TPG-YouGov Survey Finds 48% of Holiday Fliers Prioritize Cost as Airfare Tops 2026 Concerns
Updated
Updated · The Points Guy · Oct 4
TPG-YouGov Survey Finds 48% of Holiday Fliers Prioritize Cost as Airfare Tops 2026 Concerns
1 articles · Updated · The Points Guy · Oct 4
Summary
48% of Americans planning holiday flights said cost is their top booking factor, making high airfare the leading concern in TPG-YouGov’s 2026 travel survey.
65% of travelers with holiday plans had not booked any part of their trips by Sept. 18-22, with 42% waiting for fares to fall and 34% still saving money.
39% cited high airfare as a key worry, while 37% pointed to crowded airports and another 37% feared delays or cancellations; 36% were concerned about weather disruptions.
63% still said paying more for convenience is worth it during the holidays, even as 70% prioritized price over a favorite airline and 71% did the same for hotel brands.
Average domestic fares tracked by Points Path had reached $675 for Christmas and $647 for Thanksgiving, and TPG said prices have been climbing for weeks with fuel costs still elevated.