Domestic round trips for Thanksgiving average $402 this year, up 31% from last year, according to Hopper’s annual Holiday Travel Index. Add a checked bag each way, and the total climbs to roughly $492 per person.
What Bag Fees Add to the Trip
Delta and Southwest raised checked bag fees in April and now charge $45 for a first bag and $55 for a second on domestic flights, Newsweek reports. United raised its first and second bag fees by $10, and JetBlue now charges $39 to $49 for a first bag, depending on the travel period.
On Delta or Southwest, one checked bag each way adds $90 to the trip. That turns Hopper’s $402 average into about $492. For a family of four where everyone checks one bag and pays the fee both ways, the average trip comes to nearly $2,000 before parking or a rideshare.
Travelers with elite status, premium cabin tickets or a co-branded airline credit card may still check bags free, so it pays to check your card benefits before you book.
Why the Cheapest Window Is Closing
Kayak says domestic Thanksgiving fares have historically bottomed out about five weeks before the holiday, which this year means the week of Oct. 19, according to its 2026 Holiday Travel Check-In. That pattern is not a guarantee, but waiting has been costly before: last year, fares rose by as much as 16% the week before Thanksgiving and 21% during Thanksgiving week.
Hopper gives a similar deadline, advising travelers to book flights and hotels before Halloween. The company says months of elevated jet fuel costs have contributed to holiday fares reaching their highest level in a decade.
A Sunday return after Thanksgiving is among the priciest options, with Hopper putting those round trips at $604 on average. Kayak, meanwhile, identifies Monday, Nov. 23, as the best-value departure date.
How to Cut the Total
- Travel with a carry-on only. Skipping a checked bag saves $90 per person on Delta or Southwest, assuming the standard fees apply.
- Price two one-way tickets. Kayak found that combining two one-way flights, sometimes on different airlines, could save up to 29% on domestic holiday routes.
- Consider flying on the holiday. Kayak says Thanksgiving Day fares can run up to 19% lower than on Friday, Nov. 20, the priciest day to leave.
- Fly early. Hopper says departures after 9 a.m. are twice as likely to be delayed as flights leaving between 5 and 8 a.m.
Hotel rates average $170 a night, in line with last year, according to Hopper.