Jul 19, 2008 10:37 pm US/Eastern
Book Early Or You Could Be Grounded For Holidays
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
There's no place like home for the holidays, but getting a seat on a flight home might be pricier and more problematic than usual.
Industry experts say come this fall, airlines will be flying smaller planes and fewer routes. It's part of their effort to fight soaring fuel costs.
"With some of the decreased capacity that we've seen, people are going to have to worry about whether airlines are going to be filling up," said Jeanenne Diefendorf of Orbitz.com."
That's why airline passenger, June Banfi, says she already booked her holiday travel. "I always try to plan ahead," said Banfi, "and when the price of gas started to escalate I figured that it might affect the airlines."
This holiday season, United Airlines says it will have 14 percent fewer seats on its domestic routes. American says it is cutting back by as much as 12 percent. Continental will cut 10 percent. Industry-wide, passengers will be vying for 9 percent fewer seats. As the number of seats are cut back, the costs for them will rise. For example, a flight from Newark to Fort Lauderdale cost a family of four about $872 dollars last year. This year it's more than double, at nearly $2,000.
"That's crazy," said Guy Anderson, a passenger.
"It's getting very expensive," said Delia Cachoavile, airline passenger. "and not everybody is going to be able to afford the same vacations they used to."
Those seemingly sky high prices might soon look like a bargain if prices go up again between now and the holidays.
"Go ahead and lock that in so you have something so you're not disappointed when you want to see your family for the holidays," said Patty Kryscha of Southwest Airlines.
If you don't book now, there's a chance you could be grounded for the holidays.
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