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If you haven’t snagged your holiday flights yet—first, don’t panic. You’re not alone, and you still have options. But before we get to the good stuff, we’ll address the elephant in the room.
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This year’s travel wildcard: the government shutdown
The ongoing federal government shutdown is already rippling through air travel. Flights are still operating, but key agencies like TSA and the FAA are working with skeleton crews or staff who aren’t being paid right now.
That means longer security lines, fewer air traffic controllers, and more potential for flight delays—especially at major airports. Basically: Your flight will probably take off, but you might need a little extra patience to get there.
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Flight affected by the FAA cuts?
The ongoing government shutdown is causing flight reductions at many major US airports. Before you book or fly, check your airline’s change and refund policies. Many are offering fee-free changes, and you’re always owed a refund if flights are canceled.
Stay flexible, double-check your plans, and remember: Travel is still possible—it just takes a little extra care right now.
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If your holiday plans are flexible, consider skipping the airport stress entirely. Trains, buses, or even a good old-fashioned road trip might save you both time and sanity this year. (And hey, no baggage fees.)
Should you drive or fly? This breakdown might help:
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0–250 miles from your destination: Drive. Avoid the airport circus altogether.
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250–500 miles from your destination: Compare both. Consider traffic, costs, and flexibility.
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500+ miles: Fly (depending on your restrictions, like kids, weather, and rental car costs). But flying is likely your best bet, especially if you can snag a cheaper fare, morning flight, or can be flexible.
Check out our
guide to finding cheap rental cars if you opt to drive.
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Why flights feel so expensive right now
It’s not your imagination—holiday airfare is always wild, and waiting until the last minute doesn’t help. Prices spike because everyone’s trying to fly at the same time, and the cheapest seats disappeared weeks (or months) ago.
But all hope isn’t lost. With some good vibes and a bit of flexibility, you can still land a solid deal—or at least avoid paying more than you absolutely need to.
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How to still get a deal for the holiday
Here’s what our flight experts recommend for the 2025 holiday crunch.
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Be flexible with where you go
Counter-intuitive for the holidays, when you’re just trying to get home to see the fam? Maybe. But hear us out. If you’re just trying to be together, but it doesn’t really matter where, consider letting the deal decide where you’ll spend the holidays.
People normally follow this process: (1) Choose where you want to go, (2) choose when you want to go, (3) check flight prices. By setting price as the last priority, it’s not surprising folks end up with expensive flights.
Try this process instead: (1)
Open the Going app, and see what cheap flights are available out of your airport, (2) choose a destination, (3) choose your dates. By setting price as the top priority, you might end up somewhere unexpected—but it’s bound to be way more affordable.
Be flexible with when you go
If you can shift your trip by even a day or two, you could save a ton. Flying on the holiday itself (Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, etc.) is often cheaper—and probably less stressful—because, well, no one else wants to do it.
For Thanksgiving, avoid traveling the Sunday after, one of the busiest travel days of the year, at all cost. Instead, look to fly home on Black Friday (Friday after Thanksgiving) or Cyber Monday (Monday after Thanksgiving).
Time of day goes a long way, too. Book the earliest flight of the day, if possible. Delays stack as the day goes on, especially with reduced ATC staff during the shutdown.
Piece together your itinerary
One of the best ways to travel for cheap, even outside the holiday season, is to use the
Greek Islands Trick. Get as close as possible for the cheapest cost, then take an alternate mode of transportation—like a short flight, train, bus, ferry, or carride—the rest of the way there.
On the flipside, reverse the rule and reposition yourself at a cheaper airport on the departure end to snag a cheaper deal. Live in Upstate New York, and flights from your home airport are exorbitant? Take a train or bus to NYC, Boston, or even Washington, DC, if you could save several hundred dollars on flights.
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Time your booking right
The best strategy is to use the Goldilocks Window—not too early, not too late, just right in the middle. For domestic, cheap flights are most likely to pop up 1–3 months in advance, while for international it’s 2–8 months in advance.
If you’re booking right now, you’re outside the window, but not doomed. Check alerts daily, and don’t be afraid to pounce when you see something reasonable. (Waiting rarely helps this late in the game.)
Remember the 21-day rule
The cheapest fares often have a 21-day advance purchase requirement. If there’s a specific flight you need and you’re hoping fares will come down, set three weeks out as the absolute final deadline to book. It’s exceptionally unlikely fares will get cheaper after that point. Usually they get far more expensive.
Try two one-ways
In general, we dissuade travelers from booking two one-way tickets, as they’re almost always more expensive than booking a roundtrip ticket. That’s because when booking a roundtrip ticket, the itinerary is pretty consistently on a single airline (or at least partner airlines).
But if you search for one-way tickets, you may be able to find a combined sum through two separate airlines—such as Delta on the way there and United on the way back—that’s cheaper than a roundtrip on a single airline. This is more common for domestic flights than international.
Check budget airlines
Even if you basically never fly on budget airlines, like Frontier, the one time to consider making an exception is if you need a last-minute flight. Last-minute fares tend to be pricey because airlines want to gouge business travelers—but business travelers rarely fly Frontier. Ditto with Allegiant, Breeze, and other ultra-low-cost carriers. As a result, last-minute flights tend to be much more affordable on budget airlines that primarily cater to leisure travelers.
One difference this year: Spirit's recent cuts across its network. Travelers based west of the Rocky Mountains might find fewer budget options than in years passed.
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One last pro tip
If you’re feeling priced out of holiday flights, it’s not too early to book your next trip. Post-New-Year fares are looking way better (and way calmer) than December ones. A little future-you planning can save a lot of present-you frustration. Check the Going app for today’s top deals.
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