When summer rolls around, airfares usually get more expensive. But this year, prices for airline tickets are skyrocketing.
Airfares have jumped 20% year-over-year as of April, according to data from the Consumer Price Index. A major factor is the rising cost of jet fuel, which doesn’t appear to be getting cheaper any time soon, and airfares appear to be continuing to climb in kind.
It all means that affording that summer vacation is more difficult in 2026. But fortunately, there are a few strategies travelers can use to still find a reasonably priced getaway.
“With airfare under pressure, travelers who stay flexible, stay closer to home and look beyond the obvious destinations can still unlock meaningful savings without compromising the experience,” said Melanie Fish, a travel expert and spokesperson at Expedia Group.
Using the right methods, including being strategic with travel dates and maximizing online search tools, can add up to significant savings.
“If you're still looking to travel this year, even amid higher prices, there is still savings to be had if you know where to look,” said Katy Nastro, flight expert at Going. Here are a few ideas to save on vacation this summer.
Use Flight Tracking Tools to Find the Lowest Airfares
Travel search platforms can automatically track flight prices, so travelers get alerted when fares drop and can pounce on deals as soon as possible.
Skyscanner has a price tracking feature directly in its app. When searching for fares, travelers can tap the bell icon on the flights they want to track, and Skyscanner will automatically send them notifications when the price changes. The Skyscanner app also has a Drops feature, which alerts users to price drops of 20% or more on flights from their home airport.
Travelers can also set a price tracker on Google Flights. It’s as easy as searching your desired flight route and dates and toggling on the “track prices” feature that appears within the search results. Once turned on, the feature will send price changes on the route to the user’s Gmail address.
Another option is to subscribe to a deal service like Going. The company sends members email alerts about flight deals from their home airport. The service has a free tier, but the biggest deals are reserved for premium members, who save an average of $550 on economy flights, the company says.
Swap Popular Cities for More Affordable Destinations
To make your travel budget go farther this summer, try what Expedia calls a “destination dupe,” or a place that offers similar perks as a popular destination for less money. For example, Expedia recommends swapping New York for Philadelphia. The latter city has top-notch museums and a creative dining scene comparable to New York, but with hotel rates that are about 30% lower than New York, averaging $300 per night.
Another recommended swap is opting for Palm Springs instead of Los Angeles, which would garner hotel rates that are 25% cheaper for an average of $211 per night.
Smaller destinations also pay off when it comes to flight savings. Choosing an under-the-radar destination in the U.S. can help keep airfares under $300, according to Skyscanner data. For instance, Punta Gorda, Florida, has an average summer flight price of $210, according to Skyscanner, and fares to Asheville, North Carolina, are averaging $278 for the summer months.
Google Flights also offers an easy way to find affordable destinations from your home airport with its Explore tab. The feature shows a map of affordable airfare options around the world. Simply enter your home airport as the origin and choose “anywhere” for the destination to browse potential flight deals.
Be Flexible With Travel Dates
Travelers who are able to adjust their plans might be able to find the best savings, especially if they’re willing to travel at the start or end of the summer season. “Traveling in early June or mid‑August can significantly reduce both hotel and airfare costs,” says Expedia’s summer report.
Expedia’s data also shows that the cheapest days to fly domestically this summer are June 3 and 4, while the cheapest days to fly internationally will be August 11 and 17.
Similarly, Skyscanner’s report also found that the cheapest week to fly this summer will be from August 17 to 23.
Vacationers looking to save should also plan to fly on a weekday—specifically Mondays, which is the cheapest day to travel this summer, according to Skyscanner. Consider booking vacations that start and end on Mondays instead of Sundays, which tend to be exorbitantly expensive. It might take a couple of extra vacation days, but it could result in major savings.
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