The wide range of prices found when purchasing an airline ticket makes this a daunting task. What factors affect the price?
- The cost of fuel has one of the biggest influences on tickets. As the price of crude rises, so do airline costs. Airlines that negotiate future fuel purchases can avoid sudden spikes and pass the savings on to the customer.
- A weak economy causes people to cut back on non-essential travel. This encourages airlines to offer discounts to attract travelers. In contrast, when business is good and planes are full, there is little incentive to offer low-priced airline tickets.
- Airport taxes are another part of ticket prices. Airlines that use smaller airports save on fees.
- Fate is a factor. Competition will greatly affect the price. An airline that enjoys a virtual monopoly for a particular route can charge pretty much whatever it wants. Those flying international routes have stiff competition from other countries and have to keep prices in line with what they are offering.
- Low-cost airlines can sometimes provide the cheapest airline tickets through a “no-frills” approach. This is most effective on short-haul domestic flights.
- Time plays a role. If departure time is approaching and a flight still has many empty seats, the airline may offer them at a substantial reduction. If flying on a particular day isn’t critical, it may be worth waiting until the last minute.
- Where the ticket is purchased can affect its cost. Travel agents get deals from carriers, but they charge for their services. The internet produces some bargains, but be careful who you’re dealing with. Occasionally, the airlines’ own websites have unadvertised discounts.
- Simple, old-fashioned greed. Air travel is a market-driven economy, and airlines will charge as much as they can. Don’t believe anyone. Do your own research.
When shopping for cheap flights, keep in mind what you’re really comparing. One airline advertises a flight to an Asian destination at $800, while another offers a price of $1,300. Reading the fine print shows that the “economy rate” has another $700 in hidden fees and surcharges, which means it’s actually $200 more than the all-inclusive rate.
There are many factors that affect the cost of an airline ticket. How well the carrier handles these costs will determine your bottom line. Competition is the key, the airlines that most want your business will offer you the best deals. careful shopping will help you find the cheapest flights.