Flying will be cheaper in 2024. But not for some destinations

Americans who have been traveling this summer have seen airline fare prices drop overall, a welcome trend after last year’s sticker shock.

But airfares will remain more expensive for some regions and destinations in 2024, especially for travel abroad, data shows.

For example, an average round-trip flight to Tokyo, Japan — one of the most popular hotspots for American tourists — will cost $1,372 this summer, up 2% from 2023, according to travel site Hopper.

Flights to Canada, South America and the Middle East and Africa are also up 6%, 2% and 1% respectively from summer 2023, Hopper found.

Of course, there are significant differences between the cities and countries of such vast regions and continents.

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For example, while the price of a round-trip ticket to Asia has remained the same from a year ago, for certain destinations they have increased dramatically: by 65% ​​(to $3,196) for an average flight to Sakata, a coastal city in northeastern Japan. ; by 42% (to $4,190) to Ipoh, one of Malaysia’s largest cities; and by 35% (to $4,092) to Udon Thani, in northeastern Thailand, according to Hopper.

High prices for certain Asian cities are affecting many American tourists, as the continent is their second-most visited international travel destination, Hopper said.

According to Hopper, there are also flights to some major hubs in South America: up 16% (to $955) to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; by 34% (to $667) to Lima, Peru; and by 13% (to $826) to Santiago, Chile, for example.

Average fares to Europe, the most popular foreign trip for Americans, fell 8% in the summer of 2024 from a year ago, when they were at record highs. But in some areas, such as Friedrichshafen and Memmingen, in southern Germany, and Bratislava, Slovakia, they are still high. Rates there have increased by 265%, 109% and 99% respectively.

“Last year was an exceptionally expensive year,” said Hayley Berg, chief economist at Hopper.

International travel was especially expensive as consumers unleashed pent-up demand abroad following Covid-19-related restrictions, many countries reopened their borders to foreign visitors, airlines worked to restore their flight schedules and jet fuel prices soared. a

Some of those dynamics have not yet calmed down in certain areas. Furthermore, specific destinations have their own idiosyncratic supply-and-demand factors that have kept prices high.

Overall, though, travelers have received a broad price reduction.

Average airfares for flights from the US fell 5.8% from April 2023 to April 2024, according to the consumer price index. They are down almost 1% in the past month.

‘Especially what we see 1716212707 is a huge improvement on most routes,” Berg said. “I expect this to continue.”

However, Americans may feel like flight prices are rising overall due to certain airline trends, such as higher checked bag fees, says Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet.

Major carriers including Alaska Airlines, US airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue Airways And United Airlines for example, have increased checked baggage fees this year.

While these fare increases are generally $5 more per bag, that can add up, especially when it comes to round-trip fares for families, French said.

“It can completely increase the cost of your trip,” she said.

However, there are ways to save, such as flying with certain airlines, combining bags, or even forgoing checking a bag altogether. If you know you need to check in your luggage, you will also likely save money if you do it before check-in.

Booking a flight well in advance — at least one to three months before a domestic trip, and three to four months before international travel — is another way to save on airfare, French said. Airlines generally don’t reduce airfares at the last minute, unlike many hotels, for example, she said.

Other ways to save include being flexible with travel time – perhaps visiting a destination during a shoulder season rather than peak season, or flying mid-week rather than on the weekend. Don’t forget to take advantage of rewards like frequent flyer miles and certain benefits like travel insurance offered by some credit cards.