Thanksgiving Flights
Best booked Oct–Nov
Thanksgiving is the most predictable fare spike of the year, which makes it one of the easiest to plan around. Prices climb steadily as November approaches and rarely fall, so the earlier you book, the better — early October is the sweet spot, and by early November the cheap seats are usually gone.
The days you choose move the price more than anything else. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after are the two busiest and most expensive travel days in the country. Flying out on Thanksgiving morning itself, or shifting your return from Sunday to the following Tuesday, can cut the fare sharply and spare you the worst airport crowds — a trade of a few hours of holiday for real savings and far less stress.
Because plans shift around the holidays, buy a standard economy fare rather than basic economy so you can move the date without a change fee if you need to. Nonstops are worth the premium here: a missed connection on the busiest travel day of the year is hard to rebook.
The routes below are the busiest domestic pairs for the holiday. Fares shown are recorded lows, not live quotes — call and an agent will price the cheaper alternate days for you.
Thanksgiving Flights: lowest recorded fares
The cheapest dated fare on each matching route. Recorded lows, not live quotes.
- Mon, Nov 9 – Wed, Nov 11Los Angeles to Las VegasLAX → LASCall(708) 866-8751$45round trip · recorded low
Recorded fares from cached search data, not live quotes. An agent confirms availability and today's price on the call.
Thanksgiving Flights: routes
Cheaper Thanksgiving travel
- Flying on Thanksgiving Day itself is among the cheapest options of the week.
- The Wednesday before and the Sunday after are the priciest travel days of the year — shift a day off them to save.
- Book by early October; holiday fares only rise from there.
- Buy a changeable standard fare, not basic economy, so plans can shift without a fee.
Need help with this trip?
Licensed agents at our partner agency handle these by phone, 24/7. No charge for a quote.
Guides for this kind of trip
SeasonalWhen to Book Thanksgiving and Christmas FlightsThe dates that are cheapest and most expensive around the holidays, and the deadline after which fares only rise.
SeasonalHoliday Flights with Kids: Seats Together, Timing, and Backup PlansHow to guarantee adjacent seats, which flights to pick with children, and what to do when winter weather hits.
Frequently asked questions
When should I book Thanksgiving flights?
By early October. Fares climb steadily through November and the cheap seats on the good date pairs sell first.
What are the cheapest days to fly for Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving Day itself, and the Monday or Tuesday before, returning on the Friday or the following Tuesday rather than the Sunday.
Will fares drop closer to the holiday?
Almost never for Thanksgiving — demand is inelastic and airlines release little discounted inventory. Booking early is the reliable saving.
Are these fares live?
No. They are the lowest fares recorded recently on each route from cached search data, refreshed nightly. The agent quotes the live price when you call.
How do I get one of these fares?
Call (708) 866-8751 with the route and your dates. If the recorded fare is still available the agent books it; if not, they find the closest current fare across all airlines.
Can I book these online?
No. Every booking is made by phone with a licensed agent so names, dates, and fare rules are confirmed before payment.
Fares shown are the lowest recorded in our nightly fare snapshot — recorded lows, not live quotes; a licensed agent confirms today's price on the call. Compiled by the WarBird Flight editors; WarBird Flight is independent and not affiliated with any airline. Sources: DOT Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, Bureau of Transportation Statistics.