by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:35 PM ET, Tue October 13, 2026
Americans appear to be focused on scaling back spending this holiday season, and that includes travel spending.
NerdWallet’s 2026 Holiday Travel Report reveals that 31% of Americans plan to forgo things like flights and hotels this year. That’s a 22% increase over last year, and the news comes at a time when flight prices are especially steep.
The cost of an airline ticket is up 23.4% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. Several factors are driving that increase, including higher jet fuel costs, reduced flight capacity among carriers, and strong consumer demand.
The NerdWallet report is not the first to reveal that a growing number of Americans plan to stay home for the holidays. The Points Guy published a survey last week in conjunction with YouGov, which shared similar findings. A majority of TPG survey respondents (55%) said they were not planning on traveling for the holidays this year. Additionally, high airfare was cited as the number one concern among those who do plan to travel.
Still, not all Americans are staying put come Thanksgiving and Christmas. NerdWallet’s holiday report also found that 42% of Americans plan to travel this holiday season and will spend an average of $2,439 on flights and hotels. That figure hasn’t fluctuated much since 2025, when 45% indicated they planned to travel.
People with young children aren't letting prices hold them back for the 2026 holiday season. About 3 in 5 (62%) of parents with children under 18 will spend money on flights and hotels. Meanwhile, just 33% of Americans who are not parents have similar spending plans.
While many parents are willing to pay for flights and hotels for the holidays this year, they’re also looking for ways to cut costs. To that end, 18% said they would be okay with booking a less convenient route, such as a late-night flight or a bad connection rather than a direct flight, if it meant saving some cash. Only 8% of those without children in tow said they are willing to make similar sacrifices.
And one last revelation from the NerdWallet holiday report: Points are part of the holiday travel plan for 2026 (at least among cost-conscious parents). About 26% of those with children indicated they will use credit card points to pay for holiday travel, versus 14% of non-parents.
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