If high airfares kept you from taking a trip earlier this summer, now might be the time to book.
Flights to destinations in the U.S. and abroad have seen major price drops for the fall, according to travel booking site Hopper’s new Fall Shoulder Season Report. Domestic trips are averaging $211 per ticket for September and October, a 29% drop from June, July and August.
International flights are also cheaper. Fares to Europe — which saw high demand in recent months — are averaging $738 for September and October, down from over $1,000 this summer. Mexico and Central America saw a 19% price drop, while flights to Asia dropped 26%.
“In an effort to incentivize travelers to book trips in early fall, airlines will drop prices to encourage travelers to schedule one more trip before the busy holiday season begins,” Hopper’s Lead Economist Hayley Berg said in the report. “This means travelers who plan anything from a weekend getaway to a bucket list vacation will enjoy significantly lower prices in September/October compared to peak summer months.”
How expensive are US flights this fall?
Airfares for some of the summer’s most popular domestic destinations are significantly cheaper, according to Hopper.
Flights to Los Angeles are averaging $179 this fall, a 40% drop, while tickets to New York City run $174, down 34%. Meanwhile, you can expect to pay an average of $137 to fly to Orlando, $188 to Las Vegas, and $203 to Dallas, each down more than 20% from summer.
How expensive are international flights this fall?
Fares for a number of international tourist hotspots are down, too. Flights to Paris are averaging $684, 41% cheaper than summer, and Shanghai fares cost $1,523, a 37% drop.
Flights to London are averaging $677, while Tokyo and Seoul cost $1,172 and $1,316, respectively, each representing a decrease of 25% or higher.
Are other travel costs down?
Travelers can find deals on more than just flights. “Hotel accommodations have also seen some price improvement, with average rates down 5% from summer peaks headed into this fall,” Berg said in the report (though prices may be higher in some cities).
Rental car costs are down, too, averaging $40 per day.
“Though gas prices have creeped up slowly in the last few months, they remain significantly lower than the price peak earlier last summer, which saw gas prices above $6 per gallon for a few weeks in some areas of the country,” Berg added.
Source : USA Today