Holiday Airfare Rising: Travelers Adjusting Plans
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – This holiday season, airfare is on the rise, with Hopper reporting that domestic Thanksgiving round-trip tickets are averaging $402—a 31% increase compared to last year.
Factors Behind the Increase
Experts attribute rising costs to escalating tensions with Iran and higher jet fuel prices. Additionally, Christmas round-trip airfare has seen a 23% increase from last year.
Hotel Rates Stable but Rising
While hotel rates for Thanksgiving remain stable at around $170 per night, there is an expected 18% increase for Christmas hotel rates.
Hopper indicates that this year’s holiday travel may be the most expensive in 10 years.
Travelers Adapting to Costs
To cope with rising prices, travelers are booking earlier, comparing prices across multiple sites, and adjusting budgets. Carrie Clement, a traveler, shares, “I have an alert on my phone… even Tuesdays or Wednesdays can help you with prices.” She plans to take her family to Colorado despite the increased costs.
Clement also mentioned that visiting her grandson, who attends Coastal, has significantly impacted her travel budget, saying, “This year alone has cost quite a bit of money.”
Mark Hebert emphasizes the importance of early booking to avoid inflated prices. He booked a long weekend vacation back in July and planned a seven-day cruise for March, stating, “I knew this was going to happen… if I waited, I probably couldn’t afford to do it.”
Expert Recommendations
Travel experts suggest that being flexible with travel dates can lead to savings on airfare. They advise booking when acceptable prices are found, as fares are expected to keep rising as Thanksgiving approaches.
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