How to Get Cheap Christmas & New Year’s Flights (Even Last Minute!)
The thought of finding cheap Christmas flights or affordable New Year’s Eve flights can feel impossible. Prices for holiday travel soar, leaving many wondering if saving on Christmas travel is even an option. It’s true, this is the most expensive time to fly. But even if you’re looking last minute, there are smart holiday flight hacks that can save you hundreds.
Don’t give up on your festive plans just yet. This guide shares proven strategies to cut costs on your holiday season airfare.
Understanding the Holiday Flight Price Hike
Airlines know everyone wants to fly on December 23rd and return on January 2nd. This high demand lets them charge a lot. To find cheaper flights, your strategy needs to go against what everyone else is doing.
Key Strategies for Saving on Holiday Airfare
Here are the most effective ways to lower the cost of your Christmas and New Year’s flights:
1. Embrace the Unpopular Travel Dates
This is the biggest secret to finding cheaper Christmas flights. Everyone flies on December 22nd, 23rd, and 26th. Everyone flies back on December 30th, 31st, or January 1st.
- Fly ON Christmas Day (December 25th): This is consistently one of the cheapest days to fly during the holiday period. Prices often drop dramatically because most people want to be at their destination before Christmas morning.
- Fly ON New Year’s Day (January 1st): Similar to Christmas Day, many people prefer to be celebrating, not traveling. This makes it a cheaper travel day.
- Avoid Weekend Departures: If you must fly closer to Christmas, try leaving on a Tuesday or Wednesday in the week before.
- Return Earlier/Later: If possible, return on January 3rd or 4th instead of January 1st or 2nd. Even a single day can save you a lot.
2. Consider a “Nearby” Airport (Both Ends)
Sometimes, flying directly to your main destination is very expensive.
- For Example (UK Departures):
- If flights from Gatwick to Rome are £300, check Stansted or Luton.
- If London airports are all expensive, consider flying from Manchester or even Dublin if it’s a significant saving and you can connect easily.
- For Your Destination: If you’re going to a popular area with multiple airports, check all of them. For instance, flying into Bergamo instead of Milan, or Charleroi instead of Brussels, can be much cheaper. You can then take a train or bus the rest of the way.
3. Use the “24-Hour Price Drop Rule”
This is a powerful holiday flight hack for last-minute peace of mind.
- How it works: In the UK, you generally have a 24-hour cooling-off period to change or cancel flights with many airlines (check airline terms). In the US, the DOT mandates a 24-hour free cancellation for flights booked at least 7 days out.
- Your Strategy: If you see a price that looks “okay” but you think it might drop, book it. Then, keep checking prices for the next 23 hours. If you see a cheaper flight, cancel your first booking for a refund and rebook the cheaper one. This removes the risk from booking a flight you aren’t sure about.
4. Explore Alternative Destinations
If your heart isn’t set in a single place, cast a wider net.
- Sun Seekers: Instead of fighting for popular Canary Island spots, check out lesser-known options or even Northern Africa (like Morocco).
- City Breakers: Prague, Budapest, and Krakow often remain more affordable than Paris or Rome during the holiday rush. Consider the [most magical Christmas markets]([Link to your Christmas Markets blog post here]) for a festive and cheaper alternative.
Here’s the Step the Big Engines Miss
When you search for cheap Christmas flights or New Year’s Eve flights on competitor websites, they give you a number. That number looks solid. But they often don’t help you with the strategy around it.
They won’t tell you:
- “Hey, if you fly on Christmas Day instead of the 23rd, you’ll save £150.”
- “This £70 flight has a 12-hour layover. Are you okay with that?”
- “That flight leaves from an airport that costs £40 and 2 hours to get to.”
The Sthgilf strategy is to add context and flexibility to your search. We encourage you to play with your dates, departure airports, and even destinations. The big sites just show you the best price for your exact search. We show you how to tweak your search to find the real best price for holiday travel.
Your Cheap Christmas Flights Questions Answered!
Q: Is it really possible to get cheap Christmas flights if I wait until the last minute?
It’s harder, but possible. Your best bet for saving will be flying on Christmas Day (December 25th) or New Year’s Day (January 1st), or being highly flexible with airports and destinations. Very last-minute deals (days before) are rare for popular routes. Will help you on it contact us.
Q: Which airlines are best for saving on holiday travel?
For short-haul European trips, Ryanair and easyJet will have the most aggressive last-minute deals, but you must be flexible. For long-haul, it’s harder, but sometimes British Airways or Virgin Atlantic will have limited flash sales.
Q: Should I book a package (flight + hotel) or just a flight for New Year’s Eve?
During the holidays, packages can sometimes offer better value, especially if you’re booking closer to the date. Tour operators might have unused hotel rooms they bundle cheaply. Always compare the total cost.
Q: What if I have airline miles? Is this a good time to use them?
Yes. Holiday flights are often when using miles gives you the best value. Because cash prices are so high, redeeming miles can be a smart way to cover the cost, though availability might be limited at the last minute.
Q: I saw a flight price drop. Should I wait for it to go lower?
For holiday flights, prices rarely go significantly lower days before departure. If you see a price you’re happy with, especially using the 24-hour rule, it’s safer to book it. Prices are more likely to jump higher than drop further.