This year’s strong spring break vacation bookings are likely just a warm-up for the summer travel season, which could be one of the strongest travel seasons in the aftermath of the pandemic, but air travel in particular It is also one of the most expensive travel seasons.
But travel industry experts say cost doesn’t necessarily deter travelers from making plans.
“In fact, I’m still hearing and seeing stories of people recovering from COVID-19 stay-at-home syndrome or whatever it is called,” says Chris Lawrence of Newington — travel agent with Escapes forEveryone. Chris Lawrence, who owns the store, says: “People seem to be willing to spend a little more money to bring their families. Family vacations are becoming more common.”
Ms Lawrence said business for summer holiday planning has nearly doubled this year compared to 2023.
Tens of millions of Americans are expected to leave their homes for travel this summer, according to an online Harris Poll survey of 2,000 American adults commissioned by personal finance company NerdWallet. Nearly half are planning a trip that will require a flight or hotel stay.
The study found that travelers spend an average of $3,594 on these costs.
Travelers head to their flights at Bradley International Airport on Friday, April 19, 2024. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Newington resident Christine Sawyer said she plans to spend a little closer to that amount, $3,200, on a seven-day trip to Ireland in July.
Last year, Sawyer traveled to Scotland to visit family for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak. Sawyer will be traveling alone to Ireland, and since his family doesn’t like flying, he plans to pay about $1,000 for round-trip airfare from Bradley International Airport to Dublin.
Sawyer said she saved money not only by traveling alone but also by taking group tours that included meals and attraction fees.
“The group environment was really appealing to me, especially since I was traveling alone,” Sawyer said. “I had never really done it before, so I wanted to try something new.”
Lawrence, a Newington travel agent, said this is typical for many of her clients coming out of the pandemic.
Lawrence said travelers don’t have to come expecting to pay $1,000 for a round-trip international ticket. But once you understand the trends in travel costs heading into the summer, you might look for ways to cut costs rather than giving up on your vacation.
Now that the pandemic is over, “people are looking at life differently,” Lawrence said. “They say, ‘You know what dreams I had and things I’ve been putting off?’ They just want to do it.”
Lawrence said international travel, especially to Europe, is becoming more popular than “all-inclusive” resorts in the Caribbean this summer. Popular destinations include Italy, London, and Paris. However, most travel experts recommend avoiding Paris during the Olympics.
In total
More than 118 million Americans will spend a total of $424 billion on airfare and hotel stays this summer, according to research from NerdWallet.
Travel experts say European destinations will be popular this summer, including Italy and Rome, shown here. (Photo of coolant file)
International airfares for flyers are generally lower than last year, but still significantly higher than before the pandemic, according to travel platform Hopper. For example, Hopper said destinations in Europe cost an average of $882 round trip, down 10% from 2023 but still 10% above 2019.
Jet fuel prices and the airline’s struggle to increase its fleet after the pandemic have led to soaring ticket prices.
Hopper economist Haley Berg said in a recent outlook report that jet fuel prices are down 4% from last year.
“Although[jet fuel]prices are down from last year, it is important to recognize that prices are still 34% higher than at this time in 2019 and more in line with prices from more than a decade ago, rather than the low prices of recent years. is important,” Berg wrote.
Production has been delayed, in part due to troubles between major aircraft manufacturers and their engine suppliers. In particular, Boeing has come under intense federal scrutiny over its workmanship after the door plug of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max blew off during a flight over Oregon.
Airlines are also grappling with pandemic-related staffing shortages, which have curbed flight numbers and led to cancellations.
Hopper said the outlook for domestic airfares is positive. Although fares are generally lower than before the pandemic, they are expected to rise slowly through May and then decline at a single-digit monthly rate into the fall.
Kenneth R. Gosselin / Hartford Courant
Avero Airlines takes off its first flight from Tweed New Haven Airport in 2021. (Kenneth R. Gosselin/Hartford Courant)
Avero Airlines, a low-cost airline that operates domestic flights from Tweed-New Haven Airport, said it expects a strong summer travel season from Connecticut this year. But it’s still too early to predict how strong it will be, given that the spring break holidays have just ended and travelers are turning their attention right to summer, said Trevor Ely, head of commercial at Avero. Told.
“I think it’s shaping up to be a good summer for the industry as a whole,” Yeley said. “I think you’ll see that there’s still plenty of healthy demand for domestic air travel.”
However, Yeley noted that he believes there is an industry-wide trend where domestic passengers are waiting longer than before to purchase tickets.
Once travelers arrive at their destination, hotel costs are expected to be similar to last year. According to Hopper, most travelers choose their accommodation based on value, or the best combination of price and amenities. The most popular amenities are free breakfast, internet access, and easy access to the pool and beach.
Rental cars cost an average of $42 per day. Hoppers Berg said rental prices are up just 3% year over year, a dramatic jump from 2021, when “pandemic concerns and a lack of rental car supply pushed daily rates to record highs.” said that it had improved significantly.
airport passenger recovery
A strong travel season this summer could bring passenger numbers closer to pre-pandemic levels at Bradley International Airport.
In 2023, the airport recorded 6.24 million passengers, an increase of 7.8% compared to 2022. The number of arriving and departing passengers was the highest since the pandemic in 2022.
However, that total was 7.5% lower than 2019’s 6.75 million passengers.
A strong spring break travel season in April could be a strong draw for summer travel at Windsor Locks’ Bradley International Airport. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Connecticut’s largest airport was expecting 125,000 passengers for the April holiday, which just ended last week. If the forecast turns out as expected, the April holiday could serve as a strong springboard for summer.
“Although there are no official forecast numbers (for summer travel) at this time, air travel is predicted to be on the rise nationally, and as locals look forward to traveling, Bradley International Airport But we expect strong demand. Enjoy the summer skies,” airport spokeswoman Alisa Sisic said in an email.
AAA recommends the following tips for travelers this summer.
• Book early: Flights, hotels, tours, cruises, and rental cars remain expensive. The earlier you book, the better your chances of securing favorable rates and taking advantage of prepayment discounts.
• Work with a travel advisor: Disruptions in air travel, such as flight delays and cancellations, are not uncommon. Advisors can help you explore options, book deals, and represent you when issues arise, ensuring you have the best possible travel experience from start to finish.
• Get TSA PreCheck: Air travel is expected to continue increasing this year, so expect busy airports and long security lines. Air travelers can get through checkpoints faster with TSA PreCheck.
• Protect your investment: AAA highly recommends travel insurance. A solid policy provides a safety net in case something unexpected happens before or during your trip. Policies vary, so talk to your travel advisor about your options. They understand you, your trip, your budget, and your specific needs, and can easily explain which travel insurance makes the most sense.
• Protect your identity: In addition to protecting physical documents such as passports, travelers should take extra steps to avoid identity theft. This is an inconvenience at any time, but especially when you’re traveling.
•Parcel Tracking: Place a tracking device inside your package for peace of mind. That way, if your luggage doesn’t arrive on arrival, you can at least know where it is and get it home safely.
・Exchange your money into foreign currency in advance. By exchanging your currency in advance, you’ll have money in your hands as soon as you arrive.
Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com.
