Why Airfares Are Likely to Drop for Fall Travel

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

Happy woman on airplane
RossHelen / Shutterstock.com

If you missed the bargains that flooded the travel market during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may get a second chance to cash in.

With businesses continuing to keep employees at home, airlines are scrambling to boost their bottom line during the slower fall travel season. That means fares should sink lower than they were in the fall of 2019, according to a Business Insider report.

If you want the very best deals, you need to act fast. September is likely to be the cheapest month for fares, travel data company Hopper tells Business Insider. Fares could dip by 10%, to an average of $260 for a domestic round-trip.

In recent weeks, travel demand has begun to soften. The federal Transportation Security Administration reported that it screened about 1.35 million people on Aug. 31, the fewest since May 11. Several airlines noted in August that bookings are down largely due to renewed fears about COVID-19’s delta variant.

However, don’t expect the recent price breaks to last through the holidays. Hopper expects fares to rise 11% between September and December. As Hopper told Business Insider:

“This would make domestic airfare over the holiday season equivalent to summer airfare, similar to what we saw in 2019 and 2020.”

How to save on your next trip

If you are looking for a great deal on travel during the fall — or any other time of year — try Money Talks News’ partner ShermansTravel. This website lets you shop by criteria such as deals, destinations or interests.

For more travel tips, check out “18 Ways Save on Every Kind of Travel.”

Get smarter with your money!

Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.