Relatively low fares and a relatively strong economy have kept airline seats full and travelers happy to go, almost anywhere. But what will happen in the year ahead, with some predicting recession, and airlines looking to raise profits?
The answer may turn out quite mixed, with so-called leisure fares continuing at bargain levels while profit pressure could bring rises in business and premium fares. That's partly because business travel can't be put off as easily and there is less flexibility to choose cheaper days or times, and partly because continuing expansion by ultra-low-cost airlines such as Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant and Sun Country keep fares down on leisure routes and seats.
Hopper, a fare search engine, reports that last year's average domestic ticket went for $275, and international around $800. Hopper predicts that the domestic average could drop below $200 this year, but suggests that it will take more careful searching to find the best bargains.
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