Cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages should be in greater supply over the end of year holidays as a result of the airlines reducing the number of days where they will add surcharges during peak travel days. This will help fliers find affordable trips so long as they are flexible as to which days they will travel.
American, Continental, Delta, and United will add surcharges to six days over the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years holidays vs. two dozen last year. Surcharges vary from $20 to $40 each way and are applied to many flights on November 27th and 28th, December 22nd, 23rd, and 26th and January 2nd.
Currently US Airways has surcharges on 18 days in November and December.
Deals for flights close to Thanksgiving, but not on surcharge days, include Dallas to Lost Angeles round trip starting at $219, and Washington to Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Denver to San Diego for under $190.
Airlines decline to explain why they have cut back on the number of days they will add surcharges. Travel experts believe that the airlines decision may be based on concern over leisure travelers considering not flying over the holidays because of anxiety about the economy.
The most recent hike in airline ticket prices, which was up to $10 per round trip, were on last minute tickets usually sold to businessmen vs. vacationers. www.cheapfares.com