Air Fares | featured news

Airlines are once again trying to get business travelers to pay more for their last-minute trips. For the fifth time this year, airlines are trying to raise fares, says Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, which tracks fares. The previous three attempts focused on tickets purchased within seven days of travel, which are typically most popular among business travelers.

Air fares are likely to stay high throughout this decade, as passenger travel grows but airline capacity shrinks, according to a government forecast issued Thursday.

There are only 96 more shopping days until Christmas. This year, experts say, you should be shopping early for more than just gifts. "Airline fares are 20 to 30 percent above last year's rates, and they vary day to day," said Tom Parsons of Bestfares.com.

Passengers are increasingly running afoul of funny fares.  The prices often can’t be adequately explained, so their only choice is to take their business elsewhere.

An airfare watcher says airlines are trying their fourth fare hike since June.

After two years of raising fares as fuel prices soared, U.S. airlines are slashing prices dramatically in an effort to fill up empty seats.

Last summer's spike in aviation fuel prices led to the highest average U.S. air fare in 13 years at $362 during the third quarter of 2008, a federal report states.

Kim Bouck is wary of the fine print on the "free" ticket offer by American Express. So she gets a few of the company's promises in writing. When the promises are broken, however, American Express backtracks -- and she's left ticketless.

If you're looking for a new or updated online travel site or offer, just wait a minute or two. Hardly a day goes by that I don't get at least one press release about something new or "improved" on the Internet.

The airline's new destinations are made even sweeter with the rock-bottom price tags and nonstop service that accompanies these new routes.