Finding pocketbook-friendly airfare during the summer has always been difficult, but with rising fuel prices, customers can expect to see seasonal price hikes continue into the fall.
 |
By Laura Spitalniak, Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.
[post_ads]Finding pocketbook-friendly airfare during the summer has always been difficult, but with rising fuel prices, customers can expect to see seasonal price hikes continue into the fall.
So book now. Don't put it off.
“The airlines more or less made it clear that prices are about to go up,” says Bill McGee, an aviation consultant to Consumers Union, the advocacy division of Consumer Reports. “The best advice we can offer is, if you’re considering travel in the coming months and you have the ability to pay for it now, do so.”
Thrifty customers sometimes wait to find cheaper tickets from last-minute deals. But with fuel prices on the rise, Henry H. Harteveldt, president of the Atmosphere Research Group, encouraged consumers to buy if they see a fare they like.
“Don’t try to play the airlines,” he says. “Their algorithms are smarter than you.”
McGee also says that even if fuel prices suddenly dropped, the change might not benefit the average flyer’s wallet.
“For consumers, what we found is the price of oil rises, airfares rise,” he says. “Unfortunately, when the price of fuel goes down, airlines have a history of not responding as quickly to decreases.”
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the cost of fuel per gallon on domestic flights rose almost 23 percent last year over the summer. International flights saw a similar increase of just over 23 percent.
Despite anticipating relatively high fuel prices, says George Hamlin, who is the president of Hamlin Transportation Consulting and tracks changes within the airline industry, he doesn’t expect many travelers to alter their arrangements.
“People tend to book long-haul travel far in advance and have already made their summer trip plans,” Hamlin says. “This isn’t going to drive people off.”
The data from industry representatives seem to agree.
Airlines for America released its Summer Air Travel forecast, predicting a 3.7 percent increase in passengers from June to the end of August. This would bring the overall number of U.S. airline onboard travelers to 246 million, up from 236 million in 2017.
What can consumers do to keep costs as low as possible?
Harteveldt urges buyers to “keep your eye on the price box as you go through your travel shopping.”
He says a possible fuel surcharge fee can ruin an otherwise well-budgeted plan.
“This is where budget-focused travelers may need to be concerned,” says Harteveldt. “The fuel surcharge is only shown when you go to check out.” He added that he’d seen incidences of fuel surcharges of $400 or more.
[post_ads_2]
McGee cites this as a reason more transparency within the industry is necessary.
“It’s become very hard for consumers to obtain the full price of airfare when they’re shopping and booking online,” he says, “because of all of the fees that have been added in recent years.
“Online, either on the airlines’ own sites or third-party sites like Expedia, it’s become difficult to say, ‘This is what I want’, and get a price,” says McGee.
Harteveldt reminds customers who planned ahead that they are in the clear.
“If you’ve already booked your airline travel for summer, relax, you're set,” he says. “Airlines can’t come after you for fuel surcharges after you’ve booked.”
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2018, Consumer Reports, Inc.
COMMENTS