Week of Thanksgiving Emerges as Best Time to Score Cheap Flights to Europe, Experts Say

The week of Thanksgiving historically offers the cheapest transatlantic fares for travelers headed to Europe, industry experts and aggregated airfare data show, with booking windows closing as holiday-season demand rises.

Travel expert Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for Going, said Thanksgiving week consistently produces lower international fares because many travelers compete for domestic seats to visit family rather than for flights abroad. "When it comes to international travel, [Thanksgiving] has always been the sneakiest, best week to try to fit an international trip in before the end of the year," she said, adding that airfare remains volatile and good deals can disappear quickly.

Google research that analyzed four years of aggregated Google Flights prices found the lowest international fares often appear about 35 days before departure, and that prices to Europe tend to be lowest when booked 48 days or more in advance. Based on those patterns, advisers recommend booking European trips for Thanksgiving travel by early October to capture the deepest discounts.

Practical examples cited by advisers underscore the potential savings. Nastro pointed to a round-trip fare currently available from New York City to Barcelona for about $304 during Thanksgiving week, a price she described as roughly 60% below average. Fora travel adviser Amna Ismail said Spain and Portugal typically price particularly well in autumn, and noted that favorable weather in those countries makes them popular options late in the year.

Geographic proximity affects pricing. East Coast travelers generally have more nonstop options and can often find round-trip fares to Western Europe for under $400. West Coast travelers should expect higher baseline fares; Ismail estimated a typical Los Angeles-to-Europe fare in the $500–$700 range. Nastro suggested West Coast passengers consider low-cost carrier connections by flying first to Dublin or London to reach other European destinations more cheaply.

Timing travel also affects cost. Flying on Thanksgiving Day itself can result in notable savings, Nastro said, estimating reductions in the range of 13% to 26% compared with other days. For some Western Europe routings, departing the day before Thanksgiving can be efficient: overnight flights can deliver passengers on Thanksgiving Day without taking additional vacation time.

Advisers cautioned that airfare is unpredictable and that attractive fares require quick decisions. Nastro advised travelers to act fast when they spot a good price. Other trade-offs remain: lower fares do not eliminate the usual risks of travel, such as delays or missing luggage, which can affect overall trip cost and convenience.

The November window contrasts with typically higher prices for flights over the Christmas and New Year period, when international demand increases and carriers adjust capacity and pricing accordingly. For travelers seeking lower-cost transatlantic options in the final months of the year, industry data and advisers point to Thanksgiving-week departures booked within the recommended 35–48 day advance window as the most reliable opportunity for bargains.