Holiday flights in the US are already expensive and could rise further, prompting travel experts to urge passengers to book Thanksgiving and winter trips now rather than wait.
Domestic air travel prices have been pushed higher by a sharp increase in jet fuel, which is now averaging about $4.70 a gallon — roughly twice the level seen a year ago.
Katy Nastro, a travel and aviation correspondent for Flighty, said holiday fares were unlikely to fall significantly and advised travellers to secure their plans as soon as possible.
She told KIRO 7 that fares were currently between 20% and 25% higher on average, adding that 2026 was unlikely to deliver the dramatic price drops seen in previous years.
Industry figures reported by Travel Weekly showed US air fares in August were 23.4% higher than a year earlier. Average jet fuel prices reached $4.53 a gallon on September 10, the highest level of the summer.
The higher costs have also affected airlines directly. The Associated Press reported that US carriers spent $6.66 billion on jet fuel in May, an 84% increase on the same month in 2025, while the amount of fuel consumed was slightly lower.
Travellers who are able to avoid peak holiday dates may find better value by visiting family or taking trips in January or February instead. Nastro also recommended using fare alerts on services such as Google Flights or Skyscanner, while warning passengers not to delay booking for too long.
