Bargains, bundles and less airlines seats in store for travelers
Bargain destinations, bundles airfares and reduced capacity onboard airlines whose alliances and mergers are shifting load patterns are what’s in store for travelers this year, says a new survey by online booking site, OneTravel.com.
The survey says airlines will move to a "bundled fare" pricing structure. Standard airfares will continue to be available but with new tiered options for a fee (like the new American Airlines pricing plan and the opt for "A" boarding at Southwest also reported today). The survey says the flexibility will be especially important for business travelers.
Along with bundling, the survey sees airline reduced capacity as a major component of travel this year. Mark Drusch, chief supplier relations officer for Fareportal, the parent company of OneTravel.com, says that the 2012 for reduced capacity will continue in the first half of 2013. He advises travelers to book early to avoid increasing ticket prices, and to fully understand what is included with their fare type so there are no surprises later. Drutch also says there will be a new increase in non-stops from interior US gateways to destinations outside the US like AA’s new Dallas to Lima flight and Turkish Airlines’ Houston to Istanbul.
Bargain destinations are also a trend for 2013.
The survey says unexplored areas of Central and South America like Nicaragua and Columbia will be on traveler’s "A" list this year. The site has seen significant surges in Latin America bookings compared to last year, citing Santiago (500 percent), Rio de Janeiro (156 percent), San Jose (145 percent), Buenos Aires (78 percent) and Lima (20 percent) as the most sought-after destinations.
Currently, OneTravel.com’s overall top five international destinations for 2013 are Cancun, Manila, San Jose (Costa Rica), Lima, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Gretchen Kelly
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