The holidays are fast approaching. Meanwhile, airlines have stated that demand climbed in tandem with airfares.
Nonstop flights from Chicago to any destination in New York from November 22 to 27 begin at approximately $500 for round trips. Furthermore, round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Seattle starts at $500. While this is bad news for travelers, it benefits airline companies in the fourth quarter of this year. American, Delta, and United, the three biggest air carrier corporations in the United States, said they foresee record profits of more than $2 billion.
Airline management provides several hints, tips, and essential details to assist you in booking your tickets wisely during these congested holidays.
Demand for holidays is robust
Bookings for the season have snowballed over the last year. While companies did not provide figures, market experts estimate that the number of passengers booking flights is larger than before the pandemic. November and December show a significant increase. Although tickets have become more expensive, travelers purchase them quickly, if only to get to where they want to go during the holidays.
“It’s going to be a very strong holiday season – Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s,” said Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta.
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Two years of airline delays prompted people to purchase more
“I know there are some pretty significant macro shifts in spending – out of goods and into services, which we are a beneficiary of,” added Bastian.
“After two years of delaying travel, it is clear that consumers are getting out and seeing the world. So we’re glad to see people back on the road.”
Meanwhile, United Airlines chief commercial officer, Andrew Nocella, mentioned the incredible power of airline holiday demand.
“We are seeing a lot of strength for the holidays or approaching the Thanksgiving period, and our bookings are incredibly strong. However, the bookings are a little bit different this year, and they’re more spread out across multiple days than they were on any single day,” he added.
You need to buy now because prices will soar soon
Hayley Berg, the lead economist at Hopper, a booking and travel app, stated that airlines increased ticket prices as the months passed. Some routes have already increased by 40%. In addition, several routes’ airfares increased by 20-30% compared to 2019.
“We see airfare to those top destinations, the ones with the highest demand at the holidays, are much higher than they typically are at this time of year. And they’re only going to increase from here,” Berg explained.
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Fly on Monday before the holiday, and return days after the holidays
“We’re going to have fewer flights available and more travelers looking to go home or go on vacation for the holidays. That means that you might be paying a much higher price and unable to get a seat on the specific flight you want to take,” Berg said.
“Most travelers will want to fly a few days before the holiday and return a few days after. That means prices are those dates are going to be extremely high, capacity is going to sell out, and airports are going to be chaotic,” she added.
However, Berg claims prices appear to fall on the Monday before the holiday and on the holiday itself.
Photo Credit: Julia Nikhinson
Source: NPR
