Holiday Flight Costs Are HIGH Despite Fewer Bookings

During the holiday season, many people end up traveling to visit with family and friends, and when lots of people start traveling at once — it can lead to complications.

Are you flying this holiday season?

COVID-19 has made the last few years difficult for travelers, with issues concerning staffing, fuel costs, restrictions, and more, and we’ve seen quite a few flight delays and cancelations across the globe. That said, in spite of all this, travel numbers have been high this year, and we have a major update about your holiday travel plans.

According to CNBC, data from Adobe has revealed that “consumers have booked fewer flights for Thanksgiving week than they did three years ago, before the COVID pandemic.” Domestic bookings have reduced by 7% from this same time in 2019, but that doesn’t mean airlines are losing out on profits.

Flight prices are higher than ever

Despite fewer bookings, airfare costs have increased by 3% during the Thanksgiving holiday. Prior to this, the demand for air travel was “resilient this year,” and people continued to book seemingly in spite of the costs. In fact, higher airfare prices helped airlines make up for the increase in other costs, such as fuel.

Look at that view!

In 2022, customers have spent $76 billion on flights online, which was a 17% increase compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, airfare increased by 43% in October! And with bookings only up by 5%, the increase in revenue is more likely a result of higher prices, rather than bookings.

Where are you flying to next?

In their report, Adobe hypothesized that customers may be waiting for high airfare costs to come down or opting to alternatively travel by car or train, which may or may not end up cheaper than airfare. At the very least, driving yourself doesn’t often come with cancelations!

Southwest Airlines

If you have an upcoming flight to Disney World or you’re thinking about booking soon, don’t panic about costs — we keep an eye on airlines for discounts and sales, like a recent sale with Spirit Airlines. We also suggest checking out the following links for more tips:

Stay tuned to DFB for more travel news and tips!

21 things a former flight attendant needs you to know!

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