Air Travel Getting Cheaper in Fall, Average Round-Trips Under $300

Air Travel Getting Cheaper in Fall

After two summers when most people avoided travel, summer of 2022 finally saw a big rebound especially for air travel. But these summer vacations came at a cost, as airfares soared due to demand, gas prices, inflation and shortage of staff for most airlines.

But as summer is coming to an end, we are now seeing cheaper fares for fall travel and the price difference is larger than usual. WSJ reports that average airfare for round-trip domestic flights this fall is $298. That’s a steep decline from May, when average fares exceeded $400.

Normally we see fall prices at 10%-15% lower than summer fares. But this year that number is roughly 26%. Even with prices falling as we get into the fall, the average cost to fly domestically remains 19% higher compared to 2019, according to data from Hopper.

Prices are also falling for international travel, especially for Europe. The average lowest fare for flights to Europe in September and October is also nearly 25% less than it was during the summer months

Lower prices in the are likely due to the same factors that caused them to spike in the summer. Most people that were waiting to travel due to the pandemic have done so over the summer. So demand is trending lower. Airlines are working to catch up with demand and hiring more staff. Gas prices are also going down with regular 82 cents less than the summer highs and diesel at about 56 cents less, as per AAA.

If you are looking to book flights this fall, there are some things to keep in mind. keep checking prices, as they change continuously. Also, being flexible will help. Leaving a day earlier for example, could yield big savings. And normally, weekdays are typically cheaper than weekends, even in the fall. So always check prices by month on Google Flights, or at your favorite airline. Also don’t forget to look at some of the new low-cost carriers such as Avelo Airlines and Breeze Airways.

Disclosure: Miles to Memories has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Miles to Memories and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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