Traveling for holidays? Get the best prices with Google Flight Data
By Macy Meyer | Published: 2025-10-30 18:40:00 | Source: CNET
Learn how to let Google Flights find the best deals for you.
We’re only a few weeks away from Thanksgiving, which means for thousands of people it’s time to plan travel for the holiday. Flying home during this season can be very expensive, but Google is here to help.
According to the latest Google Trips Travel reportThe service is basically a cheat sheet for booking the cheapest flights possible. They’ve analyzed years of data to reveal exactly the best times to buy your tickets, taking all the guesswork out of the equation.
Whether you’re an accomplished planner or a last-minute programmer, these findings reveal the clear patterns you need to know to avoid getting scammed. Before you book anything, you’ll want to see this.
For more key travel tipsexplore the travel essentials you need on every vacation and then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also check out CNET’s roundup of the best headphones for travel.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased technical content and lab reviews. Add CNET As Google’s preferred source.
What are the cheapest days to fly?
If you’re planning to book a flight, you’re likely trying to find the most budget-friendly option. The cheapest flights are available when flying on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays Tuesday is the cheapest dayAccording to historical flight data.
Traveling early to mid-week can save travelers about 13% on the cost of their airfare compared to flying on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Sunday is the most expensive day To fly.
Do layovers on flights save you money?
It may come as no surprise that flights with layovers are less expensive than nonstop flights, but you may not realize how significant these savings are.
Google Flights data shows that Travelers can save 22% by booking a flight with a layover Instead of a non-stop flight.
What is the cheapest day of the week to book flights?
There are definitely cheaper days to TravelThere are really no cheaper days book. “It’s worth knowing that you won’t save much by booking on any given day of the week,” Google reports.
Tuesday is usually the cheapest day of the week to bookAccording to the data, Tuesday bookings are only 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day, which is Sunday.
Is it cheaper to book flights well in advance?
To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it’s best to book your travel in advance, especially if you need to travel on a specific day or time. There are some patterns you can analyze to determine whether it’s better to wait for prices to drop or book now based on specific travel scenarios, destinations, and dates.
to Domestic flightsPrices are generally at their lowest levels 23 and 51 days Before your trip – with 39 days Before departure is the cheapest day to book on average.
to International flightsPrices are generally the lowest among 49 days or more Before your trip, but it’s generally best to make your reservations as early as possible. According to Google, “average prices do not drop significantly at any time before departure, but typically begin to rise within 50 days of the trip itself” for international travel from the US.
Read also: Google’s new AI-powered flight deals tool works, but only if you’re flying ‘anywhere, anytime’
What is the best time to book a flight in each season?
Here’s what Google says about the best times to book vacation trips and vacation trips to certain popular destinations.
Thanksgiving Day: The cheapest domestic flights during the Thanksgiving holiday are usually available 24 to 59 days in advance, with 35 days being the cheapest — meaning it’s best to book Thanksgiving flights in late September or early October.
Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights during the winter holidays are usually available 32 to 73 days in advance, with 51 days being the cheapest. Christmas or holiday cruises are best booked any time from mid-October to mid-November.
Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available between 28 and 61 days in advance, with 43 days before departure being the cheapest time to book on average.
Summer vacation: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are usually available 14 to 43 days in advance, with 21 days before departure being the cheapest day to book on average.
When is the best time to book a trip to Europe?
International flights to Europe from the United States are usually cheaper 48 days or more Before leaving. As with all international flights, it is generally best to book as early as possible.
When is the best time to book a trip to Mexico or the Caribbean?
International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the only exception to the broader international trend, according to Google. This is because flights are generally at their lowest levels between 26 and 79 days in advance with 50 days Being cheaper.
What are the best holiday destinations for 2025?
Google also released insights into the most searched destinations for each holiday for the 2025 season.
Thanksgiving Day: The most searched domestic destinations for flights departing between the dates of November 23 to November 30 include Columbia, South Carolina; Bozeman, Montana; Detroit, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska and more.
It appears that medium-sized cities are on the rise, compared to 2024.
Christmas and New Year: Most searched destinations for flights departing between the dates of December 21 through January 4 include Rio de Janeiro, St. Lucia, Marrakesh, Curacao and more.
Travelers seem to be choosing palm trees over fir trees this Christmas.
For more, check out CNET’s picks for the best travel credit cards of 2025. You can also explore the 12 travel essentials you always need to pack and the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.
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