It’s official, summer airfare is going up. It’s a seasonal issue that we see every year, but this year there are some other factors in place. Airfare has already risen three times this year, and it’s expected to jump another 3 percent this summer.
The major contributor is decreased capacity. Couple that with increased demand for travel in the summer, and airfare has nowhere to go but up.
There’s also the issue of rising taxes and fees. England, for example, has an Air Passenger Duty tax that recently went up 8 percent. That can add on as much as 92 pounds—or almost $150—to your outbound ticket.
And here in the U.S., those a la carte fees just keep coming. There’s even the ultimate offense…Allegiant Air is following in the footsteps of Spirit and charging between $10 and $30 for carry-on luggage!
Of course, everyone is keeping their eye on potential mergers as another factor in increased fares. But but don’t expect a merger to take place anytime soon.
In the meantime, employ all the money-saving tricks. Book your summer tickets at least 45 to 60 days in advance, and plan to fly midweek. Aim for creative routes with stops, even if it seems counter-intuitive, because it could save you significantly.
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