Trips with Cheap Prices

 

With the first Covid-19 vaccines hitting the U.S. this week, it can feel like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and life will soon start slowly returning to some type of normalcy. For many, that means travel.

Although the total number of airline tickets purchased last week is still down over 70% compared to the same time period in 2019, according to Airlines Reporting Corporation, there are some silver linings when it comes to prices. The average airline ticket cost was just $343 in September, down nearly 36% from the prior month. Before the pandemic, average ticket costs were $478 in January.

But while experts predict that travel will bounce back once there’s widespread access to the vaccine, there are some considerations travelers should keep in mind. Here’s a look at what you should carefully consider before booking a trip for next year.

Airlines are still being flexible 

“The airlines are giving way more flexibility right now than they used to a year ago,” Keyes says. And that can be a game-changer if you’re looking to take advantage of early booking deals.

Earlier this year, Alaska, American Airlines, Delta and United announced they would eliminate change fees, which is typically a $200 charge airlines issued to travelers who wanted to change the travel date on non-refundable plane tickets. “If you booked a flight and you wanted to change your dates, you had to pay hundreds of dollars in fees to do so,” Keyes says.

Now you don’t have that extra expense if you change your mind or need to push back your travel plans. That said, eliminating change fees doesn’t mean that you get a refund, it merely means that you won’t be charged to change your travel dates, although you still may have to pay more if you switch to a day or time with higher airfares. Plus, some airlines are restricting the routes and the types of tickets that are eligible for this new flexibility.