual fares for your route before you decide.
When to book: will prices go down?
Probably not by much. The Points Guy says prices have been high but fairly steady since August, and that last year both cash and award prices jumped in the last weeks before the holidays. Hopper suggests booking flights before Halloween, which is October 31.
A simple plan is to book once you find a price you can live with, and pick a fare you can change. The Points Guy says that if the price drops after you buy, you can usually change or cancel and rebook, but only if you skip basic fares. Basic fares bar changes and penalty-free cancellation, so a low price today can cost you later.
5 ways to cut the cost
- Check nearby airports. A city with two or three airports may have a cheaper one 30 minutes away. Add the cost of the ride before you decide.
- Be careful with basic fares. They look cheap, but they bar changes, and many airlines charge extra for bags. Add up the full price before you compare.
- Set a price alert. Free alerts on Google Flights and similar tools tell you when the price for your dates moves. The Points Guy says some fare tracking tools can also catch a drop after you book.
- Compare in one search. A flight booking site such as Cheapvuelos lets you compare airlines and fares side by side, for round trips or one way. It says final fares, taxes and fare rules show at checkout, so read them before you pay. You can see current offers on our Cheapvuelos page.
- Stay flexible on dates. Leaving Monday and coming home Tuesday can often cost less than the usual Wednesday and Sunday. Try different day pairs in the same search.
FAQ
What is the cheapest day to fly for Thanksgiving?
For 2026, Monday, November 23 is the cheapest day to leave, according to both The Points Guy and Going. Thanksgiving Day itself is also cheap, says NerdWallet, though you may miss the meal.
Is it cheaper to fly on Thanksgiving Day?
Usually, yes. NerdWallet says it is generally the cheapest day, and Hopper lists it as off-peak. Check your own route, since fares vary.
What is the cheapest day to fly home after Thanksgiving?
The Points Guy suggests Black Friday, November 27 or Tuesday, December 1. Hopper also lists Cyber Monday, November 30.
What is the worst day to fly after Thanksgiving?
Sunday, November 29. Points Path estimates it at about 40% above Black Friday, and Hopper says fares can top $600.
Will flight prices go down before Thanksgiving?
Don’t count on it. The Points Guy says prices have been high but steady since August, and last year they jumped in the final weeks. Hopper suggests booking before Halloween.
The short version
Leave on Monday, November 23, come home on Black Friday or the Tuesday after, and stay away from Sunday, November 29. If you can fly on Thanksgiving Day itself, that can be cheaper still.
The numbers in this guide come from The Points Guy (October 9), Hopper (September 30), Going through Time Out (October 7) and NerdWallet. We don’t have our own fare data, and fares move daily, so check your route before you book.
