Thanksgiving flight costs are up 31% and Christmas 23% as airlines cut seats and jet fuel hits $4.40 a gallon. Here is when to book and which days to avoid.
The holidays are where fare increases hit the hardest not just because of holiday costs, but also that many households only fly once or twice a year and cannot move their travel dates. I can’t recall ever seeing a jump that high for either holiday on a YoY basis.
There is also the Spirit factor. When Spirit stopped flying on May 2, I tracked what fares did on its routes, and the sustained increase settled in the 15% to 20% range. CNN’s holiday coverage of the Hopper numbers also credits Spirit’s exit (though a little late to the party compared to this author) and fewer low-cost options as a driver. Fewer seats, higher fuel, and one less discounter is a bad combination for anybody who has not booked yet for this holiday season but it also feels like some carriers might be getting greedy.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
