The holiday season is a magical time filled with joy, family, and festive fun. But if you’re not careful, it can also be a time when your wallet feels a lot lighter—especially if you’re planning to fly. Flight prices during holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, and even Easter tend to shoot up because everyone wants to travel at the same time. The good news? You don’t have to break the bank to fly during the holidays.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through simple, smart, and proven tips to help you find cheap flights over the holidays. Whether you’re flying alone, with your partner, or planning a big family trip, these tricks can save you hundreds.

1. Book Your Flight Early

This is the most important tip: don’t wait.

Flights during the holidays are in high demand. The closer you get to the travel date, the more expensive the tickets will be. For Christmas and New Year’s trips, you should start looking for flights 3 to 4 months in advance. For Thanksgiving or spring holidays, try to book at least 6 to 8 weeks ahead.

The earlier you book, the more likely you are to grab a cheaper fare.

2. Be Flexible with Travel Dates

If you’re open to flying a day earlier or later than you originally planned, you could save a lot. Flights on December 24 or 26 might be cheaper than flying on Christmas Day. Likewise, returning on January 2 or 3 could cost more than flying on January 4 or 5.

Try these tricks:

• Travel mid-week instead of weekends

• Choose early morning or late-night flights

• Use flexible date calendars on flight websites

Flexibility gives you more chances to grab a good deal.

3. Use Flight Comparison Tools

Flight comparison sites make it easy to see prices from many airlines at once. They help you find the best deals without visiting each airline’s website.

Some top tools include:

• Google Flights

• Skyscanner

• Kayak

• Easyfares.uk — a reliable platform that helps you compare and book great deals, especially during peak travel times

Set up alerts on these sites so you get notified when prices drop.

4. Try Alternative Airports

Big airports are busy and often more expensive during the holidays. But if you check smaller airports nearby, you might find a better deal.

Examples:

• Flying to New York? Compare JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia

• Flying from London? Check Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton

Even if the smaller airport is a little farther, the savings could be worth it.

5. Use Airline Miles and Reward Points

If you’ve been collecting points with a credit card or loyalty program, the holidays are a perfect time to use them. Flights are expensive during this season, but the number of miles needed for a flight doesn’t always rise as fast as cash prices.

Log in to your airline rewards account and search for award flights early. Seats go fast!

6. Book One-Way Tickets (Sometimes)

Sometimes, booking two one-way tickets (on different airlines) can be cheaper than a round-trip flight. For example, you could fly out with British Airways and return with Ryanair if that’s what gives you the best deal.

Just make sure the timing works and there are no hidden baggage fees that cancel out your savings.

7. Consider Flight + Hotel Packages

If you’re booking a holiday trip that includes a hotel, look into bundled deals. Sites like Expedia and Booking.com often offer discounts when you book flights and hotels together.

You can sometimes save up to 20% this way. And it saves you time too.

8. Sign Up for Newsletters

Many airlines and travel websites offer special holiday promotions. These deals are often shared only through email or app notifications. Sign up for alerts from major airlines, and travel websites to stay in the loop.

Pro tip: Create a separate email account just for travel deals. That way your main inbox doesn’t get flooded.

9. Clear Your Cookies or Use Incognito Mode

Ever notice flight prices going up after you search for the same trip a few times? That’s not your imagination.

Travel websites sometimes track your searches with cookies and increase prices to push you to book faster. To avoid this:

• Use incognito or private browsing mode

• Clear your browser cookies before searching again

It doesn’t always happen, but it’s worth trying to keep prices low.

10. Consider Flying on the Holiday

Flying on the actual holiday (like December 25 or January 1) can be cheaper. Most people don’t want to fly on the holiday itself, so airlines often lower the prices to fill seats.

If your schedule is flexible and you’re okay flying on the big day, you might save big.

11. Travel Light to Avoid Fees

Many budget airlines charge extra for luggage. If you can fit everything into a carry-on bag, you’ll avoid those fees and move faster through the airport.

Check baggage policies before booking. What looks cheap at first might not be once the fees add up.

12. Avoid Peak Hours

Airports are busiest and most expensive during certain times of the day. Flying early in the morning or late at night may be cheaper and less crowded.

Bonus: Early morning flights are less likely to be delayed!

Final Thoughts

Holiday travel doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune. By planning ahead, being flexible, and using the right tools, you can find cheap flights and travel stress-free. Whether you’re visiting family, going on a winter break, or heading to a tropical beach, these tips will help you get there without blowing your budget.

And remember, sites like Easyfares.uk are great for comparing prices and finding last-minute deals, especially during the holiday rush.

So start planning early, pack light, and enjoy your holiday adventure!