- US Christmas holiday travel is set to be the most expensive in ten years.
- Average jet fuel reached $4.90 (€4.18) per gallon.
- Thanksgiving flights average $402 (€343) up 31pc from last year.
- Christmas flights average $452 (€386) up 23pc year-over-year.
- Christmas hotel rates average $197 (€168) per night up 18pc.
Indications from USA data ae that Christmas & Thanksgiving will bring the highest airfares in a decade as jet fuel prices hit records. Average jet fuel reached $4.90 (€4.18) per gallon more than double the level a year ago. Travellers appear willing to pay for major holiday trips though airlines are absorbing some of the cost increases. Hotel rates for Christmas are also rising averaging $197 (€168) per night up 18pc.
Average domestic round-trip flights for Thanksgiving are averaging $402 (€343) a 31pc increase from last year while Christmas airfares are hitting $452 (€386) up 23pc year-over-year. Airlines have cut less profitable routes and raised auxiliary costs like baggage fees to offset energy price increases.
Domestic hotel rates are experiencing an 18pc increase climbing to an average of $197 (€168) per night. Thanksgiving hotel rates remain relatively flat at $170 (€145) per night. Travellers can deploy strategies including booking before Halloween, shifting travel days, leveraging rewards, splitting tickets and auditing total fees to cut costs.
