Key takeaways

• Resorts, cruise lines, and even summer destinations are extending their seasons to capture new off-peak demand.
• Booking windows are tightening: Thanksgiving deals drop 35 days out while Christmas bargains arrive 51 days out.
• “Shoulder season” travel — the stretch between summer and winter holidays —gains ground.
• Travelers booking late may face higher fares and fewer options due to airlines adjusting their capacity

Fall is shaping up to be one of the smartest times to travel, with lower airfares, tighter booking windows, and rising demand for off-peak getaways.

Fall was once a quiet season for travel. But in 2025, it’s become a strategic option. Prices are falling, peak booking dates are shifting, and airline schedules remain in flux leading up to the holiday rush. 

There are several reasons for travelers’ flock to fall. Domestic airfares for holiday travel are down roughly 5% from last year.¹ International fares have dropped more steeply, with some long-haul routes running 7% to 13% below 2024 levels.² Booking habits have shifted, too. Travelers are waiting until a month out before buying tickets, which may be prompting airlines to offer short-notice adjustments in turn.³ 

More people are taking autumn vacations as well. Off-peak travel has led to resorts and cruise lines extending their seasons to accommodate new demand.⁴ Summer vacation towns are also welcoming more visitors off-season than in years past.

For those who can shift travel outside peak weekends, wait for fares to settle, or travel off-season for their vacation, fall offers increasing options for better pricing and more control.

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Booking windows begin to close

Holiday travelers may find mid-October offers significant value on bookings. Thanksgiving airfares tend to reach their lowest prices about 35 days before departure. This year, the ideal booking window may land between October 12 and October 23.⁵ The lowest fares for Christmas travel tend to appear around 51 days out. Those who can depart the weekend before Christmas may find competitive fares around Halloween.⁶

Airlines are watching booking patterns closely. Allegiant, American Airlines, and JetBlue have reported that less than 20% of Q4 revenue has been booked by the end of August (Delta and United Airlines have not yet issued detailed forecasts).⁷  A delay in locking schedules leaves low fares available for longer as carriers may wait on increasing until demand increases.⁸

October hotel rates in some cities are now within $50 of summer heights.¹² Hotels are seeing almost double the fall occupancy they had in 2024.¹³ Cruise operators are offering experiences into December, priced at or above May-to-September levels.¹⁴

Shifting demand isn’t only a matter of cost. Remote work, cooler temperatures, and a desire to avoid crowds could be pulling trips into the “shoulder season,” where it’s more typical to see fewer people traveling between the end of summer and the holidays.¹⁵

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Fashionably late bookings

Booking deep into the final two weeks before travel is becoming more common. Some airlines report that travelers are waiting to buy airfare between 10 to 14 days before their trip.¹⁶ This delay may be able to provide people with price leverage, but it can also shrink options. Nonstop flights often sell out early.¹⁷ Fare drops tend to apply to off-peak routes or trips with layovers — if they appear at all.¹⁸

JetBlue has indicated that it may cut its Q4 flying plans if demand stays muted.¹⁹ Southwest and Delta both suggest they have less visibility than usual into holiday travel activity.²⁰ This may be a sign that shorter booking windows are making demand harder to predict.

What travelers should watch

Booking trends may be shifting, but some milestones remain reliable:²¹

• Thanksgiving travel: Book 35 days before departure (October 12-23)
• Christmas travel: Book 51 days out (October 31)
• Domestic fares typically lowest: 39 days before travel
• International fares typically lowest: 49 days before travel

Midweek departures may be cheaper, with fares averaging about 13% less than weekend flights. Secondary airports may also offer lower base fares and more seat availability.²² Those who are looking to go abroad in October could spend $200 less than during peak summer travel.²³

Taken together, these trends may show how travelers that plan around timing, flexibility, and off-season travel could have an advantage when avoiding the holiday price crunch.

Read more: Adding Value: How to travel smart and live a little 

Taking off

Fall may not guarantee the cheapest flights nor the easiest travel timing for those booking their holiday plans. But this year, the season appears to tilt toward travelers. Some airlines are still working out schedules, destinations are staying open longer, and pricing patterns are deviating from the norm.