Let’s start with the good news: Holiday travelers rejoice; some airlines are giving you something else to be thankful for this November. Select carriers are knocking the stuffing out of ticket prices for Thanksgiving travel. The bad news: the rate reductions (some as much as 40% off) only apply to off-peak days. So, once again, being flexible is KEY!
More bad news: Last weekend, several airlines increased round-trip fares by $20. Which means there have been seven fare-raising attempts by the biggest full-fare airlines since Labor Day. One travel expert told news reporters: “I’ve never seen fares go up this fast in this short (amount) of time.”
If you are a business traveler then you know you are taking the biggest hit. According to expert fare trackers, in January 2005, Southwest’s maximum walk-up fare was $598 round trip. Now, the highest priced fare is $718. That’s an increase of 20%.
But, getting back to those reduced Thanksgiving fares. The sale was initiated last week by Northwest Airlines and picked up by other carriers and it now appears that last-minute travelers stand to save a bundle. For example, a round trip between Bangor, Maine, and San Francisco fell 40% to $358 round trip on off-peak days (next Tuesday and Wednesday, the Monday before Thanksgiving and the holiday itself) with a seven-day advance purchase. In addition, flights between San Antonio, Texas, and Memphis were going for as cheap as $248, down 42% from two weeks ago. Tickets have to be purchased before next Wednesday for travel on those selected bargain days through January 7, 2008.
Travel experts suggest the fare cutting is the airlines attempt to fill whatever empty seats remain over the holiday period. But at this point, experts recommend not procrastinating. If you see a fare that catches your eye—-buy it.
On a side note, I’m not sure where you live, but gas around here is creeping ever so close to the $3.30 mark. Outrageous. Which to me makes these latest airfares even more attractive. Do the math–filling up your SUV may be more expensive than buying a plane ticket.
Related Articles:
Is There Still a Way to Save on Holiday Travel?
Why You Shouldn’t Wait To Make Holiday Travel Plans
Ways to Save on Holiday Travel
Holiday Travel-Good News, Bad News
A New Tool In The Battle To Find Cheap Airline Seats
Online Airfares–Finding the Best Deal
Airline Secrets Revealed: Affordable First-Class Fares
Travel Tidbits: Airline Tickets for $10… Now We’re Cooking
Travel Savings—Rental Cars and Destinations