As international travel has surged over the past few summers, you may have seen the headlines: Barcelona locals are tired of the influx of tourists. Crowds of tourists are visiting Rome’s Trevi Fountain. Venice, Italy now imposes a tourist tax during peak periods.
If that’s enough to make you give up the crowds, heat, and high prices of a European summer vacation in exchange for autumn leaves and a little peace and quiet, you’re not alone.
Over the past few years, airlines have noticed ways (or more accurately, when) people are traveling.
Across the country, more travelers are foregoing trips in late July or August, instead choosing to wait until the summer heat completely subsides.
Fall, once a slow time on the travel calendar, has become a low-key peak season.
“We are heading to[to] “The shift from a less peak August peak to a peak October peak. That’s an interesting new development,” Delta President Glen Hauenstein said at an industry conference earlier this fall.
Is October the new August?
Numbers help tell a story.
Data from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration shows that passenger traffic at U.S. airports increased nearly 7% in the first 30 days of October compared with September.
In fact, in October this year, the airport only slightly Quieter than August, which historically is key to the peak of summer.
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This is despite the threat of flight delays during the government shutdown.
Several factors contributed to this shift.
School calendar adds time for summer travel
For several years, airlines have observed that schools across the country are starting earlier and earlier in August, leading more families to take advantage of the summer break before the Fourth of July.
This makes June and early July peak season for airports and tourist hotspots.
Avoid the crowds and higher prices
At the same time, travelers no Being tied to the academic calendar seems to have been the travel advice that has been heeded for years.
Instead of vacationing in the summer, they’re turning to the fall “shoulder season,” the typical best time for crowds and prices after summer and before the end-of-year holiday rush.
“Hotel prices are out of control in some of Europe’s top destinations and I think there’s quite a bit of fatigue around that,” said Paul Tumpowsky, chief revenue officer at Fora Travel.
“It turns out people … they’ve basically noticed, gosh, I can go to these places in September, October, and they’re much better — not as hot,” he added. “And there are far fewer people.”
Plus, fall is a time when airlines are more likely to offer cheaper fares and award offers.
Case in point: A recent bonus miles promotion from the Air France and KLM Flying Blue loyalty programs recently inspired TPG social media manager Annie Black to book a spontaneous Halloween weekend excursion to Ireland.
“When everything came together that I could go to Europe for a lot cheaper than I thought, I jumped at the opportunity,” Black said. “And, with the perfect fall weather there right now, it’s obviously an attraction.”
Airlines adjust flight plans for 2026
Airlines believe the fall holidays are just around the corner and are adjusting plans accordingly.
In the past, airlines have increased flights, aircraft and staffing throughout the summer to meet vacationer demand, then scaled back flights, aircraft and staffing in the fall once travelers return to work, school and regular schedules.
“We’ve been creating an ‘Easter Sunday church’ for June, July, August,” Hauenstein said in September. “This allows us to spread it a little wider as we go forward.”
Similarly, United Airlines executives said last month that they planned to end peak summer flights a week earlier, citing “more balanced demand levels for much of the year.”
That includes the late winter months, which airlines have seen since the COVID-19 pandemic as a more popular season for young people and empty-nesters traveling to mild-weather southern European destinations such as Portugal, Italy and Spain.
Add to that the simultaneous introduction of flights by airlines, especially United, to less touristy, more novel destinations like Greenland and Bari, Italy, and Tumpolsky thinks it’s clear that travelers are craving more novelty and fewer crowds.
“My general feeling is that the world is getting smaller and more crowded with tourists,” he said. “I think the idea of trying to spread globally is one thing. But also just spread throughout the calendar year.”
What this means for consumers booking travel
What do these changing travel habits mean for consumers?
If you’re vacationing in June or July, start now
June (and early July) remains the ultimate travel peak of the year, so you’ll want to book early.
In fact, many airlines and hotels are already open for bookings for summer 2026 if you’re looking to score competitive award deals.
Remember: In most cases, if you book an award flight and your plans later change, you can usually get a refund for your points or miles (as well as taxes and fees).
Reprice flights: What you need to know about canceling your trip when you find a cheaper fare
Plan your calendar accordingly
On the other hand, if you really want to travel during the summer but have some flexibility with dates, you can tailor your 2026 vacation request to a vacation in August (or even September after Labor Day).
In recent years, ticket prices have gotten better in late summer and early fall — before the October crowds return and the holidays.
Jumping on the fall trend? consider this option
Worried about traveling too late this fall? Tumpowsky offers his top picks for travelers with an eye on next fall.
“If you could be on the Amalfi Coast [in Italy] “The first week of October, you get excited,” he said. “It wasn’t crowded in the restaurant, there was no traffic, and the weather was perfect – 75 degrees.”
OTHER OPTIONS: 12 Best European Destinations for Fall Experiences
What about the holidays and winter?
For years, TPG has recommended flying internationally during Thanksgiving week, typically the most important week of the year Domestic Travel rush as a way to get cheaper fares and award redemptions.
It’s a technique that has taken senior editorial director Nick Ewen to France, Finland and Wales over the past decade while most Americans were sitting down to turkey dinners.
Evan’s next goal in 2026 is: Switzerland.
For his part, Tumpolski sees travelers looking abroad to explore new places and Save money; he points out that sometimes the full cost of skiing in the French Alps is better than a short trek to Colorado. The same applies to visiting Europe in December rather than the Caribbean.
“People’s thinking has shifted to, ‘Oh, I’m going to the Christmas markets. I’m going to London for Christmas,'” he said. “I think it’s easier to get up and move around these days. “
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