Depending on your point of view, cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages have never been more plentiful. Domestic airfare prices dropped 13 per cent in 2009, with the average fare falling to $301 vs. $346 a year earlier.
Just how cheap your cheap fares were in 2009 depended often on how many fees the airlines were able to tack onto your trip after you purchased your airline ticket. U.S. airlines pulled in $3.8 million in fees in the first six months alone of 2009.
Experts generally agree that going forward additional fees and surcharges will continue to increase.
Whether base cheap fares stay cheap going forward will largely depend on:
Whether the economy continues to get stronger resulting in increased demand for airline tickets. Airlines have significantly reduced their total seat capacity by moth balling older, less efficient planes. Any measurable increase in demand for remaining airline seats could easily spur higher ticket prices.
Increases in oil prices.
A large airline going out of business
Further airline mergers.
The best strategies to find cheap fares include a willingness to travel during days that are less busy for the airlines, as well as flying during certain times and on select routes.
The least expensive flights of the week are usually Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturday afternoons. Taking early morning flights tend to cost less and the flight themselves are less likely to be late. Travelers willing to fly into smaller airports, close by hub airports, such as flying into Providence, H.I. instead of Bostons Logan Airport also often find cheaper fares.