Visits and travel
When to Book Holiday Flights to See Your Long Distance Partner
If you want to visit your long distance partner for Thanksgiving or Christmas, start comparing realistic flights now rather than waiting automatically for Black Friday. Google’s October 2026 analysis points to October for Thanksgiving savings and late October through mid November for Christmas. Those are historical patterns for U.S. departures, not a guarantee for your route. Your dates, full trip cost and time together should decide the booking.
Lovla lets you turn a shared photo into a coloring page and color it together, even when you are apart.
Book a visit, not just a cheap seat
The lowest fare is not always the visit you want. Arriving after midnight, needing an expensive transfer and leaving before breakfast can turn a cheap ticket into a very short weekend. Start with the hours you can actually spend together.
Agree on two possible date windows and a total ceiling. Include bags, transport to both airports and any accommodation. If one person is doing all the traveling, discuss how to share the effort as well as the price.
What the latest flight analysis tells us
Google’s October 5 report uses five years of aggregated flight data. Thanksgiving fares reached their lowest average 34 days before departure, with a low range of 21 to 57 days. Christmas averaged 56 days, with a range of 33 to 67 days. These figures describe past pricing across trips, not a timer you should follow exactly.
For a fixed holiday visit, use the route specific price insights available in Google Flights. A historical average cannot tell you that tomorrow’s fare will beat today’s. The report is useful context for starting your search, not a reason to postpone a workable booking.
Make one small comparison sheet
Compare options you could genuinely take. Give each itinerary a row and write the complete return trip cost beside the useful hours together. This stops a low headline fare from winning before you see the rest of the journey.
| Question | Why it changes the decision |
|---|---|
| Can we shift either travel day? | A different day may change the fare and time off needed |
| Is another airport practical? | Transfers can erase the saving |
| What bags are included? | The fare shown may not cover your luggage |
| What happens if plans change? | Read the actual fare rules before paying |
| Does a connection cost us a day together? | Travel time belongs in the comparison too |
Set an alert with an actual decision attached
Google Flights can track specific routes and dates, or Any dates when you are flexible. Choose the stops and cabin you would accept before enabling tracking. An alert for a flight you cannot take does not help much.
Agree what you will do if a suitable fare appears. For example: “If this weekend fits under our full trip budget, we will check the airline’s final price together that evening.” That is more useful than refreshing a search every time you miss each other.
Should you wait for Black Friday flight deals?
Not by default. You do not yet know whether a promotion will include your dates, airports or fare type. A holiday ticket with acceptable timing and conditions can be worth booking without a sale label. If your plans are flexible, keep comparing, but set a date to make the decision.
This guide does not list live fares or claim one route is the most searched by couples. Your partner’s city is the relevant destination. Before paying, verify traveler names, dates, airport codes, entry requirements where applicable and the airline’s booking terms.
Make the weeks before the flight feel shared
Once the practical part is settled, choose one small thing to do together before you meet. Color a photo from the last visit in Lovla, or each write down the ordinary meal you want first. Keep the plan modest enough that it feels like anticipation, not an itinerary full of obligations.
The ticket gets you to the same place. Leave enough room in the visit to enjoy being there.
Make a little more time for us.
Lovla lets you turn a shared photo into a coloring page and color it together, even when you are apart.
Written by The Lovla Team. Find current product and access details on Lovla’s App Store page.