Why are international flights so expensive for 2023?

Travel demand in 2023 has soared as Americans take trips they'd shelved earlier in the pandemic and as Covid travel restrictions ease. Prices for hotel rooms and international airline tickets have risen sharply. Being flexible and booking early are among the best ways to save money, travel experts said.



People Also Ask

Time your booking right “For international flights — [it's] four to 10 months.” If you're traveling during an off-peak season, you're going to want to look at airfares one to three months in advance for domestic flights, and two to eight months ahead of the flight for international trips.

MORE DETAILS

Best Time To Book International Flights According to a study conducted by Expedia, data shows that you want to book at least six months in advance for international travel. The study found you'll save an average of 10% by booking six months in advance instead of two months or less.

MORE DETAILS

The cheapest months to travel are:
  • November – early December.
  • Late January – March.


MORE DETAILS

But even compared to pre-pandemic prices, airfares are lower. Average U.S. airfares are more than 6.5% lower in September 2023 than they were in September 2019, meaning prices aren't just lower than they were last year, but even lower than what they were pre-pandemic.

MORE DETAILS

Best Time To Book International Flights According to a study conducted by Expedia, data shows that you want to book at least six months in advance for international travel. The study found you'll save an average of 10% by booking six months in advance instead of two months or less.

MORE DETAILS

For international trips, you generally need to book further ahead of time: Start gauging these flight prices six to seven months in advance while planning on booking three to five months in advance. When you're traveling internationally, planning ahead is key to getting the cheapest airfare, Berg said.

MORE DETAILS

Cheapest Places to Fly to in Europe in 2023: European Cities with Cheap Flight Deals
  • Reykjavik, Iceland. For most people in the US, this is the cheapest European city to fly to. ...
  • Ponta Delgada, Portugal. ...
  • Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ...
  • London, UK. ...
  • Dublin, Ireland. ...
  • Barcelona, Spain. ...
  • Stockholm, Sweden. ...
  • Munich, Germany.


MORE DETAILS

The Cheapest Airports to Fly Into in Europe
  • Dublin Airport (DUB), Ireland.
  • Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO), Italy.
  • Barcelona El-Prat Airport (BCN), Spain.
  • Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), the Netherlands.
  • Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), France.


MORE DETAILS

It mostly comes down to supply and demand. Demand is contributing to higher prices as travel continues to surge post-pandemic, Berg said. Sustained strong demand in 2023 continues to put additional pressure on prices, especially to and within regions where travel has only recently reopened like parts of Asia.

MORE DETAILS

Airfares flex like crazy, but in general it's wise to start looking for international flights at least four to six months before your trip, especially for travel in spring, summer, or fall.

MORE DETAILS

Tuesday Around Midnight is the Cheapest Time to Book
In general, flights were slightly cheaper at midnight earlier in the week (Monday through Wednesday). However, this is only applicable to about 1.6% of U.S. markets, meaning that it's not likely you'll find the same savings on your specific route.

MORE DETAILS

resulting in lower prices and the cheapest day of the week to fly. So, you guessed it, that means the most expensive days to book flights are those days when most travelers are heading out – or coming home. That means flying Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays will typically be more expensive.

MORE DETAILS

However, airlines say prices change not because of a consumer's search history on a website, or their cookies, but because of inventory updates or glitches on the website, FareCompare's Rick Seaney said in an email.

MORE DETAILS

Key Takeaways
  • The late fall and winter months—from mid to late October through mid-to-late March—are often the cheapest time to fly to Europe (though fares can spike in December).
  • It's often cheaper to fly to Europe mid-week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in particular.


MORE DETAILS

Best Time of Day to Fly This means leaving early morning and late at night. The bright spot to getting up early or arriving late at your destination is that these flight times, like ones at 6 am or earlier or the redeye, tend to be less crowded, resulting in a more comfortable and less stressful trip.

MORE DETAILS