Planning to fly in 2025? Your wallet might feel a bit lighter.
A new report from American Express Global Business Travel shows flight prices are rising across most regions.
The biggest increases are hitting North America, Australia, and Asia-Pacific routes, with some fares jumping up to 13.7%.
Let’s explore what’s driving these changes, how they vary by region, and smart ways to keep your travel costs down. 😊
1. Why Your Flight Prices Are Changing
A new analysis from the Air Monitor 2025 report by American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) reveals major trends in airfare pricing.
Here are the key factors driving up your flight costs:
- Fuel Costs: Geopolitical tensions cause fuel prices to rise and fall, which affects what you pay for your tickets.
- Labor Expenses: Ongoing labor disputes and pilot shortages, especially in North America, mean airlines must spend more on workers, making tickets costlier.
- Environmental Surcharges: Airlines are adding new fees to pay for their environmental programs, which increases your total fare.
- Dynamic Pricing: Airlines use AI systems to change prices based on demand and market conditions, making fares go up and down.
- Supply Constraints: Because new aircraft aren’t being delivered on time, airlines have fewer planes available, which pushes prices higher.
2. Regional Insights
American Express Global Business Travel Group Inc. has released their latest forecast for airfare changes:
a. Within North America
- Business Class: Flight prices will increase by 2.7% across North America
- Economy Class: Plan for a 2.8% increase in economy tickets
b. Between North America and Asia
- Business Class: Prices increasing by 2.2% for business class
- Economy Class: Small decrease of 0.1% in economy fares
c. Between North America and Europe
- Business Class: Business travel costs up by 1.5%
- Economy Class: Slight increase of 0.8% for economy tickets
d. Between America and South America
- Business Class: Prices dropping by 1.0% for business travelers
- Economy Class: Prices dropping by 8.0% for economy flights
e. Within South America
- Business Class: Minimal change with just 0.3% increase
- Economy Class: Economy fares rising by 3.6%
f. Within Europe
- Business Class: A small rise of 1.2% for business travel within Europe
- Economy Class: Economy tickets will cost 2.8% more
g. Between Europe and Asia
- Business Class: Sharp increase of 8.2% for business class routes
- Economy Class: Notable rise of 6.6% for economy tickets
h. Within Asia-Pacific
- Business Class: Prices dropping by 1.5% for business travelers
- Economy Class: A moderate 2.3% increase for economy flights
i. Within Australia
- Business Class: Significant price jump of 7.8% for business class
- Economy Class: Major increase of 13.7% for economy travel
j. Between Asia and Australia
- Business Class: Business class fares increasing by 6.1%
- Economy Class: Substantial 12.0% increase for economy travel
Smart Ways to Beat High Airfares
1. Use Flight Deal Alert Services
- Try Deal Alert Services: Sign up for Going, Jack’s Flight Club, or FareDrop to get flight deals from your chosen airports. Free plans offer basic deals, while paid subscriptions give more frequent alerts and vacation packages.
- Use Airfare Watchdog: Get verified deals and mistake fares checked by real people, ensuring you receive reliable discounts directly to your inbox.
- Set Up Google Flights: Track specific routes for free and get notified when prices drop or rise, helping you book at the right time.
2. Use Flight Comparison Websites
- Compare Flight Search Engines: Your best friends are websites like Skyscanner and Google Flights – they help you find the cheapest flights by comparing prices from all airlines in one place.
- Turn On Price Alerts: Simply sign up for email notifications and these websites will tell you when prices drop for flights you want.
- Check Alternative Airports: Looking at nearby airports could save you money – sometimes flying from a smaller airport costs way less.
- Use Incognito Mode: While many travelers believe using incognito mode helps find lower prices, research shows it probably doesn’t make much difference.
Explore Other Flight Tools
- Hopper: Get price predictions with 95% accuracy. The app tells you exactly when to book for the best deals.
- Mix & Match Flights on Kayak: Save by combining one-way tickets from different airlines instead of booking round-trips.
- Airwander: Add stopovers to your trip, often at little to no extra cost. Sometimes even cheaper than direct flights!
3. Book in the Optimal Time Frame
- Domestic Flights: Book 1-3 months ahead for best prices
- International Flights: Book 5-6 months in advance
- Avoid booking on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays: Prices are higher
- Set Price Alerts: Get notifications when prices drop for your routes
- Last-Minute Booking: Delaying your plans can result in higher costs, so plan ahead to save money.
- Timing of Flights (Daily)
- Early morning flights (6-7 a.m.) are often cheaper and more punctual
- The most expensive flights are often between 8-10 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. due to business travel patterns
4. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates
- Travel During Off-Peak Times: Book your flights on less crowded days like Tuesday or Wednesday to snag better deals. Stay away from holiday periods when prices skyrocket.
- Browse with Flexible Dates: Take advantage of Google Flights’ calendar view – it’s your best friend for comparing prices across different dates and finding hidden deals.
- Skip the Tourist Rush: Peak season means peak prices. Consider traveling during shoulder season when you’ll get similar experiences at much lower costs.
- Embrace Odd-Hour Flights: Those crack-of-dawn or red-eye flights might not be the most convenient, but they’ll save you serious cash.
5. Take Advantage of Budget Airlines
- Know the Base Prices: Budget airlines typically offer much lower ticket prices than regular airlines, helping you save on basic travel costs.
- Watch for Hidden Costs: Remember that things like checking bags, choosing your seat, and getting meals usually aren’t included – you’ll need to pay extra for these.
- Consider Airport Location: These airlines often fly from smaller airports that might be further away from city centers, so factor in your transport time and costs.
- Learn the Baggage Rules: Check their carry-on and checked bag size limits and fees carefully before booking – this helps avoid surprise charges at the airport.
6. Stay Informed About Airline Promotions
- Subscribe to Email Updates: Simply join airline mailing lists to get special deals and promotions sent straight to your inbox.
- Follow Social Media: Check airlines’ social media pages regularly for flash sales and limited-time offers you won’t want to miss.
- Watch for New Routes: When airlines launch new flight paths, they often celebrate with lower prices to attract passengers.
- Become a Loyalty Member: Join airlines’ frequent flyer programs to access member-only deals and discounts they don’t share with everyone else.
7. Consider Alternative Airports and Routes
- Try Multi-Stop Routes: Taking a flight with layovers might take longer, but could save you money compared to direct flights.
- Check Surrounding Airports: Look at flights from nearby airports too – they might have better deals that make the extra travel worthwhile.
- Mix Your Airlines: Book different parts of your journey with different airlines – sometimes this works out cheaper than using one airline.
- Plan Your Airport Transfer: Before booking flights to alternative airports, make sure you can easily reach your final destination by bus, train, or taxi.
8. Consider Airline Credit Cards and Bonus Offers
- Earn Travel Points: Use airline credit cards to collect points on your everyday purchases, turning regular spending into future travel savings.
- Get Sign-up Bonuses: Watch for credit card welcome bonuses – depending on the offer and how you redeem, these points could cover all or part of a round-trip flight.
- Transfer Points Wisely: Move your credit card points to airline partners when you can get better value, sometimes doubling or tripling their worth.
- Enjoy Card Perks: Take advantage of credit card benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding, and airport lounge access to make your travel more comfortable.
