Holiday Private Jet Travel: When to Book and What to Know for 2026

There is no better way to travel for the holidays than by private jet. While it may be the ‘most wonderful time of the year,’ that surely wasn’t referring to the experience in most airports each holiday season. Flying by private jet for the holidays allows you to bypass all that holiday traffic and start your winter vacation from the moment you leave the house.

This guide offers practical advice on when to start planning for this year’s holiday season, which travel dates deserve extra attention and what to confirm before booking your charter. Whether your holiday plans are still taking shape or if you are ready to book, a Just Landed Jets aviation advisor can help you explore your charter options.

When did Just Landed Jets clients book their holiday travel last year?

A review of our 2025 holiday travel records shows some Just Landed Jets clients confirmed their Thanksgiving and Christmas-season flights as early as September. That said, the vast majority of clients booked closer to their departure date, with Thanksgiving bookings continuing through October and November and most Christmas and New Year’s bookings being finalized in December.

Our team arranged several holiday trips booked less than a week before departure as well, showing an advisor can still help you find the aircraft you need even when plans come together late.

Recommendation: Start the conversation about your holiday travel once you have a destination and approximate dates. You do not need every detail finalized for our team to start working on a quote. Sharing what you know, including your return plans and any flexibility, gives us time to explore suitable aircraft and work through the remaining decisions with you.

What are the busiest days for holiday private jet travel?

The busiest travel days in the private aviation world are generally the handful of days either before or after the holidays. Specifically, the three days after Thanksgiving and the three days before Christmas Eve.

The Friday through Sunday after Thanksgiving was Just Landed Jets’ busiest three-day travel window last year, and it likely will be again this year too. The Sunday after Thanksgiving was the busiest individual day in that period for our team. While the outbound flight often gets attention first, our experience is a useful reminder to think just as much about the flight home, as travel tends to concentrate on a handful of days.

Around Christmas, our busiest three-day stretch was December 21st to 23rd, as clients traveled in the days leading up to the holiday. Travel then continued every day between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, as clients tend to vary their travel dates after the holiday. This makes the first leg of your Christmas travel the one to prioritize, as availability is often tighter that it will be the following week.

Recommendation: Having flexibility about when you fly can help if aircraft ability is tight in a particular window, though having fixed dates isn’t a problem. If you can’t wiggle your travel window at all, you may need to be more flexible with other aspects of the trip, especially if you intent to travel during the peak holiday travel periods.

What should you plan for when flying privately in winter?

Private aviation allows you to avoid crowded commercial terminals, but winter weather can still affect your flight. Snow, ice and visibility may require a change in departure time or an alternative airport. If you are heading to a ski destination, ask your advisor about a backup airport and what that would mean for your ground transportation.

Your aircraft may also need deicing before departure to remove frost, snow or ice. This can add time and cost to the trip, so ask whether deicing is included in your quote or charged separately.

If you need to arrive for a particular event, share that with your advisor. Knowing which commitments cannot move helps our team discuss an appropriate schedule and alternatives before you travel.

Recommendation: If you are flying to a place that can be impacted by winter weather, particularly a skiing destination like Aspen or Jackson Hole, allow for some additional travel time. Safety is always the priority and that can lead to delays or flight detours if weather doesn’t cooperate. Your advisor will keep you in the loop if weather could impact your trip or alter your itinerary.

Three more tips for planning your holiday private jet charter

1. Describe your baggage before choosing the aircraft.​

Holiday trips often mean extra luggage, wrapped gifts or ski equipment. An aircraft with enough seats for your group may not have the right storage space for everything you are bringing. Share the number and approximate size of your bags, including oversized items, so your advisor can confirm a suitable aircraft before you book.

2. Compare nearby airports, not just departure times.​

If your preferred airport presents scheduling or operating limitations, another airport may be worth considering. Ask your advisor to compare the alternatives, including the drive to your final destination. For a winter resort trip, discuss a backup airport and ground transportation in case weather affects your original plan.

3. Leave room for what you’ll bring home.​

Your luggage may fit comfortably on the outbound flight, but holiday gifts and purchases can make the return a different story. If you expect to bring more home than you took, mention that when comparing aircraft. Your advisor can factor in extra baggage space from the start, rather than finding out on departure day that the additional bags or larger gifts will not fit.

Book your holiday private jet charter with Just Landed Jets

Tell us where you want to go, when you want to travel and who is coming with you. A Just Landed Jets aviation advisor will help you compare suitable aircraft and work through the arrangements for your trip, including your return flight. Contact our team today to request your holiday charter quote.​