How to save money on flights as airlines raise prices

It’s become harder for budget-conscious travelers to escape rising airfare costs in recent weeks.

Airlines are increasing baggage fees, adding fuel surcharges and shortening flight schedules to manage the effects of the Iran war.

Average economy round-trip international flight fares rose from $774 on February 23, before the war began, to $998 as of March 30. Data from Kayaka travel search engine. Average domestic fares increased from $336 to $350.

Airlines have raised prices to consumers to offset the high cost of jet fuel, one of the biggest costs, travel experts say.

Before the two-week ceasefire announced late Tuesday, Iran had effectively blocked traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Jet fuel prices have nearly doubled since the start of the Iran war, from $2.50 per gallon on Feb. 27 to $4.81 per gallon on Tuesday. Argus Media jet fuel price index.

If jet fuel prices remain high all year (roughly $2 per gallon higher than before the war), airline tickets would have to rise by about $50 for every one-way fare, or about 17%, Deutsche Bank analysts wrote in a report Tuesday.

“The most notable response to the increase in jet fuel prices has been fare increases (and fuel surcharges in international markets),” they wrote.

Like US carriers Delta Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, Southwest Airlines And United Airlines recently increased fees for baggage checking.

Some airlines have also announced that they will cut flights that have become temporarily unprofitable due to high fuel prices. United CEO Scott Kirby said the airline would shorten off-peak flight schedulesspecifically on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the second and third quarters of this year.

While flights will still be available on those days, shortening the schedule means there will be greater demand and higher prices for a smaller number of seats, experts said.

“This is going to have a big impact on price-sensitive travelers,” said Katy Nastro, a travel expert at travel deals site Going, since flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and other off-peak hours is generally a reliable way to get cheaper tickets.

Oil prices fell after the ceasefire announcement on Wednesday, but analysts said airfares and ancillary fees are unlikely to return to normal quickly even if the ceasefire holds. They said higher fares could be particularly sticky, especially if travel demand doesn’t decline.

If that’s the case, don’t worry: Experts say there may still be ways for budget-conscious travelers to find affordable prices on flights.

“The playbook hasn’t gone completely out the window,” Nastro said. “Travelers still have some options.”

Lock it at a good price

The lowest prices for domestic flights are typically 23 to 51 days before departure. accordingly Google Flights. Those for international flights are typically 49 days or more before departure.

Airfares tend to increase steadily beyond these milestones as the flight day approaches.

But Nastro said plane tickets are often unstable, and that’s especially true these days. Given this dynamic, travelers are less likely to snag last-minute deals, he said.

Travelers who see a price that fits their budget would be wise to embrace it, Nastro said.

“The only predictable thing you can do is lock in that affordable flight today,” he said.

Consider a single ticket instead of a round-trip ticket

“Many people think it is cheaper to buy round-trip flights together, but sometimes finding the cheapest flights involves buying two one-way tickets,” Lourdes Losada, director of the Americas at travel search engine Skyscanner, said in an email.

For example, a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas might cost $50. But Losada said a one-way flight to Las Vegas and a one-way return flight to Los Angeles could cost $20 each, a savings of 20%.

Flexibility could be a ‘superpower’

Experts say flexibility is often a traveler’s best friend.

This flexibility generally means being strategic about when and where you fly, and this can take many forms, they said:

• Travel days and dates: Despite some airlines’ shortened flight schedules, Nastro said passengers will likely see reasonable prices for flights on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sundays tend to be among the most expensive days, he said. Similarly, try to avoid the busiest times of the year to travel and look for opportunities to travel during off-peak or off-peak seasons. Nastro said those hoping to go on a summer vacation generally avoid traveling in July, perhaps choosing the less busy mid-June or late August instead.

• Alternative destinations: Losada said flexibility with travel destination is “key” to finding the best flight deals. “It allows you to take advantage of discounts and explore places you might not otherwise consider,” he said. For example, travelers might try Lyon or Marseille instead of Paris for affordable French culture; or Eindhoven or Rotterdam instead of Amsterdam in the Netherlands; Losada said Japan has Fukuoka or Sapporo instead of Tokyo.

• AirlineNastro said being flexible rather than pledging allegiance to an airline can help passengers find better plane tickets. “For someone traveling on a budget, if you’re not tied to an airline, that will be your superpower,” he said.

Take advantage of search engines that allow you to compare prices on different days and in various destinations, experts advise.

Consider a staycation

Experts said adding a layover instead of flying non-stop to a destination is a reliable way to save money. Doing this saves an average of 22% on flyers, according to Google Flights data.

Of course, travelers need to weigh the risks and opportunity costs of doing this.

This year has already seen severe travel disruptions and thousands of delayed and canceled flights due to events such as the Iran war, cartel violence in Mexico and the US military operation in Venezuela.

Experts said that if passengers are accommodated, disruptions could disrupt the entire route.

Some kind of economy fare might be better

Perhaps counterintuitively, booking “main economy” rather than the often cheaper “basic economy” can save you money in the long run, Nastro said.

But this is a gamble in a way.

Nastro said if prices drop after a traveler purchases their ticket, passengers with mainstream economy fares can take advantage of the ability to change their tickets. In this case, he said, passengers can reprice their tickets for a lower fare, usually with the airline providing a credit for the difference so the traveler can use the ticket within a year.

For example, if a $250 flight later drops by $50, the passenger can call and reprice the price to $200 and use that $50 for future flights, he said.

“So you get the ‘cash’ back even though it could only be paid through the airline,” he wrote in an email. “There’s no limit to how many times you can do this… if the price drops again you can still take advantage, but the airlines aren’t announcing it.”

You can find deals elsewhere

NerdWallet travel expert Sally French said many airlines are “struggling with fuel prices” and feel the need to raise their prices, but other important aspects of the itinerary, such as tours and hotels, may present opportunities for consumer demand.

“We are seeing more and more crazy deals targeting US travelers for US travel,” French said. “I see the best opportunities this summer since Covid.”

For example, he pointed out something final offer In Las Vegas, where MGM Resorts International charges $330 plus tax for a two-night all-inclusive stay at the Luxor Hotel & Casino or Excalibur Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip — a city it says is famous for “penny-and-dime” travelers. The deal could normally cost more than $900, French said.

“I think this was Vegas saying, ‘Yeah, we need to let people in,'” French said.