Such as the United States and Israel War with Iran With global oil supplies declining, travelers have good reasons to worry about the cost and availability of flights as they plan their trips for the late spring and summer.
The head of the International Energy Agency has warned that European countries may run out of jet fuel Within weeksThis has forced airlines and carriers on the continent that fly to Europe to significantly reduce their flights. Many airlines have already raised checked bag fees or added a fuel surcharge as a global fare Aviation fuel It rose from about $99 per barrel at the end of February to $209 per barrel at the beginning of April.
In reference to the ongoing repercussions of the conflict on travel, Air Canada It said on Friday that it intends to suspend service to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport from June 1 through October 25 to reduce fuel costs. Other airlines, ranging from US carriers such as United and Delta to Air France-KLM, SAS, Philippine Airlines and Cathay Pacific in Europe and Asia, have cut routes and increased ticket prices or said they will increase them if the war prevents oil from passing through the United States. Strait of Hormuz.
“It’s very difficult for airlines to make forecasts in this environment, so they’re going to be conservative, which is why their prices will probably remain high for some time until things really stabilize,” said Shai Gilad, a former airline captain who now teaches at Georgetown University’s business school.
with Airline tickets and fees As consumers grow, they can still make choices that determine how much of their travel budgets will be spent by paying to get to and from their destinations.
While consumers may be tempted to know whether the war will end before purchasing airline tickets, the “wait and see” approach to booking flights is riskier this year, travel experts say, especially the longer the war drags on and the closer to summer and other peak travel periods.
“Assuming there is a permanent ceasefire — or better yet, a peace agreement — it will take a few months to resume normal levels of jet fuel production and delivery,” said Henry Harteveldt, an aviation industry analyst and head of the Atmosphere Research Group.
Iran coup Its decision on Saturday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and President Donald Trump’s insistence on maintaining the US blockade of Iranian ports made clear the prospects for oil to flow reliably again from the Persian Gulf and with it an easing of price pressure on airlines and their customers.
“My advice to travelers is: If you find a flight that fits your schedule, at a price you can afford, and on an airline you can at least afford, book it,” Harteveldt said. “But – and I can’t stress this enough – don’t book a Basic Economy ticket,” which is the cheapest but also the most restrictive airfare class.
Besides charging fees for checked bags and seat selection, most North American airlines do not issue refunds or travel credits to passengers with basic economy tickets if they do not cancel their flights within 24 hours of purchase. Policies may vary, but spending more on a standard economy ticket offers more flexibility, according to Harteveldt.
Paying more upfront for a refundable ticket is also beneficial because “if prices start changing dramatically, you can cancel and rebook at a better price,” Gilad said.
For now, long-standing booking guidelines provide a baseline for how quickly to book a flight to get the cheapest airfare, travel experts say: International flights are typically cheapest about two to five months in advance, and domestic flights about three to six weeks in advance.
Last-minute bookings and other situations that typically require higher prices are likely to continue to rise, Gilead said.
“Remember, especially if you are traveling on major airlines, they will have more ability to adjust prices,” he said. “If you book too close to your travel date, you will pay more.” “The further away you can book, the better.”
Travelers who don’t want or need to get to a specific place at a specific time can find it easier to save on the cost of an airfare. Changing departure or return times by a day or two – especially from peak weekends and holidays to mid-week – often results in large price differences.
Choosing a different destination may also pay off. A flight from the United States may be much cheaper to one European city than another. Since most of Europe is connected by budget airlines and trains, a lower cost airport can provide easy access to lots of other places.
Consumers who aren’t set on a specific destination can try tools like Skyscanner’s “Explore Everywhere” feature to search for less expensive options.
Looking beyond the nearest airport for your departure flights can make a big difference. Major hubs tend to offer more flights and lower prices than smaller regional airports.
In some cases, booking a separate short flight or train to a hub will unlock a cheaper long-haul airfare — think Milwaukee versus Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Sticking to a carry-on, when possible, can help avoid the high checked baggage fees charged by many major U.S. airlines. Recently introducedincluding Delta, American, United, Southwest, and JetBlue.
If packing light isn’t an option, plan ahead because airlines usually charge extra to add bags closer to departure, especially within 24 hours of the flight.
While prices are rising, the number of airline points needed for many flights has not risen at the same pace, said Adam Morvitz, CEO of Points.me, a search platform for redeeming loyalty rewards.
Airlines still need to fill seats, and offering more of them for fewer points is one way to do that, Morvitz said.
Customers who do not have enough points for a round-trip ticket can still redeem their Travel Rewards for one leg of the trip and free up cash for other travel expenses.
Many travelers redeem points directly through their credit card’s booking portal, typically worth about 1 cent each, Morvitz said. Transferring points into airline loyalty programs often unlocks much better value because most major credit card issuers partner with a range of airlines.
Take American Express, whose points can be transferred into Air France’s Flying Blue program. Morvitz said travelers who don’t want to book with Air France can still use these points with the airline’s partner airlines, such as Delta.
“Points are a form of wealth, and consumers should realize that these points increase purchasing power,” he said.
For those new to using travel credit cards, sign-up bonuses may yield benefits that can be used as soon as this summer. Some rewards are large enough to cover the cost of the trip after meeting minimum spending requirements.
“Even if you’re going to travel all year long, taking one trip a month, you’ll still earn more points just by signing up for the card rather than actually sitting in a seat and traveling by plane,” Morvitz said.
Points and rewards can be added through daily spending on groceries, dining and gas. Some cards include perks like free or discounted checked bags.