Holiday Travel: Rising Airfares Push More Americans to Stay Home

Americans are increasingly skipping holiday travel as flight costs climb. NerdWallet’s 2026 Holiday Travel Report states that 31% of U.S. residents plan to forgo flights and hotels this year. This represents a 22% increase over the previous year. The shift occurs while travel expenses remain high.

Airline ticket prices have risen by 23.4% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet, noted that consumers absorbed price hikes last year but are now feeling the continued strain. She cited the end of Spirit Airlines as a major factor. French explained that the loss of a budget carrier removed competition, driving fares up across all airlines even for travelers who did not fly Spirit.

Other surveys confirm the trend. A joint survey by The Points Guy and YouGov found that 55% of respondents will not travel for the 2026 holidays. For those who plan to fly, high airfare is the primary concern. However, a substantial portion of Americans will still travel. NerdWallet data indicates 42% of U.S. residents will travel this holiday season. They expect to spend an average of $2,439 on flights and hotels, a figure similar to 2025 levels.

Parents with young children are less likely to stay home. About 62% of parents with children under 18 plan to spend money on holiday travel. Only 33% of non-parents share those plans. Despite higher spending, parents are seeking ways to save. Eighteen percent of parents said they would accept less convenient routes, such as late-night flights or poor connections, to lower costs. Only 8% of non-parents are willing to make similar trade-offs. Additionally, 26% of parents plan to use credit card points for holiday travel, compared to 14% of non-parents.