Airline travel prices are surging: How you can book cheaper flights this week
You're probably already feeling the pain at the pump as nationwide gas prices jumped an average of 27 cents in a week (per data from the AAA motor club) from the fallout of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. And that same surge is beginning to effect air travel as well. Jet fuel spiked an absurd 56% in the days following the strikes, which inevitably points to one thing: pricier plane tickets. TL;DR: If you're planning a trip (or even considering it), get your tickets ASAP before that price hike kicks in.
Fortunately, several airlines are running spring sales to ease some of that stress on your wallet. But you'll want to act fast to secure a deal. According to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, the impact from rising fuel costs on passenger plane ticket prices will "probably start quick." Shop the best spring airline ticket deals below.
Southwest Airlines: Get one way tickets as low as $49
Southwest Airlines stays pumping out discounts for its travelers. Its Spring Forward Sale is live from March 9 through March 12 and you can book a one-way ticket for as low as just $49. There is some fine print as always, so listen up. The discounted flight prices are valid on travel between March 31 and June 10 in the continental U.S. and inter-island Hawaii only, and a 21-day advance purchase is required. Restrictions, exclusions, and blackout dates apply. After some poking around, I was able to find $69 flights from Nashville to New York City, $67 flights to Atlanta, and $49 flights to Columbus. I suggest heading to the sale page and selecting your departure city from the drop down list to get an overview of costs.
JetBlue Airlines: Take up to 50% off flights with a vacation package
If you book your full spring getaway with JetBlue airlines, you could save up to $500 plus get up to 50% off your flight. You'll have to act fast, though, as the website says the sale ends today (March 9). The discount will vary depending on your travel dates and availability, but JetBlue claims its included "a discount of up to 50% off in the package price." Use the following promo codes at checkout to slash the cost of your full vacation package:
$25 off $750+ with code HELLOSPRING25
$300 off $4,000 with code HELLOSPRING300
$500 off $7,000 with code HELLOSPRING500
Frontier Airlines: Book one-way fares with Discount Den starting from $19
Frontier Airlines is offering its Discount Den members flight deals as low as $19 one way. A Discount Den membership costs $59.99 per year and unlocks the ability to earn travel miles and Elite Status points for every flight, early access to promotions and offers, free flights for kids, and Discount Den fares for you and up to eight additional people on your reservation. With the current sale, I was able to find a flight from Nashville to Orlando for only $27 one way and from Nashville to Denver for only $57. The more flexible you are with your dates and destination, the better deals you'll find.
Spirit Airlines: Save up to 30% on your vacation when you bundle your flight and hotel
You can save up to 30% on your next vacation when you bundle your flight and hotel with Spirit Airlines. Not to mention, you'll earn an extra 500 Free Spirit points for every vacation package you book, which you can put towards your next trip. If you're looking to get away ASAP, you can save even more on last-minute vacations. Some of the deals you can book include a flight and hotel for as low as $390 per person from Detroit to Miami, from Dallas to Montego Bay for as low as $632 per person, and from Newark to Fort Lauderdale for as low as $372 per person.
Christina Buff is a Nashville-based freelance writer for who covers shopping with a splash of entertainment. If you’re ever wondering what streaming service you need to watch something (and the cheapest way to sign up for it), she’s your girl.
Christina received a B.S. in Business Communication (concentration in writing) from Stevenson University and began her professional journey writing and editing press releases. Since then, she’s written content for a marketing agency, blogged for celebrities, and covered local news, politics, women’s lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and just about everything in between for various publications.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably enjoying live music, studying human design, or embroidering and upcycling clothes. You can follow her on Instagram at @touchinfinity.
