WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 — Airfares in the United States remain at record highs, with average fares in July 2026 nearly 26% more expensive than in July 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fall prices are also surging, with airfares for autumn trending about 2% higher compared to summer prices, per Expedia’s fall travel outlook report, which noted that “summer demand has spilled into fall.” Average domestic roundtrip fares this autumn range from about $150 to $400, according to data from Going.
International routes show higher costs: flights to Europe are as high as $800 roundtrip, and airfares to the Caribbean reach up to $500. Going’s data indicates that international flights around Thanksgiving 2026 average $1,096 roundtrip, still cheaper than December’s average of $1,695.
Travelers seeking international deals should fly on Thanksgiving itself to save up to 25% and book by early October, per Going’s guidance. Where the deals live Going’s 2026 data identifies the best US airports for affordable departing flights. On the domestic side, Denver (DEN) leads with 150 deals averaging $219, followed by New Orleans (MSY) with 166 deals averaging $228 and Orlando (MCO) with 146 deals averaging $211. Other top domestic airports include Fort-Lauderdale (FLL), Los Angeles (LAX), Charleston (CHS), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Tampa (TPA), Portland (PDX), and Las Vegas (LAS).
For international deals, Boston (BOS) leads with 415 deals averaging $451 roundtrip, followed by New York (JFK) with 404 deals averaging $445, and Newark (EWR) with 333 deals averaging $450. Other top international airports include Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Orlando (MCO), Miami (MIA), Washington Dulles (IAD), and Austin (AUS). The airline and booking edge Going found that American Airlines offers the most domestic deals (646 so far in 2026), while United offers the most international deals (1,850 and counting).
Jennifer Yellin, managing editor of Points Path, advises that “flexibility is key—both with dates and destination—to find affordable flights this fall.” She also recommends using search tools like Google Flights to shift dates by a day or two for savings. Expedia and Going data indicate that Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are typically the most affordable days to fly. Travelers can also use frequent flier miles and credit card points, with tools like Points Path plugging into Google Flights to compare deals across loyalty programs.
