It might not feel like it if you've glanced at the stock market, but it's true: It's a great time to be on the hunt for cheap flights. In fact, it's probably the best time in years.
The latest federal inflation report released Thursday shows that average airfare fell another 5% in March, following a substantial 4% decrease the month prior. That's two massive drops in a row, and it's clear that fares are down across the board. While a 5% drop might not seem like a lot, it can make a meaningful difference on your next trip.
The trend is now undeniable: As travel demand wobbles for the first time following a post-COVID explosion in travel, airfare has been steadily dropping as airlines slash prices to fill planes that were once going out full.
But that's no surprise for us: We've been seeing this firsthand for several months in the form of dirt-cheap flight deals within the U.S. and abroad … at lower prices than we've seen in some time.
Our team searches all day, every day for the cheapest domestic and international flights to send to our Thrifty Traveler Premium. We've been seeing these patterns (and amazingly cheap flight deals) that back up these big-picture inflation numbers.
Already have flights booked coming up? Check the price – you might be able to rebook and save even more!
Keep in mind: Airfare is not a monolith. Just because flight prices dropped 5% last month doesn't mean all flights are 5% cheaper. There are tens of millions of individual fares out there. Some go up, some go down … and some go way, way down.
But the start of spring has been special. We've repeatedly seen airlines slash prices on many routes for travel in the next few months. If that trend continues, we're thinking this could shape up to be one of the best summers ever for cheap travel.
And here's maybe the craziest part: This dip is happening right as many travelers across the country begin planning out their summer trips, leading fares to spike to their high point of the year.
Just look at this graph from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that shows the peaks and valleys of airfare every year for the last ten years.
Those peaks you see are in spring every year. So, historically, fares tend to peak between March and May. But not in 2025: Fares are down 5% in March. And from what we're seeing so far in flight deals, April is heading in a similar direction.
A Look at Recent Flight Deals
How about these recent fares to Amsterdam (AMS) as an example?
This deal was a show-stopper for our members, many of whom booked some cheap spring and fall fares to the Netherlands that are usually closer to $1,000 or $1,200 roundtrip.
That's just one example. We have dozens more, including…
- New York to Santorini (JTR) for $582 roundtrip
- Spain under $592 roundtrip
- Italy under $597 roundtrip
- Nonstop to London (LHR) under $599 roundtrip
- Copenhagen under $598 roundtrip
- and more!
But perhaps the best value for flights across the Atlantic isn't in row 38 or row 55 – it's in rows 1 through 10. That's right: Business class.
While the Consumer Price Index doesn't account for flights booked with points and miles, award availability hinges on some the same dynamics as cash prices: supply and demand. When airlines need to fill empty seats, they'll do whatever they can to fill the seat, including slashing prices or making them available to book with miles.
In the last few weeks alone, we've sent the following points and miles business class options, too.
- Virgin Atlantic business class to London from 35,000 points each way
- United Polaris business class to Rome (FCO) from 64,000 points each way
- Emirates business class to Italy & Greece from 108,000 points roundtrip
- American Airlines business class to Spain, Italy, & Germany from 55,000 points each way
- Aer Lingus business class to Ireland from 42,000 points each way
- Condor business class to Frankfurt (FRA) from 55,000 miles each way
- SWISS business class to Switzerland from 48,000 points each way
- and more!
Europe doesn't get all the credit for the onslaught of deals – in fact, flying across the Pacific Ocean is getting cheaper, too. Just a few days ago, we found Thailand and Vietnam fares drop, too.
About eight U.S. gateways benefitted from fares in the $700s and $800s roundtrip, giving you a White Lotus-esque escape for unthinkable lows.
That's not all. This deal was one of the most popular of the month, giving travelers a look at some super cheap flights to Tokyo this spring through next fall.
Closer to home, cheap flights to Latin America and the Caribbean are also driving average fares lower. The fall season is especially cheap for these locales, but good availability is opening up into the winter season, too.
Carribbean, anyone? Nonstop flights to Cancún (CUN) are easier to find than ever.
And some of the best islands of the Caribbean are benefitting from similar trends, too. Our latest flight deal to Aruba (AUA) included dozens of U.S. cities with roundtrip fares under $399.
Finally, flying in and around the continental United States is also cheaper than before. Let's use Chicago as the perfect example, where fares are looking really, really good.
But those aren't just shoulder season or Tuesday-at-5 a.m. fares – these are peak summer flights, including Memorial Day and the Fourth of July from most cities. It's a massive sale our members used to book their summertime trip to the shores of Lake Michigan.
We have countless examples of cheap domestic flights we can choose from. We find them every single day. We search for cheap flights to and from more than 200 U.S. and Canadian airports, so we're always finding the lowest fares that drive down that national average.
Read: The Best Day to Book Flights and Buy Airfare
Bottom Line
We've said it before and we'll say it again (and again and again): Cheap flights haven't gone anywhere. They're getting easier to find.
After watching prices seemingly skyrocket last year, things are clearly moving in the right direction. While an 5% drop in average flight prices last month is impressive on its own, it's just the latest consecutive decrease, bringing flight prices down by the same percentage compared to a year ago.
I’ve already done so twice.
Unfortunately this is a case where the curtain needs to be pulled back. It’s just my opinion, but I think what is happening here is that when judging the cost, upsell fees are not being taken into consideration. Sure, the basic cost may be down on it’s face, but those are all basic economy fares and as the airlines well know, the vase majority of fliers pay up for seats, bags, etc. I believe the DOT measures airfare pricing based on the total price of the fare NOT including extras; which is basically everything now and easily ads $80-$200 to that actual fare that is not included in the price measured.