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Americans traveling this summer have generally seen airfares drop, a welcome trend after last year’s shock to airfares.
But data shows airfares will still be higher in certain regions and destinations in 2024, primarily for travel abroad.
For example, the average round-trip ticket price this summer to Tokyo, Japan, one of the most popular destinations for U.S. tourists, is $1,372, up 2% from 2023, according to travel website Hopper.
Flights to Canada, South America, the Middle East and Africa are also up 6%, 2% and 1% respectively compared to summer 2023, Hopper found.
Of course, there are significant differences between cities and countries across such a vast region and continent.
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For example, while round-trip airfares to Asia are about the same as a year ago, prices for some destinations have soared: The average price of a flight to Japan’s northeastern coastal city of Sakata increased 65% (to $3,196); Flying to Ipoh, one of Malaysia’s largest cities, is up 42% (to $4,190); flying to Udon Thani in northeastern Thailand is up 35% (to $4,092), according to Hopper .
Hopper said high prices in certain Asian cities affect many U.S. travelers because the continent is their second most frequent international travel destination.
According to Hopper, flights to some major hubs in South America are also up: flights to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are up 16% (to $955); flights to Lima, Peru are up 34% (to $667); e.g. , airfares to Santiago, Chile rose 13% (to $826).
Europe is the most popular foreign trip for Americans, and average airfares to Europe fell 8% in summer 2024 from a year ago, when airfares hit a record high. But temperatures are still higher in some areas such as Friedrichshafen and Memmingen in southern Germany and Bratislava in Slovakia. Ticket prices increased by 265%, 109% and 99% respectively.
Travel prices drop sharply
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“Last year was a very expensive year,” said Haley Berg, chief economist at Hopper.
International travel is particularly expensive for consumers Covid-19-related restrictions have unleashed pent-up demand to travel abroad, with many countries reopening their borders to foreign tourists, airlines struggling to rework flight schedules and jet fuel prices soaring.
Some of these dynamics have yet to be unleashed in some areas. Additionally, specific destinations have their own unique supply and demand factors that keep prices high.
Overall, though, travelers have seen widespread price relief.
According to data from the National Aviation Administration, the average ticket price for flights to the United States fell by 5.8% between April 2023 and April 2024. consumer price index. In the past month alone, they have fallen by nearly 1%.
“Most of the routes we’re seeing (now) are huge improvements,” Berg said. “I do hope that continues.”
However, Sally French, travel expert at NerdWallet, said Americans may see a general increase in airfares due to trends on some airlines, such as rising checked bag fees.
Major operators include Alaska Airlines, American airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue Airways and United Airlines For example, this year they increased their checked bag fees.
French said that while these fees typically go up by $5 per bag, they can add up, especially on round-trip fares for families.
“It completely increases the cost of your trip,” she said.
However, there are ways to save money, such as flying with certain airlines, combining bags, or even trying to forego checked bags altogether. If you know you have to check a bag, doing so before checking in may also save you money.
French said booking flights in advance — at least one to three months before domestic travel and three to four months before international travel — is another way to save money on flying. Unlike many restaurants, airlines typically don’t lower ticket prices at the last minute, she said.
Other ways to save money include being flexible with your travel times – perhaps traveling to your destination during shoulder seasons instead of peak periods, or flying mid-week instead of weekends. Don’t forget to take advantage of rewards like frequent flyer miles and certain benefits like travel insurance that some credit cards offer.
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