Bing Travel has issued a preliminary outlook for the 2010 holiday season predicting similar holiday travel pricing as last year.

Published: 17 Sep 2010

Bing Travel has issued a preliminary outlook for the 2010 holiday season predicting similar holiday travel pricing as last year.

In 2009, airfares and hotel rates remained low as a way to reinvigorate consumer travel during a tough economy. This year, the same opportunities exist for people looking to see family or take a vacation during the 2010 holiday travel season.

Bing Travel Fareologists uncovered 2010 airfare for Thanksgiving travel to domestic destinations averages $310, down three percent from 2009, but down 13 percent when compared with 2008 fares. Christmas and New Year’s holiday airfare to domestic destinations averages $368, up only two percent from this same period in 2009 and even with 2008 fares.

This marks the first time since the initial Farecast Holiday Forecast in 2007 that airfares have swung less than 10 percent in one direction.

“What has been a seesaw of fares over the past few years — from sky high to rock bottom – is finally finding its balance point,” said Chief Fareologist David Lindheimer, Global Lead for for Bing Travel at Microsoft Corp. “Airlines have made the right capacity cuts and are now consistently filling their planes, which has evened out fares. Though holiday flights are pretty reasonable now, prices will increase as more people finalise and book their holiday travel.”

Fares

Nationally, the average ticket for the most popular Thanksgiving itinerary — Wednesday departure, Sunday return — is favorable this year averaging $397, down $34 from 2009 and down $65 from 2008. Travelers who can stay flexible with their Thanksgiving travel dates will likely be rewarded with savings. For example, traveling on Thanksgiving morning and returning on the following Saturday instead of Sunday can yield a savings of $84 per ticket.

Nationally, the ticket for the most popular Christmas itinerary — Thursday departure, Sunday return — could cost $403 on average, up $14 from 2009. If you want to save some money during Christmas, traveling back on Saturday saves about $67 per ticket.