Right the fare unfair

OK, it may be too early to string lights, decorate the tree and bake fruitcake for Christmas, but it's not too soon to buy holiday air tickets — or at least start shopping for them.

That's because, with record fuel costs and the biggest cuts in flight schedules in seven years, fares over Thanksgiving and the Christmas-New Year's period are heading skyward.

Fewer flights mean scarcer seats and higher prices.

30 per cent rise

The least expensive United States air fares for the November and December holidays were running 30 per cent higher, on average, than at the same time last year, said Mike Fridgen, director of product management for Live Search Farecast, which analyses past patterns to predict fares.

Although airlines are still evaluating demand and may put some holiday seats on sale, bargain hunters probably will lose by waiting, experts said.

“We will see some specials for Christmas and New Year's,'' said Tom Parsons, chief executive of BestFares.com, which tracks travel deals. “But they will be for limited days.''

If you need to travel on specific dates and can find a tolerable fare, buy it now, he and others suggested.

Rise and rise

So far this year, Southwest Airlines has raised fares several times, and the so-called legacy carriers — American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways — have done so at least 15 times, said Rick Seaney, the chief executive of FareCompare.com, an air fare search service.

Seaney expects at least ten more increases this year.

Tough on travel

For holiday travel, “it's going to be tough out there for people who really need less-expensive tickets'', he said. “It's about getting a better bad deal.''

Prepare for sticker shock, especially if you're headed for fun-and-sun spots or flying in or out of small or mid-size cities, which have borne the brunt of schedule cuts. Even big-city fares may surprise you.

Hawaii, served by fewer flights since ATA folded and Aloha Airlines stopped passenger service earlier this year, is an especially tough ticket. In fact, the whole airline network is shrinking.

Airlines will operate 7.5 per cent fewer domestic flights at Thanksgiving and 5.7 per cent fewer at Christmas-New Year's than they did last year, according to eSkyGuide
.com, a global flight directory.

But don't despair. Not every airfare has zoomed, and by being flexible, you can often pare down the price.

Here are some strategies: Shift travel dates: Even small changes bring big payoffs. A flier who balked at the $673 (Dh2,472) Los Angeles-JFK fare would have paid half as much by leaving on Thanksgiving and returning the next Tuesday. Veteran travellers save by flying on the holiday itself and they avoid crowds.

Use alternate airports: I always check this option. The Newark, New Jersey, airport, for instance, offers good public transit into Manhattan and sometimes lower fares than JFK. Flying into Providence, instead of Boston, about 50 miles away, can save $100 (Dh367) or more.

Watch the market: Bucking the trend, Denver-Los Angeles fares, priced at the end of July, started at 39 per cent less than they did at the same time last year, said Bob Harrell of Harrell Associates, a New York-based travel and aviation consulting company.

The likely reason, experts said, is that Southwest Airlines, which often offers less expensive fares, began a Los Angeles-Denver non-stop service in May, driving prices down.

Consider connecting flights: Although going non-stop reduces chances of losing luggage, it can cost more than taking a one-stop flight.

Ticket to choose

Air fares are soaring but bargain hunters can find some extraordinary deals if they do some homework and follow these tips:

• Be flexible. Flying Tuesday or Wednesday can save you a bundle.
• Avoid crowds. Consider taking a trip to a destination that might not be so popular during the times you want to travel.
• Check your inbox. Subscribe to e-mail alerts from airlines and travel websites for last-minute deals.
• Go small. Consider smaller airlines with lower fares that don't always show up on travel websites.
• Look out for fuel surcharges. Check whether an air fare includes fuel surcharges.