Why is Delta Airlines so expensive now?

Demand is high, inventory isn't… which leaves us in a situation where airlines can charge practically whatever they want because most of their planes are still going out full.



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Why are Delta flights so expensive in 2023? High demand: After two years of pandemic-related travel restrictions, people are eager to get back on the go. This pent-up demand drives up prices for flights, hotels, and other travel-related expenses.

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Airfares rose nearly 43% over the same period a year ago, according to data released by the Labor Department on Thursday, a record-setting increase that topped the department's monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.

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Fares usually have advance purchase requirements. Try different days and times. Fares can vary day-to-day, based on demand. Fares are usually lower on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and highest on Fridays and Sundays.

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The cheapest days to depart if you're flying within the U.S. are midweek — generally Tuesday or Wednesday. For economy tickets, Tuesdays are about 24% lower than peak prices on Sundays, which translates to savings of about $85 per ticket. The same is generally true for business class and first class travelers.

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Watch for Delta flash sales Does Delta ever have sales? The answer is yes and you can often find them on this Delta sales page, including deals for flights booked with miles. If you're flexible with travel dates and perhaps your destination, you can score some incredible redemption rates.

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Average U.S. airfares are more than 5% lower in August 2023 than they were in August 2019, meaning prices aren't just lower than they were last year, but even lower than what they were pre-pandemic. August 2023 vs. July 2023 (MoM). Down 2.8%.

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Now, with travel restrictions easing across the world and higher operating costs to deal with (like higher jet fuel prices), airlines are salivating to serve travel-deprived consumers — and for a major profit. As a result, ticket prices are near all-time highs at the moment.

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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.

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Their planes are well taken care of and they have great in-flight entertainment, with lots of viewing options, with screens on the backs of seats in most of their planes. But these perks come with a price because as you'll see in the cons section, Delta is a higher-cost airline. Ready to book your next flight?

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


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Those who buy on Sunday instead of Friday (the most expensive day to shop for plane tickets) will save on average 17% on domestic flights and 24% on international ones.

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In our experience, while fantastic deals can pop up at any time, the best time to book a flight (what we call the Goldilocks Window) is 1–3 months ahead for domestic travel and 2–8 months ahead for international travel—unless your trip is around a popular holiday or peak travel time, or you have very specific travel ...

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