Best Time to Book Christmas Flights in 2026: The Window Is Now
Which? found December flights are usually cheapest booked 5 to 11 weeks before you fly, and you're rarely better off booking more than six months ahead. Christmas Day 2026 is about 10 weeks away, so for most short-haul routes the window is open right now.
Every year someone tells me they're waiting for Christmas flights to come down. Most years, they don't. Here's what the research actually says, and why I'd be looking now.
When is the cheapest time to book Christmas flights?
Which? looked at Skyscanner data and found December trips were usually cheapest booked between 5 and 11 weeks before you fly. For London to Alicante, Faro and New York, the sweet spot for Christmas was about 11 weeks out.
A few routes were different. Barcelona, Lisbon and Sydney came out cheapest booked 15 to 18 weeks ahead, so if that's you, you're already at the tail end.
How far is Christmas from now?
Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday, about 10 weeks from mid-October. That puts most short-haul Christmas trips inside the cheapest window right now. Which? said as much in early October, advising people to book within the week.
Should you book months ahead to be safe?
Not really. Which? found you're rarely better off booking more than six months in advance. Early isn't always cheaper, it just feels safer.
Want to see where your money actually goes? BudgetBro tracks it in any currency, free.
Is it cheaper to fly on Christmas Day?
We checked London to Alicante on Google Flights on 12 October 2026, a week away each time, cheapest return from any London airport:
- Out Saturday 19 December, back 27 December: from £90
- Out Wednesday 23 December, back 30 December: from £125
- Out Friday 25 December, back 1 January: from £130
None of this is magic. Airlines price on demand, and the closer you get to the big travel days, the fewer cheap seats are left.
So no, not on this route. Going a few days before the Christmas rush was the cheapest by a distance. Prices move every day, so treat these as a snapshot, not a promise.
Which days are the most expensive?
In our check, the days right before Christmas cost the most to fly out on. The 23rd was £35 more than the 19th for the same trip length. If your dates can move, flying out the weekend before is the easy win.
Do last-minute Christmas flight deals exist?
Sometimes, but I wouldn't bet your holiday on one. Which?'s numbers put the cheapest window at 5 to 11 weeks before departure, which means the last few weeks before you fly are usually outside it. Late deals at Christmas are the exception, not the rule, because the major travel days sell out first.
Domestic or international, does it change?
The same idea applies to both. Short-haul flights in Europe tend to follow the 5 to 11 week pattern Which? found. Long-haul can need more notice, like Sydney at 15 to 18 weeks. If you're flying anywhere big over the holidays, set your fare alerts now and make a decision within the next couple of weeks.
How we'd do it
- Pick your dates, then check them on Google Flights with flexible dates on. A day either side can change the price a lot
- Set a price alert so you're not checking every hour
- Look at the airport too. Stansted, Luton and Gatwick often price differently for the same city
- Carry-on only if you can. Bags at Christmas add up fast
What if you only want a day out?
If you want Christmas abroad without the hotel bill, we've checked same-day return flights to the big Christmas markets. Some are under £100 return. See the Christmas market day trips.
Founders pay £19 a year for BudgetBro Day Trips, for as long as they stay. See the founders offer
Source: Which?, cheapest times to book your flights. Photo: Mike McBey, CC BY 2.0.
Day trips in this article
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