The program for frequent fliers in 2024 will be different than in years past. Bargain hunters will be happy to see the return of cheap flights, but be careful as fees can eat up your travel budget considerably.
To understand what this year holds for frequent fliers, Sandra Bullock, Senior Editor Kiplinger's personal finance Magazine, a conversation with Katie Nastro. Ms. Nast is the travel expert for Going.com (formerly known as Scott'sCheap Flights), a subscription service that alerts travelers to airfare deals.
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No significant increases in airfares are expected in 2024. Airfares will not return to their pandemic lows, when round-trip tickets to Europe were available for about $200. But we do expect to see a return of deals that we haven't seen in a while. For example, Going.com recently found round-trip fares from Phoenix to Madrid for $399. This he had not seen in over a year. However, the trades that were available for the past 5 days may be lost within 1-2 days.
If you find a really good deal on a flight and it fits your budget, go ahead and book it. If you book directly with the airline, you are never locked in as you can request a refund within 24 hours.
What about prices?
To encourage nervous travelers to fly, many airlines have eliminated flight change fees during the pandemic. Do you expect airlines to reinstate them? Also, do you expect baggage fees to increase?
Analysts expected change fees to return once the industry recovers from the pandemic. But so far they haven't done that. We do not expect any airlines to reinstate change fees for standard economy tickets in 2024. But if you buy a basic economy ticket, 9 times out of 10 there will be a change fee.
When it comes to baggage fees, most US airlines charge around $30 for the first checked bag on domestic flights. We expect at least two carriers to raise that price to $35 this year. The data shows that airlines can make significant profits by increasing baggage fees even slightly, and the last time major airlines increased fees was in 2018.
how to beat the crowd
We predict a record number of air travelers this year. What advice do you have for travelers who are likely to encounter large crowds at airports?
If you don't have TSA PreCheck, which provides expedited security screening, you should get one this year. It can be used for 5 years, so it's worth it. [a $78 fee for first-time enrollees] Even if you only fly on a plane once a year. He won't have to wait more than an hour in the security line, making the trip less stressful.
If you're looking for cheap flights and have some flexibility, go in the spring or after Labor Day. September is a great month to go to Europe. For those who need to travel in the summer, try going out during the first two weeks of June or the last two weeks of August. Airfares during this period can be up to 30% cheaper than during the peak summer season.
Use points and miles
Last year, Delta Air Lines changed the way its frequent flyer miles work, reducing its value to many of its longtime customers. Do you think other airlines will follow suit this year?
Over the past decade or so, airlines have moved toward rewarding travelers who spend more than those who take more flights. Delta Air Lines reversed some of the changes after the backlash, but you'll have to spend more money to reap the benefits. It's unclear whether other major airlines will follow suit, but if you're accumulating points or miles, try using them instead of hoarding them this year. There is a good chance that some of its value will be lost in the future.
What about Alaska Airlines?
alaska airlines Plans to acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion are pending approval from the U.S. Department of Justice. How will the merger affect fares to destinations served by those airlines?
Going.com founder Scott Keyes accurately predicted last year that the Justice Department would block JetBlue's proposed takeover of Spirit. This administration is not very friendly to mergers, but I think this merger will get the green light from regulators. However, this process will take a long time, so even if the merger goes through, the impact on airfares is unlikely to be felt within the next year.
