If you’ve searched for a flight lately and thought “that can’t be right”, you’re not imagining it. We hear it from customers every single day. A trip that cost $350 last year is suddenly $450, and a family holiday to Europe now needs a much bigger budget. So what’s actually going on, will it last, and what can you do about it? Here’s the honest answer, without the jargon.
The short version
- US airfares were about 23% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier.
- The big reasons: jet fuel got much more expensive, Spirit Airlines shut down, lots of people still want to travel, and airlines can’t get new planes fast enough.
- Domestic flights have gone up more than international ones, but some busy routes to Europe have jumped too.
- Don’t expect prices to crash soon. But there are still good deals if you’re flexible and know where to look.
So why are flights so expensive?
There isn’t one single reason. It’s a handful of things all hitting at the same time.
1. Fuel prices shot up
Fuel is one of an airline’s biggest bills. Early this year, jet fuel went from roughly $2 a gallon in January to nearly $4 by March, mainly because of the conflict in the Middle East and worries about oil supply. The airline industry’s own trade group, IATA, expects airlines worldwide to spend around $100 billion more on fuel in 2026 than they did last year. Some of that cost lands on your ticket, simple as that.
2. One of the cheapest airlines disappeared
Spirit Airlines stopped flying in May 2026. Love it or hate it, Spirit kept prices down on a lot of routes, especially to and from Florida, Las Vegas and Detroit. When a low-cost airline leaves, the others don’t have to work as hard to compete, and fares tend to drift up.
3. Everyone still wants to travel
Demand is strong. Airlines expected around 271 million people to fly in the US this past summer alone. When planes are full, airlines simply don’t need to discount seats.
4. Not enough planes, and higher wages
Aircraft makers are still behind on deliveries, and some newer jets have spent time on the ground waiting for engine checks. That means airlines can’t add as many flights as they’d like. On top of that, pilots and flight attendants have won new contracts with well-deserved pay rises. More costs and fewer seats almost always mean higher fares.
Is it domestic flights or international as well?
Both, but not equally.
- Domestic flights have gone up the most, especially on routes where Spirit used to fly and on short, busy routes where people have few other choices.
- International flights are mixed. Popular routes like New York to London have jumped sharply, while other parts of Europe haven’t risen as much. European airlines are dealing with the same fuel problem, so don’t expect bargains to suddenly appear on that side either.
- Business class moves differently from economy. Airlines often hold back premium seats and release them at better prices closer to the date, or sell them through agencies at private rates. That’s why it’s always worth asking before you pay the airline’s website price.
How long will prices stay this high?
Honestly? Nobody knows for sure, and anyone who tells you an exact date is guessing. Here’s what we can say:
- There’s a small sign of relief. Fares dipped about half a percent from July to August, the first easing in a while.
- Fuel is still the big unknown. It eased in the spring, then climbed again in August. If things calm down in the Middle East, fuel should follow, and fares usually follow fuel a few months later.
- Airlines have said they’re comfortable with prices where they are, and with Spirit gone there’s less pressure to cut them.
Our honest take: don’t wait around for a big crash in prices. Expect fares to stay on the high side into next year, with the usual cheaper windows in quieter months like January to early March and late October to mid-November, outside the holidays.
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How to find cheaper flights from your city
A lot of people type “cheap flights from [my city]” and just take the first price they see. Here’s what we’d do instead, city by city. The biggest trick almost everywhere is the same: check the airport down the road.
| Flying from | Airports to compare | Our tip |
|---|---|---|
| New York | JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR) | Always check all three. JFK is strongest for Delta and international flights; Newark is United’s base. The same trip can be very different in price. |
| Newark / New Jersey | EWR, plus JFK and LGA | Great for United’s nonstops to Europe and beyond. Compare with JFK before you book. |
| Boston | Logan (BOS), Providence (PVD), Manchester NH (MHT) | Providence and Manchester can be cheaper for domestic trips if you don’t mind the drive. |
| Washington DC | Dulles (IAD), Reagan National (DCA), Baltimore (BWI) | BWI is often the cheapest for domestic flights. Dulles is the main airport for Europe. |
| Chicago | O’Hare (ORD), Midway (MDW) | Midway is Southwest’s base and worth checking for domestic trips. O’Hare has far more international flights. |
| Detroit | Detroit (DTW) | A big Delta hub with good nonstops, including to Europe. It lost a lot of Spirit flights, so book a little earlier than you used to. |
| Minneapolis | Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP) | Another major Delta hub. Midweek departures are usually noticeably cheaper. |
| Atlanta | Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) | The world’s busiest airport and Delta’s home, so there are lots of options. Watch for sales on Delta and Southwest. |
| Orlando | Orlando (MCO), Sanford (SFB), Tampa (TPA) | Spirit’s exit hit Orlando hard. Tampa is about 90 minutes away and sometimes far cheaper. |
| Dallas | DFW, Dallas Love Field (DAL) | DFW is American’s giant hub. Love Field is Southwest’s, and great for domestic trips. |
| Houston | Bush (IAH), Hobby (HOU) | IAH is United’s hub with lots of international flights. Hobby is Southwest’s. |
| San Antonio | San Antonio (SAT), Austin (AUS), Houston | SAT has fewer nonstops. For Europe, flying via Dallas or Houston, or starting in Austin, can save money. |
| Las Vegas | Harry Reid (LAS) | Lots of choice on Southwest and others, but fares rose after Spirit left. Avoid weekends around big events and conventions. |
| Denver | Denver (DEN) | A hub for United, Southwest and Frontier, so competition helps. Ski season and holidays push prices up. |
| California | LA: LAX, Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), Ontario (ONT). Bay Area: SFO, Oakland (OAK), San Jose (SJC). Plus San Diego (SAN) | The smaller airports are often cheaper and much less stressful. For Europe and Asia, LAX and SFO have the most choice. |
Flying to Europe? A few things that really help
- Go in the shoulder season. April to early June, and September to October, are usually cheaper than July and August, and the weather’s still lovely.
- Be flexible on the city you land in. Flying into Dublin, Lisbon, Madrid or Amsterdam and taking a short flight or train onward can cost less than flying straight into London, Paris or Rome.
- Try an open jaw. Fly into one city and home from another, for example into Rome and out of Paris. It often costs about the same as a normal return and saves you backtracking.
- Don’t rule out one stop. A connection through a hub can be hundreds of dollars cheaper than a nonstop, especially from cities like San Antonio, Las Vegas or Denver.
Heading to Italy? We’ve put together a full guide to nonstop flights from New York to Italy.
Simple habits that save money right now
- Book in the sweet spot. For trips inside the US, about 1 to 3 months ahead usually works best. For international trips, think 2 to 8 months ahead.
- Fly midweek. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are often cheaper than Fridays and Sundays.
- Set price alerts on Google Flights so you hear about drops instead of checking every day.
- Look at the total price. A cheap base fare plus bag fees and seat fees can end up costing more than a “pricier” ticket that includes them.
- Ask an agent for premium cabins. For business and first class, travel agencies can often get private fares that never show up on airline websites. That’s exactly what we do.
Quick answers
Why are flights so expensive in 2026?
Mainly because jet fuel became much more expensive, Spirit Airlines shut down in May 2026, demand is strong, and airlines can’t get enough new planes. Higher wages for crews add to it too.
Are international flights more expensive too?
Yes, but generally less than domestic flights. Some popular routes, like New York to London, have risen sharply, while others haven’t moved as much.
When will flight prices go down?
There’s no fixed date. Prices dipped slightly in late summer, and if fuel costs fall they should ease further, but most signs point to fares staying fairly high into 2027. Quieter months like January to early March are still the best bet for lower prices.
What’s the best way to find cheap flights from my city?
Compare every airport nearby, fly midweek, book within the usual window (1 to 3 months for domestic, 2 to 8 months for international) and set price alerts. For business class, ask an agency for private fares before you book.
Need help with a trip? Tell us where you’re flying from and where you want to go, whether it’s New York to Rome, Chicago to London or Dallas to Dubai. A real person on our team will compare the options and send you the best fare we can find. Get a free quote or call us any time on +1-850-502-5028.
Figures are from published reports as of early October 2026, including US inflation data on airfares (via NerdWallet), Going, NPR and Euronews. Fares change daily, so treat these as a guide.
Planning a trip to Russia? Our St. Petersburg business class guide explains the best one-stop routes from the US, baggage allowances and date change rules.