04 August 2009

Domestic airfares hit new low

Domestic airfares are cheaper than they were a decade ago, according to federal data.
 

"Passengers paid 5.1% less to travel on average during the early months of this year than they did during the same period in 1999, when fares averaged $332 -- not adjusted for inflation -- according to federal data," said the Chicago Tribune.
 

Second-quarter data aren't yet available, although prices probably rose slightly during the busier summer travel months.

"It's a flier's market," said Tom Parsons, chief executive of BestFares.com., told the newspaper. "I don't know if we're ever going to see a year like this one."

When do you get the very lowest rates? By booking Monday, Thursday or Friday flights, according to Parsons.

"If you go past those dates, you will find sometimes the fares will be doubled," he said.

On the other hand, except for Southwest, most carriers have introduced or hiked fees for a slew of services that once were free.

Even so, major airlines such as American, Continental, Delta and United all saw revenue declines of greater than 20% during the second quarter of this year.
 

by David Wilkening
 

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