Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year, and New Year's Day on another. This guide looks at the cheapest days, the destinations that suit the festive break and how to fly from your local airport.
Christmas and New Year compress the busiest travel period of the winter into about two weeks, and airlines price accordingly. Flights to winter sun and ski destinations, and trips home to see family overseas, all peak at the same time.
The good news is that the pattern is predictable, and there are real savings in being a few days flexible. For detailed date advice on the most popular routes, see our guide to Christmas and New Year flights from the UK.
Christmas Day is a Friday, and New Year's Day is also a Friday. English schools typically break up on Friday 18 December and return on Tuesday 5 January, with Scottish schools breaking up a day or so later. That gives most families more than two weeks off.
The weekend before Christmas, from the 18th to 20th, is the busiest outbound period, and 26 to 28 December is busy for the return from family visits. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are often cheaper, with a similar pattern on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
On 24 and 25 December, most people are already where they want to be, so planes are emptier and airlines cut prices to fill them. Flights on Christmas morning can cost half as much as those on the 23rd, and airports are quiet, with short queues.
There are trade-offs. Public transport is limited, so you may need a taxi or a lift to the airport, and your first night will be spent in a hotel rather than at a family table. For some people the saving and the calm are worth it.
Flying on Christmas Day itself, or on Christmas Eve, can save a lot, since most travellers want to be at their destination by then. The same applies to New Year's Day, when flights are far quieter and lower priced than on the 30th and 31st.
For return journeys, the days after 29 December and the first few days of January are usually cheaper than the weekend of 27 and 28 December. Use a flexible-date calendar to see prices across the whole fortnight.
Hotels and tour operators often charge compulsory festive supplements for gala dinners on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, which can add £50 to £150 per person to the price. These are usually shown in the small print, so check before you book.
If you do not want the gala dinner, ask whether you can opt out, or pick a hotel that does not charge it. A lower headline price with a big supplement can cost more than a hotel that includes it.
The Canary Islands, Egypt, Dubai, Morocco and Cape Verde are the most popular sunshine destinations, and flights are plentiful from regional airports. Prices are at their highest in the festive weeks, and they drop sharply in January.
If you can wait until after 6 January, deals appear. Our guides to the Canary Islands, Dubai and Marrakech explain more.
Lapland day trips and short breaks from UK airports run in early to mid-December, with charter flights to Rovaniemi and nearby airports. Prices are high, and the packages often include accommodation, activities and Santa visits. They sell out early in the year.
If you want to go, book as early as you can, since the best dates sell out, and check what is included. A cheaper option is a mid-week trip in early December, or a winter break in Sweden, Norway or Iceland, where you can see snow without the Christmas premium.
If you prefer a wintry Christmas, the Alps, Lapland, Iceland and the Christmas markets of Germany, Poland and Finland are popular choices. Lapland packages sell out early and cost the most, and Christmas market breaks are cheapest in the first half of December.
Our guide to Christmas market flights explains how to find the best fares, and a short break before Christmas is much cheaper than flying in the festive week.
Decide what matters most: the exact dates, the destination or the price. You can usually have two of the three. If the dates are fixed, book early and be flexible about the airport and airline. If the price matters most, move the dates.
Write down your top choice and a backup before you search, and set a deadline for deciding. Festive fares seldom fall in December, so waiting rarely pays, and a decision made in October is cheaper than one made in November.
The Caribbean, Thailand, Florida, Mexico, Sri Lanka and the Gulf are popular long-haul festive choices, with the highest fares of the year. If you can fly in the first week of December or after 5 January, you will save a lot.
Package holidays can be better value, and ATOL protection gives peace of mind. Check what is included, and book early, since the best hotels and flights sell out months ahead.
Compare fares across the festive fortnight, or request a callback and we will do the comparing for you.
In the Canaries, Egypt and Morocco, festive weeks bring full hotels and higher prices, but also lively Christmas events and good weather. Hotels in the Canaries sell out first, and many require a minimum stay of seven nights.
Check what the festive supplement covers, since some hotels add a mandatory gala dinner charge. If you want a quiet beach holiday, consider the week after New Year, when resorts are calmer and cheaper.
A large share of festive travellers are flying to see family in Ireland, Poland, India, Pakistan, Australia, the Caribbean and elsewhere. For them, the dates are fixed, so booking early is the best strategy.
Check baggage allowances for gifts, and consider a flexible fare if plans might change. Our guide to the best time to book flights in 2026 explains how timing affects fares.
Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast all run strong programmes to winter sun and city destinations, and Jet2, TUI, easyJet and Ryanair fly from most of them.
Check your nearest two airports and compare the cost of getting there. A regional flight saves you a trip to London and a hotel night, and airports are often calmer than Heathrow or Gatwick at Christmas.
For the festive weeks, book as early as possible, and no later than September or early October. Fares rise through the autumn, and the cheapest seats sell out.
If you are flexible, set a price alert and look at the first week of December and the days after 5 January. Our guides to tracking fare drops and how far in advance to book international flights explain how.
Hundreds of thousands of people fly between Britain and Ireland for Christmas, and the days before 24 December are among the busiest of the year. Fares on Ryanair, Aer Lingus and easyJet can be several times higher than usual.
Book as early as possible, and consider the ferry as an alternative, particularly if you are travelling with a car or lots of luggage. Check the rules on ID, since airlines require photo ID, and many ask for a passport.
Packages with Jet2holidays, TUI and others can be good value in the festive period, with a bag, transfers and ATOL protection included. Flight-only can be cheaper for city breaks and visits to family.
Compare both, and check cancellation terms. Our holiday travel service and vacation packages service can compare options.
Fog, snow and ice can disrupt UK airports in December and January, and strikes sometimes affect flights and trains. Check the forecast, and keep an eye on your airline's app. Early flights are less likely to be affected.
If your flight is cancelled, rebook through the app straight away. Our guide to delay and cancellation rights explains what you can claim.
Trains and buses run reduced services on 25 and 26 December, and often not at all, so check before you travel. Driving is easier, but airport parking fills up and costs more, so book ahead.
If you have an early flight on Boxing Day, consider an airport hotel the night before. A taxi may be the only option, and it is wise to book it in advance.
Airports and planes are busy, and children get tired. Pack snacks, a tablet and a change of clothes, and keep presents for the destination. Check the airline's rules on pushchairs and car seats.
Arrive early, and choose a mid-morning or early afternoon flight if you can. A calm departure sets the tone for the holiday.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay is one of the world's famous New Year parties, with street events, concerts and fireworks. Hotels and flights into Edinburgh and Glasgow are expensive from 29 December to 2 January, and tickets for events sell out well in advance.
If you plan to go, book flights and hotels early, and check which events need tickets. The days after New Year are much cheaper, and Scotland is lovely in winter.
Check your passport is valid for at least three months after your return and less than ten years old for EU travel, and that it has the validity required by your destination outside the EU. Renewals can take weeks, particularly in autumn.
The EU's Entry/Exit System has been phasing in biometric checks, which can slow queues. ETIAS is planned, so check the latest information before you go.
Gifts are fine in your hand luggage, but wrap them after arriving, since security may open them. Liquids over 100 ml are not allowed in hand luggage, including drinks, creams and some foods.
If you are taking food to family abroad, check customs rules, since many countries restrict meat and dairy. Our guide to carry-on size rules explains the limits.
Cities like Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Prague, Reykjavik and Dubai are popular for New Year, and prices and hotels rise sharply on 30 and 31 December. Book as early as possible, and expect minimum stays.
If you want a quieter break, travel on New Year's Day or the first week of January, when prices drop and cities are calm. Flights on the 1st are much cheaper.
Festive trips cost more across the board, with hotel prices at their highest. Set a budget for the whole trip, and add transfers, tips and spending money.
A card with no foreign transaction fees saves money abroad, and booking restaurants early avoids disappointment. Compare the cost of a festive trip with a January trip, which is often half the price.
What goes wrong most is booking late, ignoring bag fees, forgetting that public transport stops on Christmas Day and choosing a very early flight with no way to get to the airport.
Other slips: not checking passport validity, taking a tight connection in winter and assuming the airport will be calm. A little planning helps.
Tell us your dates, destination ideas and which airport suits you, and a specialist can compare airlines, packages and flight-only prices, and find the best deal. We can also help with transfers and travel insurance.
Start with the live search below and compare a handful of dates before deciding. Spotted a good fare? We can check the small print on bags and changes for you before you commit.
Search the current fares, or ask us to compare days, airports and packages on your behalf.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are often cheapest, and the days after 29 December and early January are cheaper than the 27th and 28th.
English schools typically break up on Friday 18 December and return on Tuesday 5 January. Scottish dates vary slightly.
As early as possible, and no later than September or early October. Prices rise through the autumn.
The Canary Islands, Egypt, Dubai, Morocco and Cape Verde are popular, with the highest prices in the festive weeks.
Yes. Flights and hotels drop sharply after 5 January, and bargains appear for the rest of the month.
Usually not, and services are reduced on 26 December. Check before travelling and book a taxi or airport hotel if needed.
They can be, because they include bags, transfers and ATOL protection. Compare them with flight-only.
Probably. Most regional airports have strong festive programmes to winter sun and city destinations.
UK rules entitle you to care, rebooking or a refund, and compensation in some cases. Rebook through the airline's app and keep records.
Yes, but wrap them after arriving, since security may need to open them. Liquids over 100 ml are not allowed.
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