Airfare Getting Tougher

During the past few years, airfare has gone up, though not by as much as it could have gone. Airlines have been in a state of flux during the past 10 years-merging, buying, and being bought by one another. Fuel prices have soared as well, causing much of the price increase alone.

Despite all of the airline moves and adjustments, none have affected to availability of airline tickets as much as has the downsizing of the fleet. Airlines are not replacing their larger jets nearly as much as they once had. In fact, airlines are opting to smaller-sized jets. This downsizing has led to fuller planes and fewer cuts in ticket prices.

The results of this are particularly hard on groups wanting to get good rates on airfares. Typically, most airlines will release schedules and fares about 11 months out (except Southwest and a few others). So, if a group wants to insure itself of the best rates, they need to purchase air well in advance of their trip. Couple this with smaller-capacity jets and you create a near-crisis for groups, especially when a group waits any length of time to make a decision.

Recommendations: Plan ahead, at least 10-11 months in advance of your trip. Next, be flexible with your plans. There just are not as many seats available as there once were. With smaller jets, your flights are going to be fuller faster. Finally, be ready to break up your group into a few different flights if your group is a large one, or you'll pay a premium for the tickets.

Photo by caribb