Prepare for some sticker shock if you're still planning to travel anywhere by air during the holidays.
Experts say pent-up demand and the simple fact that there are fewer flights available these days is pushing prices higher and higher.
“We’re at the tipping point right now, and have been there for a while quite frankly, that prices are going to only continue going up,” says Executive Editor of the Thrifty Traveler website Kyle Potter.
But at least the days of last-minute flight cancellations and overbookings seem to be in the rear view mirror according to Potter.
“I will say that the airline industry at-large is in a much, much, better place than they were just a few months ago,” Potter says about summer travel that was chaos for passenger.
He adds that they have learned from previous mistakes and are better equipped to deal with the current passenger loads.
“They have, as I mentioned, right-sized their airlines so they’re not over-promising and under delivering,” Potter explains. “They learned some really harsh lessons.”
Still trying to book flights? To avoid hassles, Potter recommends being flexible with your dates, booking direct flights, and flying as early in the day as possible to avoid any potential pile-ups due to weather delays.
“While making a connection in somewhere like Detroit or Chicago may save you some dollars, it’s going to double the odds that your flight is going to be delayed or cancelled,” Potter tells WCCO’s Laura Oakes. “So if you can avoid it, book that nonstop flight. It is worth the premium.”
That means looking primarily to Delta and Sun Country for nonstop flights as they both use MSP Airport as a hub.
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When it comes to packing a bag, Potter suggests taking a carry-on if at all possible. If you have to check a bag, he suggests putting a few essentials in your personal bag on the plane anyway in case it ends up lost.
You also need to make sure you arrive early for flights around the holidays. Expect long lines and busy airports. If you don’t have TSA Pre-check or a CLEAR membership, now might be the time to invest in those.
While prices are up for domestic flights, if you can sneak away internationally, you’ll still find some deals. There are deals to be found heading to Europe, the Caribbean or even notoriously expensive Hawaii according to Thrifty Traveler.
You can listen to Laura Oakes' entire interview with Thrifty Traveler's Kyle Potter below.