These are the 5 ways to save on summer flights from Charlotte amid high travel demand
After a two-and-a-half year decline, demand for air travel is back amid plummeting fuel supply and rising jet fuel costs that have impacted the airline industry.
The most recent data from the Platts Jet Fuel Price Index shows that the average global price for a single barrel of jet fuel currently stands at about $152.87, with the North American price averaging at about $177.75 per barrel.
The average price per barrel of jet fuel reached a year-to-date peak towards the end of March 2022 and has begun to creep back down, but the current price tag is still nearly two times higher than it was this time last year.
This comes as the demand for air travel is growing and the supply of jet fuel on the East Coast is dwindling down to the lowest it’s been since 1996, Bloomberg reports.
Thanks to the low supply of fuel due in part to the war in Ukraine and an increase in travel, the average price for a domestic flight now stands at around $300, according to popular travel company Hopper Inc.
That figure is up 36% from the start of 2022.
If you plan on traveling anytime soon, you may have some concerns about where the average airfare will stand in the next few months. Here are five ways to fly this summer without breaking the bank:
Try flying indirectly from Charlotte Douglas International
Charlotte Douglas International Airport has a wide variety of direct flights to domestic and international destinations and the convenience of flying directly is tempting, to say the least. However, passengers can save a considerable amount of money by booking a flight that has stops instead of booking a direct flight to the final destination.
For example, a flight with American Airlines from Charlotte to Chicago this summer costs around $360 right now, but if you choose a trip that has an hour-long layover in New York, the airfare decreases to $339.
Sure, it could prove to be an inconvenience depending on how long a layover might last, but you might find the savings to be worth the time spent waiting for a connecting flight.
Find the right time to book your tickets
A recent study by CheapAir revealed that the best time to begin monitoring the prices of flights is around 67 days before a summer trip, 94 days before a winter trip, 84 days before a spring trip, and 89 days before a fall trip.
The closer you get to your departure date, the more expensive airfare will be.
The same study also revealed that the least expensive days of the week to fly are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Airfare is more expensive on weekends and more affordable midweek.
Compare airfare rates before booking your tickets
Be sure to use third-party flight comparison sites and apps like Google Flights, Bing Travel, Orbitz, and Travelocity before committing to a price. You will often be able to find the same trip for a lower price by using a different airline or by scoring a deal through a third party.
Join a rewards or loyalty program with your favorite airline
If you are flying with an airline you are loyal to, you might as well get miles back on bookings. By joining a loyalty program with your favorite airline, you can gain rewards on purchases like special offers and miles that can apply to eligible flights in the future.
Frequent travelers could also consider signing up for a credit card with a preferred airline to maximize rewards.
Consider flying to surrounding areas
If you’re flying into a popular destination, consider setting arrival and departure locations at an airport in close proximity to your final destination.
For instance, if you’re traveling from Charlotte to New York City, you could save more money by flying into Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey than by arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport or LaGuardia Airport in New York.
Be flexible with your dates
If it’s not particularly important what dates you depart and arrive at your preferred destination, book trips for days during months when airfare on flights from Charlotte is at its lowest.
Sites like Google Flights allow travelers to view what days and months airfare on a selected destination is the lowest. You can potentially save hundreds of dollars by being flexible with what days of the week and months of the year you travel.
Of course, this means you will most likely be traveling during the off-season and arriving at your destination in the middle of the week, but you may find it’s worth it considering you’ll likely be saving as much money as you can by doing so.
This story was originally published April 18, 2022 at 2:28 PM.
