Travel Tips

Finding Cheap Tickets: Airline & Airfare Deals Scarce This Summer

Locations in this article:  Dallas, TX

Plane Art - Finding Cheap Airfares Despite ScarcityAirTran Airways is kicking off an otherwise lackluster summer airfare season today with a 24-hour sale offering low price fares to more than 3,000 routes.

These special low fares are available until midnight tonight and are good on travel from May 14 through June 16, 2010. Sale prices start at $44 for a one-way ticket or $88 round-trip.

AirTran’s 24-hour sale is one of very few opportunities this summer to land cheap airfare. As more travelers are returning to the sky in 2010, the prospects of finding cheap tickets and airfare discounts are slim to none.

Part of the reason for rising prices is pent-up demand, since consumers who opted out of traveling in 2009 because of the economy now have the resources to travel this summer.

Plane landing - Capacity cuts are widespreadHowever, the driving factor in the lack of airlines sales is that over the last half decade the airlines have been systematically pulling seats out of the domestic market, says Mark Koehler, Senior Vice President of Priceline.com.

“What we are seeing,” says Koehler, “is the improving business side and leisure side of travel colliding with decreased capacity.”

Previous airfare fire sales were driven by airlines scrambling to fill seats. Now that seat supply is more closely correlated to consumer demand, expect an increase in prices.

When airlines cut capacity, where do the excess planes go? Find out when a United Pilot Says Goodbye to the Boeing 747.

According to a Travelocity.com survey released last month, the average price for all domestic and international airline tickets rose from $415 last summer to $471 this year.

Airplane Sunset - Finding Scarce Travel DealsThe same survey discovered that consumers are going to pay an average of $360 for a domestic flight, a 9 percent increase from last summer.

The prices of international flights have been affected as well. Koehler says that over the last four to six weeks, Priceline has seen the prices of summer flights from large U.S. cities to desirable European destinations increase 15 to 20 percent over last year.

A few destinations such as Cancun, Mexico have declined over last year, but even then, only by one percentage point.

For those wanting to score a great deal despite the lack of sales and rising prices, here are a few key tips to follow.

Previously: Airlines Cut International Flights Amid Business Travel Slump

Sun & Plane - Finding Cheap Tickets This SummerTip 1: Be Ready to Pounce on Good Deals

The era of big sales is over. The summer sales we are going to see this year will be much more sporadic and short lived. Expect to see sales no longer two to three days in duration with limits to which days they are valid.

That means, when you see a deal that works for you- take advantage of it.

Tip 2: Buy on Tuesday nights or Wednesday mornings

Low-cost carriers such as AirTran Airways and Southwest Airlines usually announce airfare sales on Tuesday mornings, while competition from the legacy carriers usually results in them matching these discounts.

To find out more about the specifics of this issue, check out: The Best Day of the Week to Buy Cheap Plane Tickets.

Tip 3: Buy in Advance

For the best summer deals, shop two to three months in advance. Try not to buy later than one month out.

Plane Shadow - How to Find Cheap TicketsTip 4: Be Creative


Mark Koehler of Priceline.com says that being creative with your itinerary can get you the best price in airfare.

For example, midweek travel, especially on Tuesday or Wednesday, offers travelers the lowest fares. If you need to fly on more expensive days like Friday and Sunday, an early morning or a late night flight would be the most affordable.

Choosing flights with connections over non-stop flights is another way to save.

Koehler advises consumers to use the “Name Your Own Price” function at Priceline.com to find different options within your price range.

Those hoping for the return of big summer airfare deals, however, should not hold their breath.

“I think it will be a long time coming before it will be a common event again,” says Koehler.

By Adriana Padilla for Petergreenberg.com.

Related Links: BusinessWeek, Dallas Star-Telegram, DailyFinance.com

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