Ugh, Airfare Prices

[footballmouse]

Holy moly! I thought Frontier was supposed to have cheap flights. A September flight is coming in at $192 round trip for one person. When I looked in December, the price was $84.

 

[Orion Nebula]

Did you look at the costs through out the week? I assume you did but if not they are much cheaper usually on certain days.

 

[RamblingMad]

Airfare and hotel prices are going through the roof with all of the pent up demand. Might have to stay home longer.

 

[morgan98]

You don't say where you are flying from, but domestic flights under $200 were a pretty good price pre-COVID. (at least from many places to Orlando - I assume you are talking about flying to Orlando).

I have been looking at flights to get back to Italy, since we normally go at least twice a year and they are not cheap. Even though there is not a ton of guidance around when and what a trip there will look like. I found much better prices for last February and March 2020, booked pre-Pandemic than any price I see there now. (my husband made it over and home last March, I was supposed to go on March 12th and am sitting on a credit).

As people start getting out there again, I suspect a return of more normal or higher than normal prices in many cases and I am not expecting a ton of bargains to be had at that point.

 

[aprilchem]

There was a time back in late 2020 when ALL flights were ridiculously cheap. I think we're getting back to normal(ish) prices now.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

Airfare and hotel prices are going through the roof with all of the pent up demand. Might have to stay home longer.

Yep. We're looking at booking stuff right now as it's only going to get worse.

 

[JenBush]

I have also noticed flights and hotels this summer and fall seemed a bit more than usual. I think the PPs are right that it’s probably due to pent up demand. Almost everyone I know who held off on trips last year are doubling down this year so demand is definitely high.

 

[wvjules]

Travel prices are going to skyrocket this year.

In January I booked airfare with miles to Maui. I got 2 round trips from the east coast for 75,000 miles. I have been trying to do that for years and was finally able to. Got a rental car for 2 weeks for $700. I jumped on the car and airfare in hopes of being able to go and locking in the lower prices before the demand picked up.

I suggest if anyone wants to travel they lock in what they can now before prices go even higher.

 

[MICKIMINI]

SWA is supposed to post their fall schedule in late April. I've been racking up the points in anticipation of expensive airfare. Thankfully with SWA, you can switch to the lower fare (points) online and points go back in your account. The incentive is to book the trip and stalk for lower prices.

Car rentals are more expensive as well though I continue to stalk until the day before our trip. We haven't spent any money in the past year, so whatever LOL!

 

[wvjules]

Use autoslash.com for auto rentals. That's how I found my low-ish rate.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

One more influencing factor that wasn't mentioned: The borders are closed. People who typically travel internationally are now looking at domestic vacations which further drives up demand.

We had planned/budgeted to go to Japan and Disneyland in 2020. We used a good portion of those funds to go to Hawaii in January instead.

 

[dclpluto]

I went in December forget what it was but round trip from philliy to MCO was under 100 dollars on American Airlines. Went in January it was 140 round trip for my trip in September it’s going to be over 200 dollars. I was never scared but lots of people are becoming less scared.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have been looking at flights to get back to Italy, since we normally go at least twice a year and they are not cheap.

Price may be going down now with the current and planned nationwide shutdown again.

 

[Heather07438]

I'd keep looking and if something reasonable is found, grab it!

We booked our Sept flight last month thru Jet Blue MCO-EWR $144rt. It was low points (8k) and only paid $11 each, includes 1 carry-on and 1 checked bag (as JB card holder).

Found a car rental at a decent price last week ($425/wk BMW x7)... now I'm thinking we should book that soon too.

 

[morgan98]

Price may be going down now with the current and planned nationwide shutdown again.

I would like to tell you that is the case, but it does not appear to be at all - at least for dates I am looking at. Now they are not crazy high as I have seen them before, but "cheap" does not appear to be the case.

We are very familiar with the situation there as we have family there, my mom was born there and my husband has dual citizenship. I think my husband is going to try to spend some time there fairly soon if he can arrange some things, and he is retired, so he has time to comply with quarantine rules etc. Realistically, I may not get back until late fall/early winter.

 

[RamblingMad]

Yep. We're looking at booking stuff right now as it's only going to get worse.

Yep.

Looks like I'll get my travel done next year after this crazy demand ends.

 

[Kitty 34]

Price may be going down now with the current and planned nationwide shutdown again.

Dan, I was visiting with my brother this afternoon......what planned shutdown (again)? When and why is this happening??

 

[neverlandsky]

They're super expensive. Was able to fly 4 of us for under $1,000. Now it's $2,500-$4,500 round trip. No thank you.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Dan, I was visiting with my brother this afternoon......what planned shutdown (again)? When and why is this happening??

That is for Italy, Kitty, not the US.

www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk00LGK8wjeDeG7rtZ5roE8cZ65-zKQ%3A1615843264418&ei=wM9PYO6AGYmFtQaP5rGAAw&q=italy+shutdown+again&oq=italy+shutdown+again&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAxQAFgAYP0LaABwAHgAgAFfiAFfkgEBMZgBAKoBB2d3cy13aXrAAQE&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwju4KaenbPvAhWJQs0KHQ9zDDAQ4dUDCA0

 

[1GoldenSun]

Oh, dear. We were going to do a Grand Canyon/assorted national parks road trip this summer, but we were starting to consider flying instead. I bet the highways are going to be parking lots this summer, too, and the the national parks will be packed.