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Like many other things, the cost of airfare has gone up considerably this year, but there may be some reprieve in the near future, as the price for international flights from the U.S. (including those destined for Cancun) are expected to drop nearly 20 percent this fall. Two major reasons for the rise in airfare costs have been the increase in fuel prices and the higher than usual inflation that much of the world has been dealing with. The increase in demand has also played a significant role, as demand grew following the Covid-19 pandemic when everyone was stuck at home for nearly two years.
The news of a price drop coming soon comes shortly after the U.S. Department of Transportation received complaints from Senators Elizabeth Warren and Alex Padilla regarding the excessive cancellations and increase in ticket prices. According to them, the airline industry has received federal subsidies totaling approximately $58 billion. They stated in their letter to Secretary of the DOT Pete Buttigieg that “After receiving tens of billions of dollars in assistance from U.S. taxpayers, the main airlines have reciprocated by drastically increasing ticket prices and reaching new minimums in the treatment of travelers.”
The senators further stated that the Department of Transportation needs to step up and protect consumers. They explained that in order to “put an end to these practices harmful to the consumer and safeguard competition in the industry, the department must play a leading role through the aggressive use of the authority granted to it by Congress.” While Buttigieg did say that they are working with airlines to improve customer service, there was no mention of the pricing issue.
The expected decrease in airline ticket prices has more to do with the declining demand that occurs once the summer is over. During the spring months, prices are generally higher as well, as many northerners head to places like Cancun to get away from the cold. The busy spring break season is also known for driving up travel costs as well.
Travelers can also take additional steps themselves to help lower travel costs. Booking airline tickets and hotels during the middle of the week can greatly reduce costs. And booking flights at least one month in advance of travel can also save money, according to the popular travel booking platform Hopper, which also made the price decrease prediction.
The U.S. government has suggested that there could be fines in the future for airlines that break certain newly imposed rules that may be implemented. Some of those rules involve the canceling of too many flights, canceling without significant notice, and airlines that delay the refunds of canceled flight ticket holders. Mr. Buttigieg stated that the “DOT will continue to take measures to protect the rights of airline passengers and the rights of consumers, and when airlines do not comply with their responsibilities, they will be responsible.”
Flight cancellations have become a common occurrence over the last year, with the highest number of cancellations taking place over the last several months. Numerous travelers have been stranded at Cancun International Airport for hours or even days waiting to get back to the United States. In many cases, these travelers find out last minute and are left scrambling to figure out what to do after already checking out of their hotels.
Hotels in Cancun have steadily stayed booked to near capacity since the beginning of the year, so for those that are unable to get a flight home the pickings can sometimes be slim. Some suggest, for this reason, that it may be worth it for travelers to book an extra day at their hotel just in case. While this may not sound practical, it may be the best insurance travelers can buy in the face of the increase in cancellations.
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