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Is air travel getting more expensive?

Recent increases in flight costs reflect broad inflation and higher gas prices.

Updated on Fri, November 18, 2022 by the USAFacts Team

The cost of air travel in the US is up in 2022 compared with last year. After adjusting for inflation though, the price of an average plane ticket is still decreasing over the past decade.

Air traffic declined sharply at the beginning of the pandemic, but the number of flights is now near pre-pandemic levels. However, air travel’s recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic has been turbulent. Despite fewer passengers, airlines are on time less often . And prices are on the rise thanks to higher gas prices and widespread inflation, even before the upcoming holiday travel season.

How have air fares changed?

Recent increases in inflation mean prices have increased for most common goods and services, and air fares are no exception. The overall inflation rate from September 2021 to 2022 was 8.2% for all items in the Consumer Price Index . By comparison, airline fares saw one of the greatest 12-month increases in price for items in the index, rising 42.9% over the same time period.

This increase can be attributed in part to the low cost and low demand of flights in 2021, in addition to the growth of inflation this year.

Another contributor to rising air fare prices is the increase in fuel costs. In June 2022, the average cost per gallon of fuel for airlines surpassed $4 for the first time. For Q2 of 2022, fuel costs accounted for 24.2% of domestic operating expenses for airlines, compared with 14.6% in 2021, and 34.0% of international expenses, compared with 20.0% in 2021.

While airlines can engage in hedging , or using fuel contracts to limit exposure to future price changes, unexpected or drastic changes in fuel costs will still impact an airline’s financials.

Accounting for inflation, air fares increased from 2021 to 2022, but this year’s prices overall continued a long-run decline in the cost to fly. The recent increase in prices is reflective of air travel’s recovery from the pandemic, but air fare increases have generally matched or been slightly below inflation levels.

Which airports are the most expensive to fly out of?

Of the top 50 busiest airports in the US by number of passengers, Washington Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC was the most expensive to fly out of, with an average domestic airfare from April to June 2022 of $525.70. Average domestic airline fares are influenced by the most common flight routes, seat types, and airlines for each airport, as well as regional differences in expenses.

Of the 50 busiest airports, 18 have seen current flight prices surpass 2019 prices, adjusted for inflation.

With air travel rising back to pre-pandemic levels, Americans across the country will be impacted by the increased cost of flights throughout the holidays.

Learn more about air travel and which airlines have the best on-time performance and get the facts every week by signing up for our newsletter .

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Related articles, gas and used car prices are over 20% above their levels last year.

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Travel price index.

MONTHLY INSIGHTS December 20, 2023

airline travel cost increase

The Travel Price Index (TPI) measures the cost of travel away from home in the United States. It is based on the U.S. Department of Labor price data collected for the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI). The TPI is released monthly and is directly comparable to the CPI. 

Please see attached table for the latest data.

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This page presents inflation-adjusted and unadjusted average air fares since 1995. Averages are computed using data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' Passenger Origin and Destination (O&D) Survey, a 10% sample of all airline tickets for U.S. carriers, excluding charter air travel.

Average Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include fees for optional services, such as baggage fees. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or “zero fares.” The inflation adjustment is calculated using dollars for the most recent year of air fare data.

The most recent data are from the  3rd Quarter of 2023 .

Air Fare Press Releases  (Tables 1-6)

National Level Fares since 1995

Average Fares – Top 100 Airports and eight Metropolitan Areas

  • Table 7. Fares at Airports with 2,000,000+ Originating Passengers 3rd Quarter 2023
  • Table 8. Fares at Airports with 1.5M-1.99M Originating Passengers 3rd Quarter 2023
  • Table 9. Fares at Airports with 1M-1.49M Originating Passengers 3rd Quarter 2023
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  • Table 12. Fares at Metropolitan Areas 3rd Quarter 2023

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How to Account for Changing Prices in Your 2022 Travel Budget

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Inflation is crushing almost all aspects of Americans’ budgets — including their vacations. Prices rose on average 8.6% for the past 12 months ending in May 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And one major travel expense rose way more than that: Rental car prices skyrocketed 24% year over year based on February data.

The Consumer Price Index, which measures prices on items like travel, groceries, clothes and cars, in May 2022 saw the highest inflation reading since December 1981.

Annual inflation rates are a common way to understand economic changes. But when comparing 2022 inflation data to 2021, it’s important to acknowledge how unique the last few years have been. For instance, in 2021, many people’s work schedules were adjusted or reduced, and daily activities came to a standstill due to ongoing closures at bars, restaurants and gyms.

Travel — especially of the international kind — was difficult. But, given such low demand, travel was also generally pretty cheap.

It’s almost certain you’ll pay more for the same trip in 2023 than you did in 2021. But how much more should you expect to pay this year versus past years, when vacations were a bit more normal?

» Learn more: The NerdWallet travel inflation tracker (updated monthly)

Don't let the averages guide your travel budget

Several organizations put a tremendous amount of effort into understanding how much people spend on travel.

For instance, according to Expedia’s 2022 Traveler Value Index, which surveyed 5,500 adults worldwide in November 2021, Americans plan to spend, on average, $2,353 on their next trip. Separately, market research firm Destination Analysts’ November 2021 survey of more than 1,200 Americans determined that the average American’s leisure travel budget for 2022 is $3,797.

Even NerdWallet tries to peg a dollar figure to vacation spending. Americans intended to spend $1,417, on average, for travel during the 2022 holiday season , according to a September 2022 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet.

But when it comes to vacation budgeting, using the average can be tricky, as your personal travel preferences often dictate your overall spending.

Do you often fly first class to another continent or are you taking short-haul flights on budget carriers?

Do you typically stay in luxury accommodations, like overwater bungalows in the Maldives, or do most trips find you at your grandma’s where you’re staying for free?

Do you dine primarily at Michelin-star restaurants or are you the type to load up on free hotel breakfast ?

Travel styles are highly variable, and you can’t always base your personal budget on a nebulous average sourced from travelers with wide-ranging preferences.

Rather than comparing your spending to averages from surveys, it can make more sense to use your travel budget from past trips and adjust according to today’s inflation rates.

airline travel cost increase

How inflation is shaping travel costs

Especially if you’re building your next vacation budget based on an earlier trip, expect to pay far more now. But compared to pre-pandemic travel, some expenses might be increasing at roughly similar rates — and one major travel expense will likely cost less.

NerdWallet looked at the costs of common travel expenses over the past 10 years using CPI data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here's how those numbers shook out for airfare, travel lodging, rental cars, dining out and entertainment (like movies and concerts).

Here's how those numbers shook out for airfare, travel lodging, rental cars, dining out and entertainment (like movies and concerts).

Airfares are at record highs

Airfares are at record highs, and the rate of increase since 2020 and 2021 is especially shocking given how low airfares dipped in the early part of the pandemic.

The average cost of airfares in May 2022 was 19% higher than the previous month and 38% higher than May 2021. What’s more, the May 2022 price is over 22% higher than the average from March 2019, which would have been the last comparable May before COVID-19-related lockdowns in the U.S.

Lodging prices are volatile

The price for lodging away from home, including hotels and motels, saw one of the biggest swings of any price category throughout the duration of the pandemic.

In December 2020, average hotel prices dropped to their lowest levels since December 2013. Yet it didn’t take long for prices to hit all-time highs. Just seven months later in July 2021, prices had increased 47% to their highest level in the Consumer Price Index.

Fast forward to now, and hotel prices continue to set all-time highs. Given how much seasonality plays into hotel prices, we can expect that the summer months could follow suit.

Meanwhile, many hotels are cutting back on amenities including daily housekeeping and room service . Hospitality companies blame factors including high demand, staffing shortages and supply chain issues .

Car rentals have one of the biggest price increases

Rental cars have had one of the biggest price increases , and renters in summer 2021 got especially pummeled. Prices hit an all-time high in July 2021, and while they’ve slightly recovered, as of May 2022 they’re still around 70% more expensive than they were in May 2019.

At this rate, be prepared for price increases aligned with summer travel demand. You might want to opt out of the rental car altogether this year.

Restaurant spending consistently rises

Food prices consistently rise every year , including in the COVID-19 era. In May 2022, the cost of food away from home is up nearly 7% versus May 2021 and about 15% versus May 2019.

To that end, foodies on a budget may consider turning to street vendors or fast-casual stops for cheaper meals than sit-down restaurants for their 2022 vacation. Those who have access to a kitchen (say, in a vacation home rental or a hotel suite) might consider stopping by local markets or grocery stores for not just the adventure, but also for the chance to buy ingredients to put together at home.

Entertainment expenditures see price increases, too

There have been some slightly larger-than-average jumps for travel-related leisure expenses.

Like restaurants, entertainment prices see fairly consistent increases — save for a small dip in 2020. Luckily for consumers, price increases here haven’t been as drastic as those for dining out.

In May 2022, the average price for movie, theater and concert tickets is up about 6% compared to May 2021 and about 10% compared to May 2019.

Travelers may opt for lower-cost activities rather than paid ones for their 2022 vacation, such as going hiking, checking out free days at museums, aquariums or zoos, playing board games at a brewery or wandering farmers markets.

2023 travel costs vs. pre-pandemic travel costs

On the whole, prices are certainly rising, with rental cars as one of the expenses most likely to give you some newfound sticker shock.

Here’s how average prices have changed since pre-pandemic times:

To account for inflation in your 2023 vacation budget and get a better idea of how much you should expect to spend, you could multiply your trip expenses from past years with this year’s percent changes.

So if you spent $100 on a rental car in May 2019, you could multiply that by 70% and expect to spend about $170 on the same type of rental this year. If you spent $100 on concert tickets in May 2019, multiply that by 10%, and expect to pay about $110 for the same show this year.

And if you don’t have exact numbers from your past trip expenses, realize that expenses like hotels, entertainment and food will likely take a bigger chunk of your travel budget than before the pandemic.

Rental cars will likely cost significantly more, and opting out of this expense altogether could be a smart money move. And there’s a good chance that airfares will cost less.

Planning can minimize inflation's toll on your vacation budget

With airfares still low and rental car prices soaring, perhaps you skip the road trip this year. Fly into a public transit-friendly city like San Francisco, New York City or Boston. If you prefer small-town vibes, ferry to a mostly car-free island like Catalina Island, California, or Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Even though airfares cost more on average today than in the pandemic’s early days, you can take some solace in the fact that you’re more than likely saving on airfare this year than you were pre-pandemic.

A previous version of this article included incorrect data in charts and text. The charts have been removed and the text has been updated.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023 , including those best for:

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No annual fee:   Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards:  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card  

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Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

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On a similar note...

airline travel cost increase

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Domestic flight prices increased 47% since January

Consumers spent $8.3b in may for domestic flights, but bookings dropped by 2.3%.

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The cost of domestic airfare has increased "significantly" over the course of 2022, rising 47% since January, according to recent Adobe Analytics data. 

In fact, May marked the fourth month in a row when prices rose over pre-pandemic levels, according to Adobe, which measures direct consumer transactions from six of the top 10 U.S. airlines. 

Last month, prices surged 30% compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, prices for domestic flights were up 27% in April and 20% in March compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to Adobe. 

Meanwhile, prices in February were up 5% compared to 2019 levels. 

airline travel cost increase

Passengers walk through Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City, Oct. 27, 2020.  (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer / AP Newsroom)

To better underscore the impact of elevated prices, Adobe tracked the amount consumers collectively spent last month versus actual flight bookings. 

DEMAND FOR MAY AIR TRAVEL INCREASES DESPITE ELEVATED PRICES: REPORT

For instance, consumers collectively spent $8.3 billion online for domestic flights in May, which is up 6.2% from April when consumers doled out $7.8 billion. 

Although consumers spent over $500 million more in May for flights, actual bookings were down by 2.3% on monthly basis, according to Adobe. 

"While some consumers have been able to stomach the higher fares, especially for those who delayed travel plans during the pandemic, the dip in bookings shows that some are rethinking their appetite for getting on a plane," Adobe Digital Insights lead analyst Vivek Pandya said. 

airline travel cost increase

A family looks at flight information at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

NO MORE CHEAP FLIGHTS: DOMESTIC TRAVEL PRICES UP OVER 20% FROM PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, REPORT SAYS

These higher prices are already impacting some of those delayed summer trips.

Domestic bookings for travel between June and August are down 2% compared to this point in 2019, according to Adobe. However, spending on trips during that period is still up 11%.

Overall, consumers spent $37.1 billion online on domestic flights year to date. That's a significant increase from the $19.2 billion consumers collectively spent during the first five months of 2021, according to Adobe. 

airline travel cost increase

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Increase in travel is causing travel prices to rise.

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More people are traveling in the summer of 2021 by car and plane for relaxation and visiting relatives. As a result, the low travel fares from late 2020 and early 2021 are disappearing as prices return to normal. In some cases, prices might be higher.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 26: People wait for a train inside Moynihan Train Hall on May 26, 2021 in ... [+] New York City. On May 19, all pandemic restrictions, including mask mandates, social distancing guidelines, venue capacities and restaurant curfews were lifted by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)

Are Travel Prices Increasing?

Prices for many travel expenses are higher in the summer of 2021 than a few months before. The price increases vary by expense type and the travel destination.

A rebound in leisure travel is fueling the rising travel costs. Business travel may resume in the fall as more people first return to the office before traveling again for meetings and conferences, causing prices to propel higher yet.

The April 2021 U.S. Travel Association Travel Price Index shows a 9.5% year-over-year increase. There's also a 30.1% increase in transportation costs for the same period, primarily because of rising gas prices.

As a fair comparison, many domestic travel restrictions were still in place for April 2020. States didn't begin reopening until May 2020 (at the earliest), but many people didn't make their first post-pandemic trips until 2021 after becoming fully vaccinated or when more travel restrictions lifted.

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Forbes advisor u.s. outlook 2021.

For example, the daily TSA screenings for many days in April 2020 were below 100,000. The busiest day (April 30, 2020) logged 171,563 screenings. The busiest day in April 2021 (April 18, 2021) had 1,572,383 visitors. That's quite a change but well below the 2019 daily average between 2 and 2.5 million.

Here's a closer look at the rising prices by each travel sector.

Airfare Prices

Finding pandemic flight bargains is difficult. Alaska Airlines reports the average fare price for June 2021 is higher than in 2019, according to a USA Today article. Other domestic airlines are reporting a similar pricing effect. Cheap fares were still available in the opening months of 2021.

But as the nation and the world reopens, prices and travel searches began increasing in March 2021. Popular flight routes and peak travel weekends have the highest fares. Flying to less popular destinations or using alternate airports may help you find lower prices. Booking flights several weeks or months in advance can be another way to secure the best rates.

Hotel And Vacation Homes

Rates for hotels and vacation homes are higher than pre-pandemic nightly rates in many destinations. Data company Transparent reports that average nightly rates for Airbnb stays in July/August 2021 cost $220. The average cost was $194 in 2020 and $185 pre-pandemic.

Prices for vacation homes can be higher than hotel rooms as travelers crave the privacy and natural social distancing measures that most hotels don't offer. For instance, a vacation rental provides a private kitchen and does not share a common interior hallway or air conditioning system.

However, hotel prices can be higher than in 2020 as leisure travel increases, but relatively few people travel overseas.

Rental Cars

The rental car industry is suffering from the low supply for several reasons:

  • Fleet downsizing due to low demand in 2020
  • Difficulty acquiring new cars due to a semiconductor shortage
  • A rapid increase in leisure travel demand

The Better Business Bureau reports that some agencies are charging "several hundred dollars" for entry-level vehicles. Usually, these compact cars can cost less than $100 per day. As some car rentals cost $722 per day in Maui in March 2021, tourists were renting U-Haul moving trucks as a cheaper alternative.

Rental rates are likely to be higher, and the inventory can be slimmer at airports and popular tourist destinations. Rates and rental options can be more favorable in off-site agencies.

Whether you rent a car or plan on taking a road trip in a personal vehicle, AAA project gas prices will be at the highest summer prices since 2014. Increased travel volume, pipeline troubles and other market conditions are contributing culprits to rising gas prices.

How To Find Cheap Travel Prices In 2021

While travel prices are rising and carriers are less likely to offer the promotions they did during the pandemic to encourage travel, there are ways to avoid paying high fees.

Book Several Months In Advance

Consider booking travel reservations several months in advance. Of course, look for flexible cancellation policies. Last-minute deals are hard to come by as many places report low vacancy rates.

Wait Until Fall To Travel

June, July and early August can be the busiest and most expensive months to travel as school is out of session. Families are usually taking a summer vacation. Waiting until school restarts can mean fewer crowds and booking travel in shoulder season and off-peak season.

Consider Less Popular Destinations

Compare rates for smaller cities or less popular destinations. While the experience may not be quite the same, you can participate in similar activities at a lower cost.

While travel volumes are still lower than the pre-pandemic levels, prices are higher than a few months ago. In some cases, they are higher than before the travel shutdowns. Be ready to spend more time comparing prices to find the best travel deal.

Related Articles:

  • What You Should Know About The CDC Travel Guidelines
  • May 2021 Travel Restrictions: Where Can You Go?
  • Do I Still Have To Wear A Mask When Flying?

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These US Airlines Have Raised Their Checked Baggages Fees

By Hannah Towey

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All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

There's a bit of bad news for all the overpackers out there: one by one, most major US airlines have quietly increased their checked baggage fees in 2024.

The nearly industry-wide price hike began in January when Alaska Airlines raised the cost of checking a first bag to $35 and a second bag to $45. Over the next month, JetBlue , American , and United followed suit, each raising their checked baggage fees by an average of $5 to $10.

And on March 5, Delta increased its checked bag fees by $5 for most US originating domestic and short-haul international routes, bringing the cost of checking a first and second bag to $35 and $45, respectively. The fee increase does not apply to tickets purchased before March 5 or checked bags between US/Canada and Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

The only exception remains Southwest, which has famously never charged for checked luggage. “Our two bags fly free policy is here to stay," a spokesperson for the airline tells Traveler.

These are the current baggage fees for each major US airline in 2024:

  • Alaska Airlines: First checked bag $35; second checked bag $45
  • American Airlines: First checked bag $35-$40; second checked bag $45
  • Delta Air Lines: First checked bag $35; second checked bag $45
  • Hawaiian Airlines: First checked bag $25-30; second checked bag $35-40
  • JetBlue Airways: First checked bag $35-$45; second checked bag $50-60
  • United Airlines: First checked bag $35-$40; second checked bag $45-50
  • Southwest Airlines: Each passenger gets two checked bags for free

So why, after years of charging $30 across the board, are airlines making it more expensive to check bags? JetBlue , for its part, says raising baggage fees is one step the company is taking in order to return to profitability and cover the cost of transporting bags amid inflationary pressures such as higher fuel and labor costs. The New York City-based carrier implemented the highest increase of the bunch, charging up to $45 for a first checked bag and $60 for a second.

“By adjusting fees for added services that only certain customers use, we can keep base fares low and ensure customer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone,” JetBlue tells Traveler.

Alaska Airlines, which last raised its bag fees in December 2018, also cites rising operating costs as a driving force behind the fee increase. “Alaska Airlines is committed to providing exceptional service to our guests. As we navigate rising operating costs–including high fuel prices–we occasionally need to adjust our fee structure to maintain a high level of excellence in the service we provide,” the carrier says.

While there are staunch believers among the Traveler team that all you need is carry-on luggage, the good news is that if you must check a bag, there are a few sure-fire tactics to get around baggage fees.

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Invest in luggage that makes packing light easy

The surest way to avoid checked bag fees is to not check a bag at all. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, and Hawaiian Airlines offer one free carry-on (and one personal item) regardless of your cabin class; meanwhile, JetBlue and United restrict basic economy ticket holders to one personal item.

Invest in carry-on luggage that makes packing light a breeze—and don't underestimate what you can fit in your personal item , either. From hardshell rollers to lightweight garment bags, check out our favorite carry-on bags , tried and tested by Traveler editors.

Plan ahead to avoid extra fees

Prepaying online for a checked bag in advance of your flight—and making sure you follow all the airline's weight and size restrictions—can save you from paying extra at the airport .

Along with increasing the base cost of checking a bag in recent months, United and JetBlue also implemented new policies that charge passengers $5 to $10 extra for any bags checked within 24 hours of departure.

In a statement shared with Traveler, United said that while the airline is raising checked bag fees in North America for the first time in four years, United Chase credit card holders, MileagePlus Premier members, active military members, and customers traveling in premium cabins can still check a bag for free. Customers in most markets can receive a $5 discount if they prepay for their bags online at least 24 hours before their flight, they added.

Check your credit card benefits

The right credit card can save you from a myriad of travel fees, including fees associated with checked bags. Most airline-branded credit cards allow passengers to check at least one bag for free , as long as they're flying with the airline and purchased the ticket with the card.

Some of the best travel credit cards have no annual fee or low annual fees that are waived during the first year, meaning they essentially pay for themselves. From general travel rewards cards to airline-specific credit cards great for loyal fliers, these are the 8 favorite credit cards that Traveler editors use every day.

Airline status and cabin class

It may not come easy–or cheap—but frequent flyer status or a premium cabin class will often grant you “free” checked bags as well. For each airline's baggage policies by cabin, check their websites. Pro tip: always compare the fare difference between cabins like basic economy and premium economy —if it's equal or slightly more than the baggage fees you'd need to pay in the lower cabin, you might as well upgrade and enjoy the other perks, too.

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Flights in 2024 Will Actually Be Cheaper, According to Data Analysis

A new analysis from discount flight booking site Going.com, revealed that airfare has dipped below pre-pandemic prices.

airline travel cost increase

JOSEPH PREZIOSO/Getty Images

If traveling more and paying less for flights is on your New Year’s resolution list — you’re in luck.  A new analysis from discount flight booking site Going.com , shared with Travel + Leisure, revealed that airfare has dipped below pre-pandemic prices and also dropped 24 percent from the May 2022 peak of airfares. The company provided evidence of the  international fares dropping such as flights to Paris for $387 and to New Zealand for $686 round-trip.  “2023 has been a return to normalcy when it comes to flight prices, while 2024 is expected to just be normal. The peak of flight prices in May of 2022 have disappeared,” Going.com’s Katy Nastro shared in a statement to T+L. “Looking forward, we don't anticipate any major swings in demand outside of typical peak seasons like the summer or the winter holidays like we saw in the last 18 months where post-pandemic pent up travel demand drove prices upwards.” Naylor analyzed the average price of airfare and tracked a downward trend for 13 of the last 18 months, and that prices are currently down 12 percent from the same time last year.  Economists cite less people traveling for leisure, and a lack of business travel as reasons for the lower airfares.  “It’s a combination of less business travel, as we haven’t seen the rebound to pre-pandemic levels, lower fuel prices, and more capacity as more planes have come online,” KPMG’s Chief Economist Diane Swonk told T+L in an interview.   Southwest Airlines recently described the current level of business travelers flying as “below historical levels” during their October 2023 earnings call .  In addition to airfares trending down, car rental prices dropped 10.1 percent over the last year, according to the recent Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index Report .  

When it comes to finding cheaper flights, if travelers aren't finding a sale, airlines like United and Delta have deals on their websites.

Airline tickets could get more expensive amid the Boeing 737 Max fallout

  • Executives from several US carriers have expressed doubt about the Boeing 737 Max delivery schedule.
  • Southwest expects 42% fewer jets this year, while United told Boeing to stop making the Max 10.
  • The production slowdown has prompted airlines to cut flying, likely resulting in higher airfares.

Insider Today

Customers may soon feel the impact of the Boeing 737 Max blowout as airlines face uncertainty about their future fleets.

At a JP Morgan conference on Tuesday, executives from US carriers, including Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, opened up about the effect on their businesses' bottom line as Boeing slows production of its best-selling airliner .

Bloomberg reported the CEOs shared similar stories about the delays, noting one of the biggest concerns is the abrupt change in expected Max deliveries and how that could affect airline ticket prices.

Southwest revealed it will only receive 46 of the previously planned 79 Max 8 variants it hoped to get this year, representing a 42% decrease, Bloomberg reported. The airline also said it doesn't expect to receive any of the yet-to-be-certified Max 7s this year and removed them from its 2024 plan.

Similarly, United CEO Scott Kirby said in January that the company will build an "alternative plan" for its fleet that doesn't include the Max 10, Boeing's other uncertified Max variant. At the JPMorgan event, he told Boeing to stop making the Max 10 for the airline — of which United has ordered 150 — in favor of Max 9s as continued delays leave the fate of the program in limbo, Bloomberg reported.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian also expressed doubt over the Max 10 timeline. It ordered 30 of the planes in July 2022 as it hoped to grow its domestic network. According to Bloomberg, Bastian said the jet could now be delivered as late as 2027 — seven years after the Max 10 was initially expected to enter the market.

Alaska, the airline involved in the Max 9 blowout, said at the event that its schedule is "in flux" as it evaluates Boeing's production stall.

Related stories

All of these concerns lead down the same road: Fewer available aircraft means airlines are forced to cut summer flying , likely resulting in higher airfare to make up for the lost revenue.

"It's a simple matter of supply and demand," aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia told Business Insider on Wednesday. "With new aircraft production heavily constrained, especially at Boeing, and a limited number of older aircraft that can be kept longer in service, and continued very strong demand, prices are likely to increase."

Michael O'Leary, the CEO of European low-cost airline Ryanair, is already warning of this reality at his carrier, saying passengers would see "slightly higher airfares" this summer due to Max delivery delays.

Travel analyst Henry Harteveldt told BI on Wednesday that airlines are likely to capitalize on this year's strong demand and "limit the number of seats sold at the lowest price points" for peak summer travel.

"Presuming the US economy holds steady, between the delays in new aircraft deliveries — from both Boeing and Airbus — and the Airbus aircraft grounded due to engine problems, travelers may see higher-than-expected summer season airfares," he explained, referring to Airbus grounding of some of its A320 planes due to defects in the engines that will affect aircraft availability through 2026.

Low-cost competition from the likes of Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines, however, will prompt the majors to offer "deeply discounted — but heavily restricted — 'basic economy' fares on some flights," Harteveldt said, which could help travelers save money.

"If possible, try to travel at off-peak times — for example, before mid-June or after mid-August," Harteveldt offered as advice to more frugal travelers flying this summer. "Memorial Day and July 4 are always popular times to travel. If your schedule allows, try to travel a few days before or after those holiday weekends."

Airlines may look to Airbus to grow their fleets

In a scramble to find more planes, airlines could opt for remedies like aircraft leasing or buying up Airbus jets — the world's only other major planemaker.

While Southwest, Ryanair, and Alaska only operate Boeing aircraft and are less likely to jump manufacturers — with Alaska just recently retiring its last A321neo in March 2023 — Delta and United have more flexibility in their diverse fleets.

Delta has been deploying the Airbus A321 , for example, while Kirby has been in talks with Airbus to buy more A321neos in lieu of Max 10s at United, Reuters reported.

However, the European planemaker is already so bottlenecked that it cannot physically manage the global demand for airliners — putting the industry between a rock and a hard place. Its order backlog reached about 8,600 passenger planes by the end of 2023.

Watch: Thousands of bags pile up at US airports after flight cancellations

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Watch CBS News

Boeing's woes could mean higher airfares for U.S. travelers

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Alain Sherter, Aimee Picchi

March 18, 2024 / 6:14 PM EDT / CBS News

Boeing's production woes could lead to higher airfares and fewer flights for travelers to choose from. 

The aviation giant is experiencing production delays as it grapples with the fallout from a Jan. 5 emergency on an Alaska Airlines flight , including addressing manufacturing and other operational defects. That is delaying aircraft deliveries for carriers including United Airlines and Southwest Air Lines.

Boeing data  shows that through the end of February, it had a backlog of nearly 4,800 orders for  737 Max aircraft. That included 71 737 Max planes purchased by American Airlines, 100 for Delta Air Lines, 219 for Ryanair, 483 for Southwest and 349 for United. Their expected delivery dates were not specified. The aircraft manufacturer delivered a total of 42 737 Max jets in the first two months of the year.

"Disappointing news for consumers"

"It's not that airlines will have to cut flights — it's that they won't be able to add as many new flights as they perhaps had hoped to for the summer," Henry Harteveldt, an airline analyst with Atmosphere Research Group, told CBS MoneyWatch. "It's disappointing news for consumers and for airlines. Consumers may not have as many flights, and airlines won't be able to offer as many flights and make more money. It's lose-lose for airlines and travelers." 

Southwest said it does not publicly discuss airfare prices. United also did not comment on airfares. 

Even without a delay in jet deliveries, strong consumer demand can drive up the price for tickets. But reduced aircraft production capacity and high fuel costs are expected to put even more upward pressure on the cost of flying. 

"Airlines are intimating that summer demand looks good, and that to me suggests that airfares would be higher anyway," Harteveldt said. "But obviously, when an airline doesn't have all the aircraft it expects to have and thus can't operate all the flights with all the capacity, there's a chance airfares would be higher than they otherwise would have been."

Working in consumers' favor is the fact that budget airlines including Breeze, Spirit and Velo are expanding, he added. "That provides a counterbalance to the fares the larger airlines charge."

Airline plans hit turbulence

Aircraft production issues have thrown airlines' "business and capacity plans into disarray for most of the second half of the year," said Robert Mann of R.W. Mann & Company, an airline industry consulting firm.

Southwest, which only flies 737s, will feel the hit from Boeing's issues most acutely. The airline has indicated it does not expect the 86 Boeing aircraft it had ordered to arrive this year, making it impossible for the airline to add fligths. 

"It will inevitably mean less capacity in the second half of the year against what the airline had indicated earlier. An abrupt reduction in capacity like that will result in some higher prices," Mann said.  

He expects consumers to have fewer flights to choose from on domestic and short-haul international routes to places such as Mexico and The Caribbean. 

Prices for air tickets sold in February were up about 6%, according to the Airline Reporting Corporation. Mann expects costs to rise by as much as 10% in some cases. On an average fare of $573, that's roughly $57 more; for a family of four, that amounts to an extra $230 additional dollars. 

"It could be significant," he said. 

  • Boeing 737 Max

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Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News Streaming to discuss her reporting.

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Air travel may be about to get better. Here's what it means for your next flight.

Your next flight may get an upgrade.

No, not as in a bigger seat in the front of the cabin. It's bigger than that − much bigger.

Air travel in the United States could soon improve dramatically. Here's how:

  • New federal protections for air travelers. The U.S. Senate passed new rules that require better fee disclosure, free family seating, and new ticket refund rights. It also proposed appointing a new assistant secretary to handle airline service problems. 
  • Better seats. Southwest has announced ambitious plans to overhaul its cabin interiors. It joins other carriers, including Japan Airlines, LOT and Swiss in rolling out new and more comfortable seats. 
  • Upgraded airline performance. Air carriers have canceled fewer flights lately. For the first 11 months of last year, domestic airlines canceled only 1.4 percent of flights, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT). That's way below the 2.5 percent cancellation rate for the first 11 months of 2022 and significantly better than the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.

Check out   Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

"There's a sense of optimism for the future of U.S. air travel," said Duncan Greenfield-Turk, chief travel designer for Global Travel Moments , "The airline industry has an opportunity to rebuild and reimagine air travel, potentially ushering in a new golden age marked by superior service, innovation and passenger satisfaction."

Passengers want to get off the plane first. Here's how you can do it.

Me first! How passengers are cheating their way onto the plane faster

Is it time to start celebrating a new golden age of air travel? 

Hang on, hang on. We're not there yet. 

In fact, economy class passengers are still pretty unhappy with their travel experience, according to the latest J. D. Power North American Airline Satisfaction Study . In categories such as ease of travel, onboard experience and trust, the airlines scored lower than they did last year. 

"We’re seeing signs of weakening consumer satisfaction," said Mike Taylor, J.D. Power's managing director for travel and hospitality.

The silver lining: Amid declining fares, passengers say they got more value for their money when they flew compared with 2022. 

Hey, it's a start.

But passengers say change is in the air. Alex Beene, a community coordinator from Nashville, Tennessee, and a frequent air traveler, said his past few flights were on time and went smoothly. And he hardly had to wait at the TSA screening area.

"I've never felt as good about air travel as I have the last few months," he told me.

I've spoken with many air travelers who share his sense of optimism. It feels as if for the first time in years, the stars are aligning for airline passengers. 

But are they really?

This golden age could be a fake-out

Reality check: This new golden age could turn out to be fool's gold.

New luggage fees announced last week felt like a splash of cold water on all that optimism. This year, four domestic airlines have raised their fees for checked baggage. United Airlines is the latest to announce an increase. You'll pay $40 for your first checked bag, or $35 if you pay online at least 24 hours before your flight. That's an increase of $5.

And the new Senate provisions for air travel , while positive, still have to be reconciled with the House version of the FAA reauthorization bill this spring. That probably means some of the more pro-consumer provisions will be stricken by the airline-friendly Congress. 

How about those new airline seats? Generally, new aircraft interiors improve the flying experience. But Southwest's new interior design , which arrives next year, has been a little controversial. Critics have hammered its new seats for looking too thin and uncomfortable. One popular TikToker called them "lawn chairs." 

That may be unfair. True, the seats cut a slender profile, but they are the result of "careful and extensive" research, according to the airline. Also, none of the critics have sat in one of the seats yet, so there's that.

What about the airline industry's performance? Yes, it's impressive, and the government wastes no opportunity to take full credit for it. But it will last only until the next computer outage or bad weather plunges an airline hub into chaos.

"Let me be blunt," said Bill McGee, a senior fellow for Aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project . "The airline industry is still broken."

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How to have a better flight anyway

Golden age or not, only one thing really matters: How is your next flight? None of the trends and statistics matter if an airline cancels your flight and leaves you sleeping on the airport floor. Here's how to sidestep bad service:

  • Book a ticket on an airline that offers excellent service. There's a reason airlines like Delta, Southwest and Alaska keep winning customer service awards. If you cheap out and buy a ticket on a discount airline, you will get what you pay for. No golden age for you!
  • Avoid chaos. Try to avoid weekends and especially the days before and after major holidays. And always try to book the first flight of the day so that if something goes wrong, you won't be stranded at an airport waiting for a connection. If you have to fly on a busy holiday, pack your patience and a good travel insurance policy.
  • Know your rights . Whether Congress passes new laws or not, you still need to know your rights as an air traveler. (Yes, you have some.) For domestic flights, the DOT's Fly Rights page is an excellent resource. You can fly during a difficult time and still get decent service if you know your rights and can advocate for yourself if service goes south.

But perhaps the best advice of all is to keep your expectations modest. No one is turning the clock back to the 1960s, when even the economy class seats had plenty of legroom and the service was stellar. In a deregulated, post-pandemic airline industry, take nothing for granted – and focus on the basics.

"The greatest service of all," said MIT management professor Arnold Barnett, "is getting you to your destination safely."

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .

airline travel cost increase

Checked bag fee increases: what do they now cost at the airlines that implemented hikes?

T ravelers in the U.S. already collectively fork over billions of dollars in various baggage fees to major airlines each year. Recently, checking luggage in particular has become even pricier for some passengers.

That has been the case for certain customers flying with a handful of major airlines that have decided since the start of 2024 to hike the prices they set for checked bags. 

The five major airlines that have lifted their fees so far this year include Alaska Airlines, American, JetBlue, United and – most recently – Delta. More details on each airline’s changes can be found below.

Delta told FOX Business it would "increase fees for first and second checked bags by $5 for most U.S.-originating domestic and short-haul international routes" starting Tuesday.

With the increases, the fee for first checked bags on such flights is going from $30 to $35, according to the company. The higher fee for the second bag stands at $45 now, up from $40.

Checked bags between the U.S. or Canada and Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay did not see an impact on their current fees.

READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP

"Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members; customers flying with First Class, Delta Premium Select and Delta One Itineraries; and those with eligible co-branded Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards will continue to receive their allotment of complimentary checked bags," Delta also noted .

As of Feb. 24, United customers flying economy class domestically face a $40 fee if they want to check their first bag. It also got more expensive for them to check second bags, with the fee now set at $45 if done online ahead of time and $50 if done at the airport.

All three represented increases of $5. There remains a free bag exception for United Chase credit card holders, MileagePlus Premier members, active military members and premium-class customers, Fox News Digital reported .

Three tiers of JetBlue customers checking a first bag within 24 hours of their U.S., Latin America, Caribbean or Canada flights have started facing a $45 charge in February, up from $40 in late January. Outside the 24-hour window, they went up this year to $35.

The affected tiers for those flights were Blue Basic, Blue and Blue Extra.

Meanwhile, JetBlue asks Blue Basic, Blue, Blue Plus, Blue Extra and JetBlue Plus card member customers to pay second checked bag fees of $60 within 24 hours of departure and $50 for outside that time frame.

American upped how much it charges for a first bag checked at airport counters to $40 for domestic travel as of Feb. 20. For online checking of first bags, it increased to $35. The airline also started asking $45 for all second bags on domestic flights.

The checked bag fee applied to first bags for domestic flights used to be a flat $30 at the counter and online, while it had been $40 for second bags.

Canadian flights and short-haul flights to and from the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Guyana received a hike too, becoming $35 for first checked bags and $45 for second, according to the airline. They were $30 and $40 before the increases.

It kept certain cabin-type, military, loyalty and credit card-related carve-outs.

TOP AIRLINES RAKE IN $33B FROM BAG FEES

Alaska rolled out a $5 hike for first and second checked bags in early January, setting them at $35 and $45, respectively. Prior to that, the fees had been $30 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second. 

"All our mileage Plan MVP elite members will continue to enjoy their first and second bags checked for free in addition to our Club 49 members in the state of Alaska and all active duty military members," the company said. "Alaska Airlines Visa credit card holders and up to six guests on the same reservation will still receive their first checked bag for free."

Southwest has long been known for letting customers check two bags that comply with weight and size limits for free, and that apparently is not changing anytime soon. 

"We believe in listening to our Customers and leaning into what is important to them, offering them more value – not less as with some of our competitors – and keeping things simple while delivering the Southwest Hospitality that we are famous for," the company told FOX Business. "Our two bags fly free policy is here to stay."

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FOX BUSINESS

FOX Business also reached out to Allegiant, Frontier, Hawaiian and Spirit for comment on whether they have plans to increase their current checked bag fees this year.

They each have their own policy for checked bag fees, and information about them can be found on their respective websites.

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

Original article source: Checked bag fee increases: what do they now cost at the airlines that implemented hikes?

Passengers arrive at the terminal of the Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, Nov. 24, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

United Airlines expects busiest spring break ever despite travelers' cost concerns

Spring breakers in Cancun, Mexico

United Airlines expects its busiest spring break ever this year, even as travelers say they are concerned about rising costs.

The carrier said Monday it expects to serve more than 21 million passengers from March 8 to April 21 — up nearly 10% compared with last year.

That equates to more than 200,000 people per day on average during the period — about 15,000 more people flying per day than last year.

United said it expects the busiest travel day to be Friday, March 22, when more than 500,000 passengers are scheduled to travel via the carrier. Likewise, the week of March 25 will be the busiest travel week, with about 480,000 people flying each day that week, on average.

The travel group Expedia separately reported last month that the April 8 solar eclipse appears to be driving some of the biggest surges in bookings, with locations in Texas — the state with one of the largest exposures to the event — nearly doubling; searches for Dallas are up 95% year over year, Expedia said, while Austin searches are up 90%.

United and Expedia both said traditional spring getaway locations like Florida; Cancún, Mexico; and Las Vegas remain at the top of this year's most-sought-after destinations list.

According to the travel booking group Hopper, 90% of survey respondents traveling this spring said price and affordability are top of mind.

Yet despite higher demand, prices are actually down this year, according to Hayley Berg, the lead economist with Hopper. A "good deal" average price for someone who plans ahead for a spring break trip in the U.S. is down 2% from last year and 11% from 2019 to about $250, Hopper data shows.

In fact, the lower prices are helping drive demand, Berg said. Thanks to increased competition from low-cost carriers, increased seating capacity on planes and a return to full-strength staffing, the price the average consumer is likely to encounter when booking continues to fall — a trend that had been occurring before the onset of Covid-19 in 2020.

"It's been great for consumers," she said. "Pre-pandemic, prices were down consistently for years. It's something that's allowed the millennial generation to have travel be something they do a lot of."

airline travel cost increase

Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

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8 Incidents in 2 Weeks: What’s Going on With United’s Planes?

While no one was injured, most of the mishaps required emergency landings or diversions. One safety expert said the incidents were not the result of “systemic problems.”

Two blue-and-white commercial airplanes with the word “United” painted on their sides sit on the tarmac at an airport.

By Christine Chung

An engine fire sparked by plastic packaging wrap , a tire lost shortly after takeoff and a plane veering off the runway : These are among the eight incidents that have occurred over the past two weeks on flights operated by United Airlines. While no injuries — or worse — have been reported, the mishaps have generated headlines and stoked rising anxiety about aviation safety among federal officials and passengers alike.

All of the incidents happened on flights that took off from or were headed to airports in the United States, and five involved airplanes made by Boeing, a manufacturer already under intense scrutiny. In January, a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner in mid-flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.

United, one of the world’s largest airlines, flies aircraft manufactured mainly by Boeing and Airbus. In an email United began sending to customers on Monday, the company’s chief executive, Scott Kirby, wrote that while the recent incidents were unrelated, they were “reminders of the importance of safety.”

“I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus,” he continued, adding that every case was being reviewed by the airline and would influence its safety training and procedures.

Here’s what travelers should know about the latest in airplane woes.

What exactly happened on or to the planes?

Most of the incidents reported in the last two weeks required emergency landings or diversions.

March 4: A Boeing 737-900 departing from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston returned to the airport to make an emergency landing after one of the plane engines ingested and burned plastic wrap .

March 7: A Boeing 777 leaving San Francisco for Osaka, Japan, made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport after the aircraft lost a tire .

March 8: A Boeing 737 Max 8 veered off the runway upon landing at George Bush Airport in Houston and tilted onto the grass .

Later that day, a flight leaving San Francisco for Mexico City was diverted to Los Angeles after the Airbus A320 experienced issues with its hydraulic system.

March 9: An Airbus A320 heading to Salt Lake City turned back to Chicago O’Hare International Airport after it reported maintenance issues .

March 11: A Boeing 777, flying from Sydney, Australia , to San Francisco, turned back after takeoff because the plane had a hydraulic leak.

March 14: An Airbus A320 that departed from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport had a hydraulic leak shortly before it landed in its scheduled destination, San Francisco.

Later that day, a Boeing 737-800 that took off from San Francisco landed at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport in Oregon missing an external panel .

Are the recent issues typical, or cause for concern?

The mishaps were not the result of “systemic problems,” said Robert Sumwalt, a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board who now heads a new aviation safety center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

“Some of these issues are things that happen occasionally, but often don’t get reported in media,” Mr. Sumwalt said, though he emphasized that none were acceptable.

Kyra Dempsey, who writes about aviation accidents in a blog called Admiral Cloudberg, said that United’s recent issues were being “falsely conflated with Boeing’s troubles.”

“While it’s bad luck that United had so many incidents in such a short period, in general such incidents happen frequently around the world and they aren’t on the rise overall,” Ms. Dempsey said.

How has United responded?

Mr. Kirby’s 270-word message to United customers, including to members of the airline’s frequent flier program, started to be sent on Monday morning, said Josh Freed, a spokesman for United.

Starting in May, United pilots will have an extra day of in-person training, a change that was already planned before the incidents, Mr. Kirby wrote. The airline will also use a “centralized training curriculum for our new hire maintenance technicians” and will dedicate additional resources to the carrier’s supply chain.

What government agencies oversee these issues, and how are they responding?

The Federal Aviation Administration regulates the country’s aviation system and investigates safety incidents on U.S. airlines, while the N.T.S.B. investigates the causes of accidents, collisions and crashes involving planes flown by U.S. carriers, in addition to other accidents involving commercial and mass transit operators. Both agencies have discretion on what they investigate, Mr. Sumwalt said.

Currently, the N.T.S.B. is investigating the incident that occurred on March 8 in Houston, when the plane veered off the runway, an agency spokesperson said. The N.T.S.B. is also looking into a Feb. 10 Los Angeles-to-Newark flight , operated by United, that experienced severe turbulence, leading to injuries among more than a dozen passengers. (The Boeing 777 landed normally, but the flight was met by medical personnel.)

Safety experts said some issues don’t necessarily rise to the level of an investigation by either agency.

For example, partial loss of some of an airplane’s multiple hydraulics systems is common, said Michael McCormick, an assistant professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a former F.A.A. control tower operator. The F.A.A. may or may not get involved for this kind of issue, unless there’s a pattern, Mr. Sumwalt said.

The January episode involving the blown door plug aboard the Alaska Airlines jet is under investigation by the N.T.S.B. and the Justice Department.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Christine Chung is a Times reporter covering airlines and consumer travel. More about Christine Chung

Boeing: A Company in Turmoil

Boeing is weathering a particularly difficult period: two fatal crashes, a loose panel that blew out during a flight, quality concerns and production slowdowns..

Recent Incidents : A Boeing 737-800 plane that took off on March 15 from San Francisco landed in Oregon missing an external panel . Earlier in the week, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane suddenly plunged on a flight to New Zealand , injuring passengers.

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282: After a section of a plane headed for Ontario, Calif., blew out  10 minutes after it took off , there was increased scrutiny  on the plane’s manufacturer: Boeing . The Justice Department has since launched a criminal investigation .

Quality Control Issues: An audit that was initiated by the Federal Aviation Administration after the Alaska Airlines incident found dozens of problems  throughout Boeing’s manufacturing process and one of its key suppliers.

Whistleblower’s Death: John Barnett, a former quality manager for the company, was found dead in Charleston  in March with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was set to testify in a lawsuit in which he accused Boeing of retaliation for his complaints about quality and safety.

At Fault: A report released in February by the Federal Aviation Administration said that Boeing’s safety culture remains flawed , despite improvements made after two fatal crashes  in 2018 and 2019.

Solving an Enduring Crisis: The Federal Aviation Administration has asked Boeing to produce an action plan  to address quality control issues. We asked experts how Boeing should try and fix its longstanding problems .

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    Fuel and labor are airlines' biggest expenses, and when they go up, higher fares often follow. Like all crises, Covid-19 had compelled airlines to reduce capacity in 2020 by cutting the number ...

  13. Airfare Inflation: Airline Ticket Prices (1964-2024)

    Prices for airline tickets fell by 6.1% over the year ending in February, following a 6.4% drop previously, according to data released Mar. 12, 2024, by the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics ().The BLS surveys pricing on thousands of goods and services as a part of their Consumer Price Index (see CPI data), which is a measure of inflation in the United States at the consumer ...

  14. How Travel Prices Will Affect Your Budget in 2022

    Even NerdWallet tries to peg a dollar figure to vacation spending. Americans intended to spend $1,417, on average, for travel during the 2022 holiday season, according to a September 2022...

  15. Domestic flight prices increased 47% since January

    DEMAND FOR MAY AIR TRAVEL INCREASES DESPITE ELEVATED PRICES: REPORT For instance, consumers collectively spent $8.3 billion online for domestic flights in May, which is up 6.2% from April...

  16. Why Are Flights So Expensive Right Now?

    Are Flight Prices Going Up? Yes. That's undeniable. You've no doubt seen some eye-popping prices on flights lately. It's not just you. Data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index shows a 17.7%% increase in airfare from March 2022 to this March.

  17. Flight Prices Take Off As U.S. Air Travel Nears Pre-Pandemic ...

    Costs are up from flight prices in August and September, which were respectively 11% and 13% below levels in 2019. Despite increasing demand—bookings in September and October were just 13% and ...

  18. Increase In Travel Is Causing Travel Prices To Rise

    May 27, 2021,10:28am EDT This article is more than 2 years old. Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin More people are traveling in the summer of 2021 by car and plane for relaxation...

  19. 2024 Travel Predictions: Airline Prices, Destinations, AI and More

    International airfare departing from the United States is up 10 percent for 2024 compared with 2023, according to Kayak, a travel search engine. But airline capacity, Ms. Berg said, is rising and ...

  20. These US Airlines Have Raised Their Checked Baggages Fees

    Alaska Airlines, which last raised its bag fees in December 2018, also cites rising operating costs as a driving force behind the fee increase. "Alaska Airlines is committed to providing ...

  21. Flights in 2024 Will Actually Be Cheaper, According to Data ...

    A new analysis from discount flight booking site Going.com showed that airfare has dipped below pre-pandemic prices and also dropped 24 percent from the May 2022 peak of airfares.

  22. Get Ready for Higher Airfare As Airlines Deal With Boeing Max Fallout

    Airlines are expected to cut summer flying due to delayed deliveries of the Boeing 737 Max, potentially driving up airfare to cover the lost revenue.

  23. Travel costs are 'off the charts,' experts say. Here's how to save

    Here are some of the top ways Americans may be able to reduce the overall cost of a trip, according to travel experts. 1. Be flexible with trip timing and location. Being flexible with your plans ...

  24. Boeing's woes could mean higher airfares for U.S. travelers

    Prices for air tickets sold in February were up about 6%, according to the Airline Reporting Corporation. Mann expects costs to rise by as much as 10% in some cases.

  25. How these air travel changes could make your next flight better

    United Airlines is the latest to announce an increase. You'll pay $40 for your first checked bag, or $35 if you pay online at least 24 hours before your flight. That's an increase of $5.

  26. Checked bag fee increases: what do they now cost at the airlines ...

    With the increases, the fee for first checked bags on such flights is going from $30 to $35, according to the company. The higher fee for the second bag stands at $45 now, up from $40.

  27. United Airlines expects busiest spring break ever despite travelers

    That equates to more than 200,000 people per day on average during the period — about 15,000 more people flying per day than last year. United said it expects the busiest travel day to be Friday ...

  28. Alaska Air Sees Better-Than-Expected Losses Despite Boeing Costs

    Alaska Air Group Inc. forecast losses that were better than expected, even as the grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9 planes following its January fuselage blowout curtailed profits at the airline by at ...

  29. Qantas hikes cost of Qantas Club membership by 17 per cent.

    The first increase in seven years takes effect next month and will lift the cost of new memberships from $699 to $828, including the $129 joining fee, and the price of renewal from $540 to $629.

  30. United Airlines Planes Have Seen 8 Incidents in 2 Weeks. What's Going

    Alaska Airlines Flight 1282: After a section of a plane headed for Ontario, Calif., blew out 10 minutes after it took off, there was increased scrutiny on the plane's manufacturer: Boeing.