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It’s time to start planning your travel for the winter holiday season if you haven’t already. After all, 2026 is expected to be the most expensive holiday travel season in 10 years.
That’s according to new data from the travel booking site Hopper, which found round-trip domestic airfares for Christmas are expected to average $452, up 23% from 2025. Thanksgiving travelers will feel the pressure too, as round-trip fares average $402, up 31% year over year. And that’s not the only higher cost: Hotel prices for Christmas are averaging $197 per night, 18% higher than in 2025.
Elevated jet fuel costs from the Iran war drove the price increases, according to Hopper. But a few tools can make holiday travel more affordable.
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How to beat holiday travel inflation
Save on air travel with credit cards
A travel credit card may help lower some travel costs. Many cards offer rewards you can redeem for future travel or perks that make your current plans more affordable and convenient.
If you’re loyal to a certain airline or live near one of its hubs, getting a co-branded airline credit card could be an option.
Cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card can help you save on bag fees, as cardholders receive a first checked bag free. You and up to eight other passengers traveling with you on the same reservation will also get access to a complimentary Preferred seat at booking, as well as extra legroom upgrades within 48 hours before departure.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a perfect fit for serious Southwest fans who can easily maximize its benefits like upgraded boardings and an annual travel credit.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Similarly, the United℠ Explorer Card can enhance your travel experience. The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year and then costs $150 per year, and it gives you two United Club℠ passes per year, plus free checked bags for the primary cardholder and one companion on the same reservation.
The United℠ Explorer Card is worth it even if you only fly with United Airlines once or twice a year because you can take advantage of two United Club℠ passes per year when the primary cardmember or authorized user is traveling and you can receive free checked bags.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases.
- 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
- Free first checked bag – a savings of up to $200 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, Group 2 priority boarding on United® flights.
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year – over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
- Member FDIC
Book your hotels and stays with the right card
The right credit card could help you get loyalty status, upgrades or even free nights at hotels. And the perks a hotel credit card could help you save.
For example, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers free Anniversary Nights and IHG Gold Elite Status, as well as the ability to get every fourth night free when you redeem points for a four-night stay at an IHG property.
Similarly, the World of Hyatt Credit Card can help you earn complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status, which can help you access preferred-room upgrades, special member rates and waived resort fees on award nights.
Use your points for travel
If you already have a lot of points from an existing travel credit card, consider using them. After all, points can be devalued or subject to general inflation, according to CNBC Select senior reporter Jason Stauffer, so using them regularly is a good idea.
While you may pay more points for flights at peak times — many major airlines have switched their award flights to dynamic pricing, which reflects demand — you could still save by being flexible on your dates. For example, Sunday, Nov. 29 is expected to be one of the more expensive travel days of the year, according to Hopper, so you could save by flying on Monday, Nov. 30 or Tuesday, Dec. 1 on your return trip from Thanksgiving.
If you have a flexible travel rewards credit card that earns transferable points, you could also take advantage of deals by transferring points to airlines or hotel partners.
The *Bilt Obsidian Card (see rates and fees) is a flexible travel rewards card. It allows you to turn your rent or mortgage, as well as everyday purchases like groceries, into Bilt Points. You can then redeem those points for several options, including travel, and Bilt has a long list of transfer partners that accept points at a 1:1 ratio. While it does have an annual fee, Obsidian cardholders earn a $100 annual Bilt Travel Hotel credit when booking a stay of at least two nights — $50/$200 semi-annually awarded as a statement credit for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
The Bilt Obsidian Card offers 3X Bilt Points on key everyday categories, like groceries (up to $25,000 per year) or dining (your 3X category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year). It also comes with a $50 Bilt Travel Portal hotel statement credit semiannually.
- High return on dining or grocery purchases
- Option to earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee
- Features a $100 Bilt Travel Hotel credit, applied twice a year as $50 statement credits
- Additional steps required for no-fee rent payments
- Spending cap on grocery rewards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
- 3X points on your choice of grocery (up to $25K/year) or dining. Your 3X category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year.
- 2X points on travel
- 1X points on everyday spend
- Welcome offer: $200 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- $100 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $50 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt’s network of 50,000+ merchant partners.
Balance transfer fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation, and more.
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 – a value of $180.
- Complimentary DashPass membership, a $120 value for 12 months. Enjoy $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, plus exclusive Chase savings on grocery, everyday essentials, and more. Activate by 12/31/29.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
While opening a travel credit card for holiday travel could help you save or earn rewards, pay attention to annual fees and spending requirements. Additionally, be wary of carrying a balance: Doing so could outweigh any travel benefits you might receive.
Get travel insurance
Travel delays and cancellations aren’t uncommon during the holidays — high travel volumes and weather conditions can disrupt plans. Unexpected illnesses and accidents could also require you to change your plans.
If you don’t have travel insurance, you could end up spending more than you expected, or forfeiting non-refundable travel expenses. Even for domestic trips, travel insurance can come in handy.
Many top travel insurance brands offer coverage for mishaps ranging from airline delays to lost bags.
If you’re traveling with a family, one of our top picks is Allianz, which offers free coverage for children under 17 with each traveling parent or grandparent (not available to Pennsylvania residents).
Allianz Travel Insurance
Policy highlights
Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and a rental car plan. OneTrip Prime and Premier plans include coverage for one child 17 or younger when accompanying a covered adult.
Cancel For Any Reason coverage
Reimburses 80% of nonrefundable trip costs if you cancel at least 48 hours before departure.
Pre-existing condition waiver
Included if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial deposit
We also like Faye for its online-first experience and options like pet care coverage, which offers up to $250 for boarding if your return trip is delayed.
Faye Travel Insurance
Policy highlights
One single-trip plan with optional add-ons for pet care, adventure sports and damage to vacation rentals
Cancel For Any Reason coverage
Up to 75% reimbursement of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit.
Pre-existing condition waiver
Available if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
