GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – As earlier surveys forecasted, the time to buy flights for the holidays was at the end of the summer and early fall- now flight costs have risen nearly half since last year according to airlines. 

Government data says that airfares in October had risen 43% from last year, and U.S. airlines reported a combined profit of more than $2.4 billion in the third quarter. 

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As airlines battle pilot shortages and fewer flights since 2019, flight availability has struggled to address the near pre-pandemic load of passengers.  U.S. airlines operated 84% as many U.S. flights as they had in October of 2019, and are planning to operate the same percentage in December according to travel data firm Cirium. 

“Fewer flights and more people looking to head home or take vacation for the holidays means two things: Prices will be higher, and we will see flights sell out for both holidays,” says Holly Berg, chief economist for travel-data provider Hopper.

CEO of Germany based hotel search company Trivago, Axel Hefer, said travelers to Europe are booking shorter trips as the prices of air travel and lodging increase during the holiday season. 

“Hotel prices are up absolutely everywhere,” he said. “If you have the same budget or even a lower budget through inflation, and you still want to travel, you just cut out a day.”

Hotels are struggling with labor shortages, another cause of higher prices. Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking Holdings, which owns travel-search sites including Priceline and Kayak, says one hotelier told him he can’t fill all his rooms because he doesn’t have enough staff.

The number of travelers going through airport checkpoints has recovered to nearly 95% of 2019 traffic, according to Transportation Security Administration figures for October. Travel industry officials say holiday travel might top pre-pandemic levels.

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“We are definitely seeing a lot of strength for the holidays,” Andrew Nocella, United Airlines’ chief commercial officer Andre Nocella said, “We’re approaching the Thanksgiving timeframe, and our bookings are incredibly strong.”

Additionally, those flying during the holidays ought to consider travel insurance in the case that a flight is canceled or other last minute issues preclude flying.  

Forbes reported that travelers purchased insurance specifically for COVID-19 related reasons 22% of the time.  Plans that enabled flyers to cancel for any reason accounted for 12% of purchases in a recent study. 

When preparing to travel, consult travel expert tips regarding how to save money, avoid flight cancellations, and how to address them if they occur.  Often flying early in the day reduces the risk of delay from cancellations or other factors. 

“If something goes wrong, it tends to progress throughout the day — it gets to be a domino effect,” General Manager of Airlines Reporting Corp. Chuck Thackston says.