Holiday airfare surges in 2026: How to find the best deals before it's too late Sean Cudahy for The Points Guy Oct 19, 2026 Oct 19, 2026 Updated Oct 19, 2026 0 Passengers walking quickly at an airport terminal. DC Studio // Shutterstock Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Sean Cudahy for The Points Guy kAmx7 J@FVG6 7=@H? @G6C E96 A2DE 76H >@?E9D[ J@FVC6 =:<6=J 2== E@@ 72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 724E E92E 7=J:?8 :? a_ae 4@DED 2 =@E >@C6 E92? :E 5:5 2 J62C 28@]k^AmkAm$:?46 E96 DE2CE @7 E96 H2C :? xC2?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^?6HD^DF>>6C\2:C72C6\DFC86\:?7=2E:@?\E:AD\3@@<:?8\7=:89EDQm8=@32= @:= AC:46D 92G6 DFC865k^2m[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52E2]3=D]8@G^E:>6D6C:6D^r&&#____$t%v_`n@FEAFE0G:6Hl52E2Qm2:C72C6D 92G6 C:D6?k^2m 3J 2? 2G6C286 @7 abT]k^Am kAmw@=:52J EC2G6= 46CE2:?=J H@?VE 36 DA2C65]k^Am People are also reading… Mount Pleasant woman wins $1.9 million jackpot on first try at online lottery game Cabarrus County receives $357K grant to preserve 88 acres of farmland Atrium Health, State Health Plan reach deal to keep hospitals in network for 2027 Overnight closures planned on U.S. 29 in Kannapolis Nov. 2-3 China Grove dance studio wins national honor at 2026 Industry Dance Awards Toilet paper, lumber and other necessities may cost more in NC. Here's why 3 customers burned after toxic chemical is mixed into margaritas at North Carolina Chili’s Concord plants 577 trees at city facilities in 2026 as part of canopy expansion Rowan-Cabarrus Community College makes case for $60M bond to expand South Campus NC joins federal lawsuit about deceptive pricing practices by Dollar General Feds seize 161 gallons of moonshine after explosion and fire in Wilkes County Will North Carolina have a cold, snowy winter? Here's what NOAA predicts Greater Cabarrus Foundation president and CEO to step down at end of 2026 Cabarrus County's Touch-a-Truck returns Halloween with vehicles, candy and helicopter Clocks change this weekend. Here's why we have daylight saving time to begin with kAms@>6DE:4 %92?<D8:G:?8 7=:89ED 2C6 FA 23@FE b`T 7C@> =2DE J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C646?E 7@C642DE 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>65:2]9@AA6C]4@>^C6D62C49^a_ae\9@=:52J\EC2G6=\:?56IQm3@@<:?8 2AA w@AA6Ck^2m]k^AmkAmx7 J@FVC6 9@A:?8 E@ 7=J 7@C r9C:DE>2D 2?5 }6H *62CVD[ J@FV== A2J — @? 2G6C286 — 23@FE abT >@C6 E92? =2DE 9@=:52J D62D@?]k^AmkAm(:E9 =6DD E92? 2 76H H66<D E@ 8@ F?E:= %92?<D8:G:?8[ 2:C=:?6D 2C6k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^?6HD^56=E2\2:C\=:?6D\46@\2:C72C6\32C82:?\56DA:E6\AC:46\9:<6D^Qm @776C:?8 4@?DF>6CD =:EE=6 9@A6k^2m E92E 2 5C@A :? AC:46D :D @? E96 9@C:K@?]k^Am kAmQ%96 72C6D H:== 36 2 7F?4E:@? @7 H92E E96 >2C<6E 362CD[Q s6=E2 p:C {:?6D rt~ t5 q2DE:2? D2:5 :? 2 C646?E :?E6CG:6Hk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4?34]4@>^G:56@^a_ae^`_^_h^56=E2\2:C\=:?6D\46@\65\32DE:2?\@?\Bb\C6DF=ED\H6\>2:?E2:?65\@FC\@G6C2==\=6G6=\@7\AC@7:E23:=:EJ]9E>=Qm @? r}qrk^2m] Q(6VC6 ?@E D66:?8 2?J D=@H5@H? 2E 2== — @FC 4@?DF>6C :D C6D:=:6?E]Qk^Am kAmq6=@H[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>Qm%96 !@:?ED vFJk^2m 6IA=2:?D 9@H E@ 7:?5 E96 36DE 562=D 7@C 9@=:52J 2:C72C6]k^Amk9bmu=:89E AC:46D C6>2:? 9:89k^9bm kAm%C2G6=:?8 5FC:?8 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^?6HD^9@H\62C=J\D9@F=5\J@F\3@@<\9@=:52J\7=:89EDQma_ae 9@=:52J D62D@? H:== 4@DE 4FDE@>6CDk^2m >@C6]k^AmkAmu2C6D 2C6 :?5665 FA[ D92CA=J[ 7C@> =2DE J62C]k^AmkAm%96 @?6 3:E @7 8@@5 — @C 2E =62DE =F<6H2C> — ?6HDn %96C6 92D ?@E 366? 2 >2;@C 2FEF>? DFC86 :? E:4<6E AC:46D] !C:46D 92G6 C6>2:?65 9:89[ 3FE 72:C=J 4@?D:DE6?E[ D:?46 pF8FDE[ H96? %!v DE2CE65 4=@D6=J EC24<:?8 9@=:52J 72C6D H:E9 E96 96=A @7 !@:?ED !2E9 AC@AC:6E2CJ 52E2]k^Am kAmw@H6G6C[ J@F D9@F=5?VE H2:E 2?J =@?86C E@ 3@@< 9@=:52J 7=:89ED[ 2D 6249 52J J@F H2:E :?4C62D6D E96 C:D< @7 2 3:8 AC:46 ;F>A]k^AmkAm{2DE J62C[ 3@E9 42D9 2?5 2H2C5 AC:46D DFC865 :? E96 7:?2= H66<D =625:?8 FA E@ E96 9@=:52JD]k^Am kAm$@ H92E D9@F=5 J@F 5@ :7 J@FVG6 H2:E65 F?E:= ?@H E@ 3@@< J@FC 9@=:52J 86E2H2Jn w6C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 J@FC 36DE @AE:@?D]k^Amk9bm(96? E@ 3@@< 9@=:52J 7=:89ED :? a_aek^9bm kAmq@@< 2D D@@? 2D A@DD:3=6[ 3FE =62G6 J@FCD6=7 D@>6 H:88=6 C@@> :? 42D6 J@F 86E =F4<J 2?5 E96 72C6 =2E6C 5C@AD]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m(92E E@ 5@ :7 E96 AC:46 5C@AD 27E6C J@F 3@@<k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm|@DE >2;@C 42CC:6CD 2==@H J@F E@ 492?86 J@FC E:4<6E 27E6C 3@@<:?8] *@F >2J 36 23=6 E@ 42?46= J@FC C6D6CG2E:@? 2?5 C63@@< J@FCD6=7 H:E9@FE A2J:?8 255:E:@?2= 766D]k^AmkAm%@ =62G6 J@FCD6=7 E9:D 7=6I:3:=:EJ[ ;FDE 36 DFC6 E@k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^2:C=:?6^2:C=:?6D\32D:4\3FD:?6DD\AC6>:F>\72C6D^Qm 2G@:5 Q32D:4Q 72C6Dk^2m E92E 32C J@F 7C@> >2<:?8 :E:?6C2CJ 492?86D @C 42?46=:?8 J@FC 7=:89E[ A6?2=EJ\7C66]k^Am kAm%96C6 2C6 2=D@k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^?6HD^72C6\EC24<:?8\E@@=D^Qm ?6H px E@@=Dk^2m E92E 42? 96=A J@F EC24< 72C6 AC:46D 52JD @C H66<D 27E6C J@F AFC492D6 J@FC E:4<6E]k^Am k9bm(96? E@ 7=J 2E %92?<D8:G:?8k^9bmkAm%9:D J62C[ |@?52J[ }@G] ab[ :D E96 4962A6DE 52J E@ 56A2CE 7@C %92?<D8:G:?8 EC2G6=[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 52E2 7C@> !@:?ED !2E9]k^Am kAmx7 J@FC A=2?D 2==@H[ 86EE:?8 2? 62C=J DE2CE @? J@FC %92?<D8:G:?8 EC2G6= :D E96 36DE H2J E@ D2G6 @? 7=:89ED]k^Am kAmr@>:?8 9@>6[ 2:> E@ 7=J 324< @? q=24< uC:52J @C H2:E F?E:= E96 7@==@H:?8 %F6D52J]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m%96 H@CDE 52J E@ 7=J 27E6C %92?<D8:G:?8k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm%96 $F?52J 27E6C %92?<D8:G:?8 H:== =:<6=J 36 E96 >@DE 6IA6?D:G6 2?5 4C@H565 52J 2E 2:CA@CED] u=:89ED @? $F?52J[ }@G] ah[ 2C6 CF??:?8 C@F89=J c_T >@C6 6IA6?D:G6 E92? @? q=24< uC:52J[ A6C !@:?ED !2E9]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8muF? 724Eik^DEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^?6HD^E92?<D8:G:?8\EC2G6=\a_ad\D6ED\C64@C5D^QmkDEC@?8m k^DEC@?8m%96 3FD:6DE 52J 6G6C 2E &]$] 2:CA@CEDk^2m H2D E96 $F?52J 27E6C %92?<D8:G:?8 :? a_ad]k^Am kAm~? E96 7=:A D:56[ %92?<D8:G:?8 s2J H2D E96 D:?8=6 BF:6E6DE 52J 2:CA@CED D2H =2DE J62C]k^Amk9bm(96? E@ 7=J 2E r9C:DE>2D 2?5 }6H *62CVDk^9bmkAm%96 H66<6?5D 367@C6 2?5 27E6C r9C:DE>2D[ 2=@?8 H:E9 $F?52J[ y2?] b[ D66> E@ 36 E96 >@DE 6IA6?D:G6 52JD E@ 7=J 7@C E96 J62C\6?5 9@=:52JD[ A6C !@:?ED !2E9]k^AmkAm%@ 7:?5 E96 =@H6DE AC:46D[ D62C49 AC:46D 7@C E96 H66<52JD 367@C6 2?5 27E6C r9C:DE>2D]k^Am k9bm(9:49 &]$] C68:@?D 2C6 9:E E96 92C56DEnk^9bmkAmr@>A2C65 E@ =2DE J62C[ E96 |:5H6DE :D D66:?8 E96 =2C86DE AC:46 :?4C62D6D 7@C %92?<D8:G:?8 EC2G6=[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 7=:89E 562=D 2AA v@:?8] pE r9C:DE>2D[ 7=J6CD EC2G6=:?8 E@ 2?5 7C@> E96 }@CE962DE 2C6 6IA6C:6?4:?8 E96 >@DE DE:4<6C D9@4<]k^Amk9bmr2DE 2 H:56 ?6E H96? J@F D62C49 9@=:52J 7=:89EDk^9bmkAm&D6 D:E6D =:<6 v@@8=6 u=:89ED @C z2J2< E@ D62C49 7=:89E AC:46D 24C@DD 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 2:C=:?6D[ 52E6D 2?5 2:CA@CED]k^Am kAmr2DE:?8 E96 H:56DE ?6E A@D:E:@?D J@F E@ 7:?5 E96 36DE 562=D] p=D@[ J@F 42? FD6k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^=@J2=EJ\AC@8C2>D^>2I:>:K:?8\A@:?ED\C656>AE:@?D\EC2G6=^Qm 2H2C5 D62C49 E@@=Dk^2m E@ C6566> A@:?ED 7@C J@FC 9@=:52J 7=:89E]k^Am k9bmq6 2D 7=6I:3=6 2D J@F 42?k^9bmkAm*6D[ 72>:=J 9@=:52J 82E96C:?8D[ !%~ 2?5 D49@@= D4965F=6D >2<6 E9:D 62D:6C D2:5 E92? 5@?6]k^AmkAmw@H6G6C[ :7 J@F 42? 36 7=6I:3=6 @? H96? — 2?5 6G6? H96C6 — J@F EC2G6=[ E96 36EE6C J@FC 492?46D 2C6 2E 7:?5:?8 277@C523=6 2:C72C6]k^Am kAm(96? A@DD:3=6[ 2G@:5 9@?:?8 :? @? 2 56DE:?2E:@?[ 2?5 C6G6CD6 E96 EJA:42= EC:A\A=2??:?8 AC@46DDik^Am kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ66cgfgff5423_5bfg`g65ch6b7ggecd3`Qmr964< @FE 72C6D E@ 2 3F?49 @7 5:776C6?E 56DE:?2E:@?Dk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6ag7fe3e7e7b64_a42h`5dcca`hf5g7abQmu:?5 E96 56DE:?2E:@? E92E 7:ED J@FC 3F586Ek^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ65gdh2a4e77cfd26a_ah`h_2bb6g4aa47Qmv@ E96C6k^=:mk^F=m k9bmq@@< H:E9 2 4C65:E 42C5 E92E 92D EC2G6= :?DFC2?46 W6DA64:2==J :? a_aeXk^9bm kAmp:C=:?6D EJA:42==J H@?VE A2J 7@C J@FC 9@E6= W@C E2I:[ @C >62=DX :7 J@F 86E DEC2?565 3642FD6 @7 325 H62E96C]k^AmkAmp:C=:?6D >2J ?@E 36 @? E96 9@@< H96? >6492?:42= 56=2JD 92AA6?[ 6:E96C[ 5F6 E@k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^?6HD^2:C=:?6\>2:?E6?2?46\56=2J\42?46==2E:@?\4@>A6?D2E:@?\492?86D^Qm ?6H 7656C2= C68F=2E:@?D E2<:?8 67764Ek^2m :? ~4E@36C]k^AmkAm*@FC 36DE 36E E@ AC@E64E J@FC H2==6Ei q@@< J@FC EC:A H:E9 2k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^EC2G6=\:?DFC2?46Qm 4C65:E 42C5 E92E 92D 3F:=E\:? EC2G6= AC@E64E:@?Dk^2m] x7 J@F 86E DEF4<[ J@F >2J 36 23=6 E@ 7:=6 2 4=2:> 2?5 86E 9F?5C65D @7 5@==2CD :? 6IA6?D6D C6G6CD65]k^Am kAm%9:D :D 2? 6DA64:2==J :>A@CE2?E C6>:?56C 2D 7=:89E 42?46==2E:@?Dk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^2:C=:?6^7=:89E\42?46==2E:@?D\DFC86\H@CDE\2:CA@CED\E:AD\7=J:?8^Qm 9:E 2 7@FC\J62C 9:89 :? a_ae]k^2mk^Amk9bm&D6 6IA:C:?8 4C65:ED[ 7C663:6D 2?5 A6C<D 367@C6 E96 6?5 @7 E96 J62Ck^9bm kAm%9@D6 72>:=J 9@=:52J 86E2H2JD H96? DF:E42D6D 2C6 7F== @7 H:?E6C 4=@E96D W2?5 >2J36 D@>6 8:7EDX 2C6 H96? 2? 2:C=:?6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^4C65:E\42C5D\H:E9\7C66\4964<65\3288286Qm4C65:E 42C5 E92E @776CD 7C66 4964<65 328Dk^2m 2D 2 36?67:E C62==J A2JD 7@C :ED6=7[ 2?5 42? 96=A J@F D2G6 >@?6J]k^Am kAm!=FD[ E2<6 :?G6?E@CJ @7 2?J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^3:2??F2=\4C65:E\42C5\DE2E6>6?E\4C65:EDQm6IA:C:?8 9@E6= 2?5 EC2G6= 4C65:EDk^2m J@F >:89E 92G6 :? J@FC 244@F?ED[ D@ J@F 5@?VE =62G6 E92E >@?6J @? E96 E23=6]k^Am k9bm(92E 23@FE FD:?8 A@:?ED E@ 3@@< 7=:89EDnk^9bmkAmq@@<:?8 7=:89ED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^=@J2=EJ\AC@8C2>D^>@?E9=J\G2=F2E:@?D^QmH:E9 A@:?EDk^2m :D[ @7 4@FCD6[ 2 8C62E H2J E@ 4FE J@FC @FE\@7\A@4<6E 6IA6?D6D 7@C E92E 6?5\@7\J62C EC:A]k^Am kAmyFDE 36 42C67F=i pH2C5 AC:46D :? >@DE >2;@C &]$] =@J2=EJ AC@8C2>D 92G6 DA:<65 7@C 9@=:52J 7=:89ED[ E@@[ D:?46 >2?J 2:C=:?6D ?@H FD6 5J?2>:4 AC:4:?8]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>^?6HD^3@@<:?8\9@=:52J\2:C72C6\a_ae^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2mk6>m H2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96A@:?ED8FJ]4@>Qmk6>m%96 !@:?ED vFJk^6>mk^2mk6>m 2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am 0 Comments Originally published on thepointsguy.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Top 10 trending travel destinations for 2027 Expedia reports that travelers are leaning towards off-the-beaten-path destinations for 2027, with interest surging in places like South Lake … Dropping Lake Powell water levels fuel debate over dam It’s impeding visitors’ access to the region, including national landmarks and for fishing and houseboat adventures. 100 years of Route 66: The movies, music and oddities that made it special ANAHEIM, Calif. — On a desolate highway in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a 50-foot-tall neon sign that reads “Roy’s Motel Cafe” glows in th… New lodging per diem rates for work travel are out. These cities stretch them furthest Engine reports new federal per diem rates for lodging took effect on Oct. 1, 2026, with Aurora, CO seeing 96% of hotel rates under the cap. 5 travel-planning tips for Gen Z to make the most of a vacation budget EF Ultimate Break reports on five travel-planning tips for Gen Z to effectively budget for trips, emphasizing the importance of comparing incl…
Top 10 trending travel destinations for 2027 Expedia reports that travelers are leaning towards off-the-beaten-path destinations for 2027, with interest surging in places like South Lake …
Dropping Lake Powell water levels fuel debate over dam It’s impeding visitors’ access to the region, including national landmarks and for fishing and houseboat adventures.
100 years of Route 66: The movies, music and oddities that made it special ANAHEIM, Calif. — On a desolate highway in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a 50-foot-tall neon sign that reads “Roy’s Motel Cafe” glows in th…
New lodging per diem rates for work travel are out. These cities stretch them furthest Engine reports new federal per diem rates for lodging took effect on Oct. 1, 2026, with Aurora, CO seeing 96% of hotel rates under the cap.
5 travel-planning tips for Gen Z to make the most of a vacation budget EF Ultimate Break reports on five travel-planning tips for Gen Z to effectively budget for trips, emphasizing the importance of comparing incl…
