2011 will be remembered as the year when the ability to find cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages was more important than ever given that airlines have increased ticket prices for the 10th time this year.
The only good news is that the latest higher prices are only going to impact expensive last minute tickets which are usually purchased by corporate travelers.
US Airways lead the most recent price increase in early September by increasing the price on people traveling the same day as the tickets are purchased by $6 to $10 round trip. Other major airlines, including American and Delta quickly matched US Airways higher prices.
Base airline ticket prices paid by passengers in May through July were about 9 percent higher than in the same three months last year. Airlines have continued to increase ticket prices to try to offset rising fuel prices.
Experts do not expect the latest increase in typical business fares to be quickly followed by an increase in leisure tickets purchased in advance of travel. Leisure travel is far more discretionary than business travel and thus far more negatively impacted by higher prices.
Determined to preserve their profitability, airlines are expected to attempt future price hikes and/or reduce the number of flights they will offer in the future. www.cheapfares.com