It will be cheaper to fly in 2024. But not in some areas

Americans traveling this summer have generally noticed a drop in airfare prices, a welcome trend after last year’s price shock.

But airfare will remain higher in some regions and destinations in 2024, mainly for international travel, data shows.

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

Flights to Canada, South America and the Middle East and Africa have also grown by 6%, 2% and 1% respectively since summer 2023, according to Hopper.

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

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For example, while round-trip airfare to Asia remained unchanged from last year, prices for some destinations increased: up 65% (to $3,196) for the average flight to Sakata, a coastal city in northeastern Japan. ; by 42% (up to $4,190) in Ipoh, one of Malaysia’s largest cities; and by 35% (to $4,092) in Udon Thani, in northeastern Thailand, according to Hopper.

According to Hopper, high travel prices to some Asian cities affect many American tourists, since the continent is the second most visited international tourist destination.

Flights also increased to some major South American hubs, Hopper said: up 16% (to $955) to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; by 34% (up to $667) to Lima, Peru; and by 13% (up to $826), for example, in Santiago, Chile.

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

“The past year has been extremely expensive,” said Haley Berg, lead economist at Hopper.

International travel has proven particularly costly as consumers unleash pent-up demand to travel abroad due to Covid-19 restrictions, many countries have reopened their borders to foreign visitors, airlines have worked to restore their flight schedules, and jet fuel prices have soared. grew up.

In some areas, this dynamic has not yet stopped. Additionally, specific destinations have their own supply and demand factors that keep prices high.

Overall, however, travelers received significant discounts.

Average airline fares for flights from the United States fell 5.8% in the year from April 2023 to April 2024, according to the agency. consumer price index. In the last month alone they have decreased by almost 1%.

“Basically what we see 1716213618 This is a huge improvement on most routes,” Berg said. “I expect this to continue.”

However, Americans may feel that airfare prices in general are rising due to certain airline trends, such as higher checked bag fees, says Sally French, travel expert at NerdWallet.

Major carriers, including Alaska Airlines, american airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways And United Airlines for example, this year they raised the fee for checked baggage.

While the fee increase is typically $5 more per bag, it can add up, especially for round-trip family fares, French said.

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

However, there are ways to save money, such as flying on certain airlines, combining bags, or even trying to skip bag checks altogether. If you know you’ll have to check your luggage, doing so before checking in will likely save you money too.

Booking your airfare in advance—at least one to three months in advance of a domestic trip and three to four months in advance of an international trip—is another way to save on airfare, French says. She said airlines usually don’t cut airfares at the last minute, unlike many hotels, for example.

Other ways to save include being flexible with your travel timing—for example, visiting a destination during the off-season rather than during peak season, or flying midweek rather than on the weekend. Be sure to take advantage of rewards like frequent flyer miles as well as certain benefits like travel insurance offered by some credit cards.