Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian sees no sign that Americans are tiring of travel, and he thinks they are getting their money’s worth when they fly.
In the company’s September quarter earnings release on Oct. 9, 2026, Bastian said demand “remains strong, supported by consumers’ growing preference for experiences and travel,” and described air travel as “one of the best values in the consumer economy.”
Delta expects revenue to grow approximately 20% in the December quarter, according to the release, and projects a full-year pre-tax profit of roughly $4.5 billion while absorbing a $6 billion increase in fuel costs.
For travelers, the cost of getting there has climbed. Airline fares rose 23.4% over the 12 months ending in August 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall consumer prices rose 3.4% over the same period.
Whether a holiday ticket turns out to be a good value depends on what you pay and on what you can still change once you buy. Here are five ways to keep control of both.
1. Use the 24 hours after you click buy
Delta’s ticket change and refund page describes a 24-hour risk-free cancellation period for qualifying tickets that originate in the U.S. That window is the cheapest time to change your mind, whether you spot a lower fare the next morning or your family moves the holiday dinner to a different day.
If you are booking another airline, find its version of this window before you pay, and recheck the fare before the clock runs out.
2. Know what the cheapest fare costs to change
The lowest fare is not always the cheapest ticket for a trip that could shift. After the 24-hour period, Delta’s change table lists a change fee of $0 to $400, plus any difference in price, for Basic tickets, as of Oct. 12, 2026. Same-day changes are not permitted on those tickets.
If your plans depend on winter weather, your health or someone else’s schedule, weigh that possible cost against the price of a fare that is easier to change.
Higher cabins are not immune. Delta’s Basic fares in first class and Delta One skip advance seat selection. After Jan. 18, 2027, Basic Business tickets also lose lounge access unless a lounge membership or eligible credit card covers it, so read what a fare includes before you pay extra for the cabin.
3. Know when the airline owes you cash
If an airline cancels your flight or significantly changes it and you do not accept the alternative it offers, you are entitled to a refund, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
For a domestic flight, a significant change includes departing three or more hours earlier or arriving three or more hours later than scheduled. For an international flight, the threshold is six hours.
Airlines must issue those refunds without passengers having to ask, within seven business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods. An airline cannot substitute a voucher or travel credit for the cash you are owed unless you choose to accept it.
4. Price the whole trip, not just the seat
A cheaper flight that leaves at dawn from a farther airport can cost more once you add parking, an extra hotel night or a ride to the terminal. Add up checked bags, seat selection and ground transportation for each option before you decide which fare is the bargain.
Where you fly from matters too, and some airlines and airports offer deeper flight discounts than others.
5. Set a fare alert before the rush
Holiday fares do not move on a schedule anyone can promise, so let a price alert do the watching. Set alerts for a few date combinations, including flying on the holiday itself or a day or two to either side, and compare nearby airports.
When a fare fits your budget and the rules fit your plans, book it and lean on the 24-hour window if something better appears.
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