Thanksgiving Flights Need 32% More Miles This Year

Introduction

Thanksgiving is a big travel time in the United States. Many people fly home to see family. This year, those flights cost more in air miles. Air miles are points you earn from flying or from a credit card. You can use them to pay for a flight instead of cash. New data shows that Thanksgiving flights need 32% more miles than last year.

What Happened

Data from Seats.aero shows that Thanksgiving flights need 32% more miles than last year. Seats.aero is a website that tracks award flight prices. Award flights are flights you book with miles or points. The most expensive routes in miles are mostly flights to Hawaii. The cheapest trips are between nearby cities, such as Tulsa and Dallas. Airlines are charging more miles, but the cash price of these flights has not changed much. That means miles are now worth less for Thanksgiving trips.

Key Figures

• 32%: how much more in miles Thanksgiving flights need than last year
• About 31%: how much domestic Thanksgiving flights cost more in cash than last year, according to Hopper
• 23%: the average rise in airfares since oil prices surged earlier this year
• Monday, November 23: the cheapest day to fly out for Thanksgiving, according to The Points Guy
• Sunday after Thanksgiving: likely the most expensive and crowded day to fly home

Why It Happened

Three things are pushing prices up. First, there are not enough seats for all the people who want to fly. Second, demand is very high because Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year. Third, fuel is expensive, so it costs airlines more to fly each plane. Fuel is the gas that powers a plane. Airlines also know that many people must travel on fixed days, so they can charge more. The Midwest is seeing the biggest price jumps for Thanksgiving travel, according to The Points Guy.

Why It Matters

This news matters for anyone who saved miles for a holiday trip. Your miles may not go as far as they did last year. A trip that cost a set number of miles last year may now need almost a third more. Airlines are also raising other travel costs. JetBlue raised its bag fees for the third time in a year, which adds to the cost of a trip. Cash fares are also up. Domestic Thanksgiving flights cost about 31% more in cash than last year, according to booking app Hopper. So travelers are paying more whether they use miles or cash.

What Happens Next

If you have not booked yet, book soon. Prices often jump in the last weeks before Thanksgiving. The Points Guy says Monday, November 23 is the cheapest day to fly out. For the trip home, try to fly on Black Friday or the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The Sunday after Thanksgiving will likely be the most expensive and crowded day. In fact, the busiest day ever at U.S. airports was the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2025. New tools can also help you search. Expedia says AI helpers have not changed travel booking yet, but simple price alerts and flexible dates still help you find a better deal.

Final Thoughts

Thanksgiving travel is costly this year, in miles and in cash. A little planning can help a lot. Fly on a cheaper day if you can, and check both miles and cash prices before you book. You can read more stories like this on our Business News page.

Quick Questions

How many more miles do Thanksgiving flights need this year? They need 32% more miles than last year, based on Seats.aero data.

What is the cheapest day to fly out for Thanksgiving? Monday, November 23 is the cheapest day to fly out, according to The Points Guy.

What is the most expensive day to fly home? The Sunday after Thanksgiving is likely the most expensive and crowded day to fly home.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

Sources: CNBC and The Points Guy