
Dynamic pricing models and rising fuel costs drive up the price of award tickets for holiday travel.
AI-generated summary
Airlines have shifted from static mileage charts to dynamic pricing models based on demand. Jet fuel prices have increased following regional tensions in the Middle East.
Airline ticket prices have surged this year, especially for travel over the holidays. Don't expect many bargains if you're booking flights with miles, either.
Tickets bought with frequent flyer miles for flights between large U.S. airports over the Thanksgiving travel period will cost 32% more than last year's holiday, according to data from Seats.aero, a miles and points redemption search site. While fares have skyrocketed this year, airline executives last month said demand remains strong.
Airlines have largely gotten rid of static mileage redemption charts in favor of dynamic pricing, making budgeting for an award ticket more difficult. Dynamic pricing means redemption costs change depending on demand, routes and other factors.
Many of the most expensive routes this Thanksgiving are understandably longer, including from Hawaii, but the list also includes a nonstop from New York to Houston.
Here's how mileage redemptions for the holiday are stacking up, based on one-way flights on average as of early November and compared with last year:
Jet fuel prices have surged since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, which has eaten into airline profits. Carriers have sought to pass costs along to consumers as much as possible.
Even some of the cheapest routes for award tickets are more expensive than last year, including for short routes like Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Here are the routes where award trips are cheapest on average and how they compare with the Thanksgiving holiday last year:

Binance CFO Kaiser Ng is leaving after more than five years to pursue a new venture, with Justin Yek replacing him. The departure follows a $6.3 billion hack attributed to North Korea's TraderTraitor, after which Binance froze withdrawals and users pulled a net $3.6 billion in the first hours post-unfreeze.

Immersive tech company Cosm is expanding its theatrical offerings through partnerships with studios like Warner Bros. and Universal, leveraging its domed, large-format screens to provide elevated viewing experiences for classic films alongside its live sports programming.

AI shares show recovery after a $2 trillion loss, as investors react to election results restricting data center development. Analysts warn of potential market bubbles and systemic risks linked to the circular investment patterns of major AI firms.

Tesla will wind down production of the Cybertruck by mid-2026 due to insufficient demand, manufacturing challenges, and a series of recalls. The vehicle, known for its divisive design, will cease manufacturing at the company's Texas gigafactory.

Sequoia announced a broad overhaul including closing its London office and ending its scout program, a model it pioneered 17 years ago. Rival Andreessen Horowitz has revamped its own scout network, while former Sequoia scout Roxanne Varza said the program helped mature Europe's early-stage investment landscape but may have run its course.

Crusoe, an eight-year-old Denver-based data center developer valued at $30.9 billion, confirmed Friday it sold an unfinished data center project in southeastern Wyoming to Google. Google will invest $17 billion to develop the campus after reportedly raising concerns about cost and construction timeline under Crusoe's management. Crusoe is also developing another data center for Google near Amarillo, Texas.