Planning to travel this year? Here’s what you need to know before you book your flight and head to the airport.
Gone are the days of $30 airfare, intended to lure some business when the pandemic had grounded almost everyone. Millions of people stuck at home for the past year are giving in to the urge to travel — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week said travel is safe for those who are fully vaccinated — and are starting to book airline seats. As they do, the prices of those seats are rising, said Harrisburg International Airport spokesman Scott Miller.
The cheapest domestic leisure fares as of March 15 were 26 percent lower than during a similar week in 2019 but up more than 6 percent from a week earlier, according to a CNBC report that quoted Harrell Associates, a firm that tracks airfares. Average leisure fares were nearly $187, close to 9% more than at a similar point in 2019, the report said.
“Domestic airfares are rising. While discounts can still be found, they’re no longer falling into consumers’ laps,” Jamie Baker, JP Morgan airline analyst, told CNBC.
And those pesky change fees? USA Today reports that the waivers airlines put in place during the pandemic, allowing travelers to change or cancel tickets without the usual penalties, are already starting to go away on basic economy tickets. So if you’re buying, read the small type. Miller suggests travel insurance is an option to protect your money.
Airlines are pushing to have…
