To the chagrin of budget travelers everywhere, airfares have continued to climb to new highs throughout 2026. In July 2026, for example, average airfares were nearly 26% more expensive than in July 2025, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics—a significant hit to travelers’ wallets. And unfortunately, due to a complex web of geopolitical and economic factors, prices aren’t expected to drop anytime soon.
Historically, fall is the time of year when airfares cool off, but this year, shoulder season deals are harder than ever to find. In fact, airfares for fall are trending about 2% higher compared to summer prices Average airfares this autumn for domestic flights range from about $150 to $400 roundtrip, according to data emailed from Going. On international routes, flights to Europe are as high as $800 roundtrip, and airfares to the Caribbean are reaching up to $500
However, while it might sound hopeless to try to scour booking sites for a good deal, rest assured there are tried-and-true strategies that travelers can use for finding reasonably priced fares through the end of the year. “Flexibility is key—both with dates and destination—to find affordable flights this fall,” says Jennifer Yellin, managing editor of Points Path, which shows travelers flight search results priced in points and miles.
Here are our top tips for unlocking affordable
Here are our top tips for unlocking affordable airfares through the end of the year. Target an airline and airport known for deals
Your choice of carrier, airport of origin, and destination can all play a major part in the final cost of your airfare. Aim to fly into or out of an airport that has a strong track record of offering affordable flights. Going analyzed its 2026 flight deal data to find the US airports that have offered the most affordable departing flights so far in 2026.
It found the best airports for cheap domestic flights were Denver (DEN), with 150 departing flight deals that cost an average of $219; New Orleans (MSY), which had 166 deals that were about $228; and Orlando (MCO), which offered 146 deals at an average of $211. Other top airports for domestic deals were Fort-Lauderdale (FLL), Los Angeles (LAX), Charleston (CHS), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Tampa (TPA), Portland (PDX), and Las Vegas (LAS).
The best US airports for international flight deals were Boston (BOS), with 415 deals at about $451 roundtrip; New York (JFK), which has seen 404 international deals so far this year at an average of $445; and Newark (EWR), which has had 333 international deals for about $450 each. Other top airports for international deals included Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Orlando (MCO), Miami (MIA), Washington Dulles (IAD), and Austin (AUS).
Departing from one of these airports can add
Departing from one of these airports can add up to significant savings. If it’s feasible, consider driving or taking a train to one of these to score discounted airfare for your next big trip. Some airlines offer a greater number of deals, too. Going found that American Airlines offers the most domestic deals (646 so far in 2026), and United offers the most international deals (1,850 and counting this year).
Looking to these carriers first could help uncover the most affordable fare quickly. Carefully time your trip
The timing of your vacation can make all the difference in finding affordable airfare. Shoulder season is traditionally an off-peak stretch with added savings for travelers, but with off-season deals shrinking, fliers need to get even more specific with timing. Specifically, consider pushing back your fall getaway as late on the calendar as possible, and just before hitting the start of the winter holidays.
“Summer demand has spilled into fall,” according to Expedia’s fall travel outlook report. Pushing trips later into October or the first week of November could be a sweet spot for fare savings. In most years, the week of Thanksgiving is usually a guaranteed window for international flight deals from the US because domestic travel soars at this time. But 2026 has put a bit of wrench in that convention, too.
International flights around Thanksgiving this year are averaging
International flights around Thanksgiving this year are averaging $1,096 roundtrip It’s still the more affordable window compared to December, when the average international fare swells up to $1,695. Travelers on the hunt for an international deal should plan to fly on the Thanksgiving holiday itself to save up to 25% and plan to book their flights by early October, per Going’s guidance
Using search tools that allow you to look over a stretch of several days to find the cheapest fare, like Google Flights, also helps. “You might find shifting your dates by a date or two in either direction can save you a significant amount of money,” Yellin says. As a general rule of thumb, Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays tend to be the most affordable days of the week to fly, according to data from Expedia and Going.
Leverage your points and miles
Put those hard-earned frequent flier miles and credit card points to work for you to unlock airfares. It’s possible to compare the best airfare deal across credit cards and loyalty programs if you use the right search tool. Points Path, for one, plugs into Google Flights to help travelers compare prices. The tool will “tell you if using cash or points is a better deal, without having to search multiple airline websites individually,” Yellin says.
Target your flight search to departure airports
Target your flight search to departure airports that regularly offer the greatest number of points and miles deals. In the US those include: New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Going says. Where to find specific deals this shoulder season
Going’s intel shows that a handful of destinations have a better chance of offering flight deals this fall.
For international trips “Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, the ABC islands, and Scandinavia are seeing nice shoulder season fare dips,” according to Anna LaBrie, Going’s senior PR manager. “Japan and Southeast Asia are worth watching too, along with Mexico, outside of Día de Muertos.”
On the domestic side, “Hawaii, Florida, Phoenix, the Pacific Northwest, Atlanta, the Carolinas, and San Diego are showing softer prices this fall,” LaBrie says, noting that travelers should avoid ski towns like Jackson Hole and Aspen, where airfares are beginning to spike.
Recent fall fare deals from Going include Boston to Madrid for $517 roundtrip—a 49% discount—and Los Angeles to Tokyo for $613 roundtrip, which is 48% cheaper than average. That’s encouraging evidence that there are good flight deals to uncover this fall, if you know the right tactics for finding them.
Source: www.cntraveler.com
