Gasoline prices have fallen about 64 cents a gallon nationwide since hitting their peak on May 6, providing an early Christmas present for the onslaught of holiday motorists according to AAA Carolinas.

But what about airfare?

Well, air travel is expected to be  slightly lower than usual with airfare up over 21 percent when compared to last year. The increase was triggered by the higher jet fuel costs coupled with reduced capacity as airlines tried to increase profits.

But airfare has shown a 5% decrease when comparing November 2011 with December 2011 – a very good sign.

“The drop in gasoline prices, higher airfares and fewer available flights on smaller planes, and the slowly-improving economy mean more people will travel to visit family, friends and holiday destinations,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas.

can the major airlines compete with low cost carriers like airtran southwest jetblue Can the Major Airlines Compete with Low Cost Carriers Like AirTran, Southwest, JetBlue?Competing With JetBlue

When searching for the cheapest airline flights, many hopeful travelers will visit the low cost carrier websites like AirTran, Southwest, and JetBlue without even considering the major carriers. While this used to be an accepted and recommended practice, we are finding that the major carriers are now often cheaper than their low cost competitors.

One blogger explains this paradigm as follows:

“The truth is, however, that low cost airlines don’t always offer the lowest airfares. That’s because traditional airlines, which have spent the past few years in bankruptcy court slashing their own expenses, are working hard to match or undercut their low-cost rivals to profit more in the end.”

More and more travelers are turning to consolidator websites like Kayak for their airfare searches, simply because most consolidator websites search the major carriers and the low cost carriers simultaneously. By doing searches in this manner, it’s easy to see whether United or AirTran, for example, have the lowest fare for the dates selected. The Booking Buddy Website even allows you to sort the output by the number of layovers if desired.

Rather than going to a low-cost carrier website, I now recommend the all-carrier consolidator sites for your best airfares.

Recommended Reading:
“Save on Airfare Secrets is the BEST material for both casual and business air travelers – all in one place for easy access too!”
- airfare-now.com

Previous Post: You’ve Got Mail – The Cheapest Airline Fights May Be In Your Inbox

I do a lot of air travel, so I really try to use the my knowledge of the travel industry (and the various online tools that have grown around it) to get the cheapest airline flights.

While there is no single source for the cheapest airline flights because a lot of factors affect the price, there are some time-tested strategies that can push you closer to a fair ticket price. Ticket pricing depends on your departure/destination airport, choice of airline, time of travel, current events, etc., and there is no single tool that will show you the complete picture.

I will suggest, as you look at travel websites, that you consider buying a package. Buying a hotel room with your air ticket can often save you a lot of money.

Related Posts:
3 Ways to Get the Cheapest Airline Flights as a Service Member
Cheapest Airline Flights Via Coupons and Codes
Where Can I Find the Best Last Minute Flights?
Military Members Get the Cheapest Airfare


Recommended Reading:
Save on Airfare Secrets is the BEST material for both casual and business air travelers – all in one place for easy access too!”
     – airfare-now.com

Previous Post: 3 Ways to Get the Cheapest Airline Flights as a Service Member

5 Great Tips For Getting the Cheapest Airfare Deal Online

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5 Great Tips For Getting the Cheapest Airfare Deal Online There is nothing worse than sitting in your airplane seat and discovering that the passenger next to you paid only a fraction of what you paid for airfare. Here are …

 

Vayama Offers End of Year Gift to Customers that Purchase International Airfare

Vayama Offers End of Year Gift to Customers that Purchase International Airfare Customers who Book International Airfare between December 27th and January 2nd will Receive a $50 Vayama Travel Gift Coupon MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 27, 2011 — /PRNewswire/ – Vayama.com, …

 

Where Can I Find the Best Last Minute Flights?

Q. I have some rather unexpected time off and wonder if there’s a good cheap airline you would recommend for last minute flights. My flight times are pretty flexible - I just don’t have a lot of money. I’ve tried cheapseats, …

 

Gas Prices Are Up but Airfare is Down

Are International Airfares Going Down? A detailed analysis of international air travel  data from the 2nd quarter indicates that the average cost of an airline ticket has decreased by approximately one percent when compared to the 1st quarter of 2012. …

 

Expedia Coupon for a $200 Holiday Rebate

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An Expedia commercial came on the television this evening with a super sweet deal. I just located the coupon and wanted to pass it on to my readers. Enjoy! Tags: Airfare Coupons, Airfare Codes, Hotel Coupons, Hotel Codes Looking for …

 

El Al Airlines Will Honor Discount Airfare After Pricing Error

Some really cheap round-trip airfare between NYC and Israel was accidentally sold this week – RT airfare for less than $400 in fact but that fare will be honored for thousands of lucky customers according to the airliner. “Although a …