by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 1:00 PM ET, Wed September 2, 2026
For savvy travelers, shoulder season (the time between peak and off-peak periods) has long been a favorite time to travel, thanks to better prices and fewer crowds.
And as climate change worsens, shoulder season generally offers another benefit: milder weather.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that shoulder season 2026 is shaping up to be a little bit different thanks to 8 consecutive months of airfare increases. As the U.S. Travel Association reported in August, airline ticket prices have risen every month of 2026, climbing about 19.9% since December and up 25.5% year over year as of July.
The good news is that shoulder-season deals are still available, according to the travel platform Going. There are just fewer of those deals than in past years.
To help globetrotters assess the travel landscape for shoulder season this year, Going has released a region-by-region breakdown of average round-trip flight prices for flights taking place now through December 21. Read on to find out where the bargains can be had.
Travel technology concept. (Photo Credit: oselote/Adobe)
Domestic flight prices for shoulder season 2026
Here are average round-trip airfare prices to domestic U.S. destinations for travel through December 21, based on Going’s sample of deals its members are seeing as of August 31. The prices below exclude peak Thanksgiving dates, Nov 21st-25th, for domestic USA flights.
Average ticket prices to the following destinations:
- Lower 48: $150–$400
- Hawaii: $400–$650
- Alaska: $400–$650
- Canada: $250–$500
International flight prices for shoulder season 2026
Similar to domestic prices, the airfares listed below are for travel through December 21, based on Going’s sample of deals its members are seeing as of August 31.
- Caribbean: $300–$500
- Central America/Mexico: $300–$500
- Northern South America: $300–$425
- Southern South America: $600–$800
- Europe: $600–$850
- Middle East/North Africa: $650–$850
- Sub-Saharan Africa: $850–$1,050
- East/Southeast Asia: $750–$950
- South Asia: $650–$850
- Australia/NZ/Oceania: $800–$950
Travel technology (Photo Credit: Tierney/Adobe Stock)
Tips for scoring a shoulder season deal in 2026
There are various tried and true travel hacks that can help you score an airfare deal. And in 2026, when prices are especially high and deals are harder to find, using these tactics is even more important. They include:
- Be flexible with dates, more than usual.
- Book trips of at least 7 days. Short trips get priced like business travel, and airlines know it.
- Reposition yourself. If you’re near enough to a major hub, take a drive, train, or short flight there to unlock more and cheaper fares.
- Stock up on points now. Award rates haven’t inflated at the same pace as cash fares for the holidays. A healthy points balance now pays off later. Watch for programs changing their redemption charts.
- Use the Greek Islands Trick. Cross the ocean as cheaply as possible, then take a short flight, train, drive, or ferry to your final destination.
- Set a Flight Alert if your dates are fixed. You can do this in the Going app. If you book a standard economy ticket or higher (not basic), you can often cancel for free and rebook at the lower fare.
- Adopt the deal first, destination second mindset. Let the price tell you where to go, not the other way around.
The historic district of Alfama in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/SeanPavonePhoto)
Destinations to watch for shoulder season deals
One last bit of intel courtesy of the experts at Going: some destinations will be more budget-friendly than others for shoulder season this year. That includes:
International: Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, the ABC islands, and Scandinavia are seeing shoulder season fare dips, according to Going. Japan and Southeast Asia are worth watching too, along with Mexico (outside of Día de Muertos).
Domestic: Hawaii, Florida, Phoenix, the Pacific Northwest, Atlanta, the Carolinas, and San Diego are showing softer prices.
Skip the ski towns and traditional hotspots. Jackson Hole and Aspen aren’t playing along right now.
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