Airline Ticket Prices Are Outpacing Inflation. Here’s How You Can Save

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While inflation has regularly made headlines lately, with many pointing to the roughly 8% figure from the Consumer Price Index, there are still several consumer spending categories surpassing it, including the price of airline tickets. In the last year, the consumer price index for airline tickets has shot up by 25% — the largest jump since the Federal Reserve of St. Louis began tracking the index in 1989. In April alone, airfares spiked 18.6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Regardless of soaring prices, Americans aren’t hesitating to break out their credit cards and book a trip. A recent Bank of America Institute survey showed spending at airlines and travel agencies is up a whopping 60% year-over-year. At the same time, as Americans continue to grapple with 40-year high inflation rates and resource-strapped airlines work to get more planes in the air, traveling on a budget seems to be nearly impossible.

Below, Select details the current state of airline prices and what consumers can do to find deals for their upcoming summer travels.

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Flight prices are leaving travelers frustrated

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many airlines have been drowning in debt and struggling to return to a state of profitability. Now, with travel restrictions easing across the world and higher operating costs to deal with (like higher jet fuel prices), airlines are salivating to serve travel-deprived consumers — and for a major profit.

As a result, ticket prices are near all-time highs at the moment. For starters, there are simply not enough seats to provide for how many people want to fly. Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group, tells Select that while travel demand has come roaring back, seat capacity is still down 6% compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Additionally, consumers aren’t the only ones facing high gas prices at the tank — the airlines are feeling it, too. According to IATA, the price of jet fuel has increased nearly 150% in the last year. Airlines are also facing the reality of not having enough pilots and flight attendants to run their flights, as well as higher labor costs. All of these forces have combined to create rising ticket prices. Harteveldt refers to this as, “market forces at work.”

Desiree Anderson, 28, recently booked a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Philadelphia and paid $685 for an economy ticket. She tells Select that in the past, that same ticket would cost roughly $320, expressing her frustration by saying, “for those prices, I should be able to fly internationally round-trip.” Anderson iterates her frustration as an avid traveler, saying that because of skyrocketing flight prices and the rising cost of living, she’s had to cut back on leisure travel and is only making trips for weddings she’s a bridesmaid in.

Unfortunately, Harteveldt indicates these kinds of high ticket costs are expected to last throughout the summer as oil prices continue to climb. Luckily, there are several tools available to help you save money on your future travel plans.

How to save money on airline tickets

Two years after the pandemic’s economic shockwaves, the airline industry is largely changing its pricing models, according to Harteveldt. Now, the ‘rules’ of finding affordable travel have changed. If you’re hunting for affordable travel in the coming months, here’s where you can get started.

Consider using a travel agent

Travel agents may feel like a relic of the past, but now it seems this underrated industry is , tells Select there are affordable flights readily available after Labor Day in the $400 round-trip range. He also recommends booking within the “Goldilocks windows” for best pricing, which for domestic travel means 1–3 months ahead and for international travel, 2–8 months ahead. With this ideal timing in mind, he urges those who wish to travel for Christmas or New Year
‘s to begin booking flights now.

Domestic travel is surging, so consider traveling abroad

For those looking to save money, Keyes recommends pulling out your passports and heading overseas. Domestic travel is extremely popular right now, especially since there is still a mandate in place for American travelers to present negative Covid-19 test results before returning to the U.S. He says this is keeping Americans within the U.S., as they don’t want to risk the possibility of testing positive and being stuck in a foreign country for an extended period of time.

This trend also happens to be keeping international travel down 20-40% compared to pre-pandemic levels, leaving a great opportunity to score affordable flights abroad. Keyes specifically recommends Europe as a place to travel for the best savings at the moment. Plus, the dollar to euro exchange rate is currently at it’s most favorable point in years for U.S.-based travelers — meaning your dollars will go even further in Europe than they did in years past.

Redeem points and miles

Now is arguably one of the best times to use the points and miles you’ve earned by traveling or from having a trusty travel rewards credit card in your wallet. While award prices have also been on the rise lately, money staying in your wallet is always the best solution.

For example, I recently looked into booking two round-trip flights from Fort Lauderdale to Las Vegas for the Fourth of July. With Southwest Airlines, the retail price was showing as nearly $1,500, however I was able to pay just $22 out of pocket for both tickets. Here’s how:

I applied for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card when it had a welcome bonus that included the valuable Companion Pass + 30,000 miles (offer no longer available). After meeting the minimum-spending requirement of $1,000 within the first three months of card membership, I was able to transfer some of the Chase Ultimate Rewards® points I’d earned through my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to my Southwest account and have enough Rapid Rewards points to book one flight. From there, I used the Companion Pass for my partner’s flight and spent a total of $22 in fees to redeem my points.

While this is just one example of how you can earn points and miles and fly for nearly free, there are plenty of other great travel rewards credit cards out there to help you offset skyrocketing flight prices, including the following options. Just the welcome bonus alone from these cards can get you over $1,000 in travel if you use your points right.

For instance, you can use the 80,000 points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card‘s welcome bonus to book $1,000 in travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (including flights, hotels and car rentals). Or you could transfer those points to British Airways to book flights on its Oneworld partners, American Airlines or Alaska Airlines, and book domestic U.S. flights. You could book three round-trip tickets on American Airlines from New York to San Francisco for 78,000 British Airways Avios points — but if you were to pay cash you’d pay over $2,000 during many dates this summer.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • Rewards

    $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining, 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

  • Annual fee

  • Intro APR

  • Regular APR

    16.24% – 23.24% variable on purchases and balance transfers

  • Balance transfer fee

    Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

  • Foreign transaction fee

  • Credit needed

Pros

  • Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 rate, including: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy™ and World of Hyatt®
  • Travel protections include: auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement
  • No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No introductory 0% APR
  • Esti
    mated rewards earned after 1 year:
    $1,506
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,528

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Citi Premier® Card

  • Rewards

    3X points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and on hotels and air travel, 1X points on all other purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

  • Annual fee

  • Intro APR

  • Regular APR

    16.74% – 24.74% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

  • Balance transfer fee

    5% of each balance transfer, $5 minimum

  • Foreign transaction fee

  • Credit needed

Pros

  • Unlimited 3 points per $1 spent at gas stations
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No special financing offers
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,265
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,129

Rewards totals incorporate the rewards earned from the welcome bonus

American Express® Gold Card

On the American Express secure site

  • Rewards

    4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership

  • Annual fee

  • Intro APR

  • Regular APR

  • Balance transfer fee

  • Foreign transaction fee

  • Credit needed

Bottom line

Lately, everything has become dramatically more expensive when it comes to travel. From airline tickets to hotels and rental cars, there is nearly no escape from rising prices, but with the right strategy, there are ways to easily cut costs so you can still enjoy your summer vacation.

Most importantly, it’s important to maintain a budget throughout your travels. While the idea of taking a trip is extremely enticing after more than two years of pandemic-related restrictions, it’s always important to spend within your means, fill your emergency fund and invest for the future.

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For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.

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