The fare trends that emerged last week have continued with airlines continuing to focus on discounted last minute and fall fares. This made finding the top flight deals tougher, since generally we try to focus on the next few months instead of 5-6 months down the road. From the looks of it, airlines have been successful in filling seats over the summer, so they have shifted their focus towards the fall (or last minute travel).
Last Minute Flights
These fares are available for travel through mid-June (though it’s likely too late already for Memorial Day travel):
- $68 — Minneapolis to Chicago Nonstop (Roundtrip incl. tax) – Only an hour and a half flight, but this saves 75% on fares from other carriers.
- $188-$208 — Dallas to Las Vegas Nonstop (Roundtrip incl. tax) – Beats the regular fare of $250 by quite a bit.
- $148 — Washington, D.C. to Fort Lauderdale Nonstop (Roundtrip incl. tax) – Hard to find this fare for any less than $180.
Get a Jump on Fall Fares
Earlybird gets the worm, right? These flights are available September through October, November or December:
- $280 — Baltimore to San Francisco Nonstop (Roundtrip incl. tax) – Most fares early this summer are $366+ on this route.
- $280 — Los Angeles to New York City Nonstop (Roundtrip incl. tax) – July flights are $370+, put off your trip until at least September to save $90!
- $384 — San Diego to Honolulu (Roundtrip incl. tax) – Summer flights are $140+ more expensive, wait until the fall to visit Hawaii. To sweeten the deal, combine the fare with this offer from Travelzoo for an exclusive $399 3-night beachfront escape in Kaua’i. Saves 50% on regular rates, plus includes upgrade to oceanview room and $100 restaurant credit.
Summer Deals Do Exist
Despite the trends, we did come across a few stellar summer flights:
- $152-$160 — Kansas City to New Orleans Nonstop (Roundtrip incl. tax)
- $168 — New York City to Chicago Nonstop (Roundtrip incl. tax)
- $200 — Cleveland to Orlando Nonstop (Roundtrip incl. tax)
Note: All of the above deals are available in the opposite direction, so make sure to search.
Stay in the Know
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- Low Fare Calendars – This tool shows the best deals from the nearest major airport and allows users to create a custom fare calendar for any route (scroll to the bottom for this functionality).
