Plane ticket prices dropped this year. Here’s why and how you can find deals

After the airline industry's hammering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data from the International Air Transport Association shows domestic travel was up by 26.5% in August 2022 compared to the same time a year prior. Despite lingering volatility—namely from fuel price hikes related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well as staffing shortages—cost-conscious travelers can breathe a little easier as flight prices decline.

This spring the average domestic flight cost more than $400. Now flights are on par with what they cost in previous years. Across the nation, decreases in flight costs are seen most in the Midwest and South.

Bounce analyzed plane ticket price fluctuations and sourced information to find the best deals for your next trip. Data was compiled from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and Hopper to determine how domestic airfares have changed since the spring and which airports recorded the biggest fare increases in the first half of 2022, the latest data available.

Average airfare costs are based on domestic round-trip fares unless the passenger booked a one-way ticket. The average includes the ticket value in addition to taxes and fees. It does not include optional service fees such as baggage fees or the use of frequent-flier miles.

After two years of consumers forgoing trips because of the pandemic, domestic travel saw an uptick of people traveling for Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays this year. Prices spiked this spring and have since returned to more normal ranges, even without taking into account recent inflation. Since August, rates have risen slightly at a typical seasonal pace but are still down by more than 20% from the May high.

Airport delays and cancellations varied across the country due to staff shortages as pilots reached their workday limits. Some flight prices came down due to fewer scheduled flights, but that could change during the holiday season. For carriers such as American Airlines, revenue from summer travel was up by 13% compared to the same time period in 2019.

This spring, airplane travel got off to a rocky start with major flight delays, cancellations, and costly airfare prices across the country. The surge in airfare pricing was mainly due to the heightened fuel costs.

Costs of domestic flights this spring were up between 3% to 24% from the end of 2021 at airports with more than 100,000 annual passengers, with a median increase of 15%.

It takes patience when doing comparison shopping—but it helps if you've got the right tools. Google Flights is among the most reliable and popular search engines to use meta-search data, driven by ITA Matrix, an airfare shopping tool that instantly finds prices. Kayak can also help to quickly search for prices from multiple airlines, though the cheapest flight may not always pop up.

Sites like Momondo are accessible on mobile devices, offer multi-city searches, display airlines with the least use of carbon emissions, and show the best flights with the first few rows of the plane available. Momondo also provides a specialized ranking system that shows the flight time and prices to reflect a happiness rating from 1 to 10 for that particular flight schedule. It may also be helpful to consider booking a one-way ticket with one airline and a return ticket with a different airline to help with airfare savings.

If time permits, you can save a lot of money by being flexible with your travel dates and times. Sometimes, booking a flight a week or even two days before or after your desired travel date can shave off some dollars. Travel experts also recommend booking morning flights during the week (before 9 a.m.) as flight prices are generally cheaper and airspace is less crowded.

You may find additional savings by flying out of a neighboring airport. With the winter holidays quickly approaching, be sure to book flights before and after the holiday week to save a few hundred dollars. For example, if booking a domestic flight for Thanksgiving, try flying out on the Monday of that same week and purchase a return ticket for a weekday of the following week.

This story originally appeared on Bounce and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

Remember the good old days when you could fly without having to pay to check (or carry-on) a bag? This was the norm before the Great Recession. Like many industries, airlines felt the strain of declining revenues and had to find clever ways to make extra money. Enter baggage fees.

Southwest Airlines is still a unicorn in the industry, staying true to offering low fares and two free checked bags no matter your status. As a result, their per-passenger baggage fee total in 2021 was a mere $0.48 (as a comparison, the 10th entry on this list comes in at $10.46 per passenger), which added up to $58 million in total fees.

Though it's a burden for travelers, airlines have been able to stay afloat because of baggage fees. In 2021, U.S. airlines made about $5.3 billion in baggage fees, a huge leap from $2.8 billion in 2020; however, the number is still down from 2019's $5.8 billion.

Bounce collected data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics to determine which airlines make the most from baggage fees. They looked at data from 2021, the most recent full year available, and calculated the total fees per passenger serviced. The per-passenger figure includes passengers who did not pay for baggage fees, so the average may be lower than each airline charges per bag. Breeze Airways was excluded from the analysis as complete data was not available for 2021.

- Total baggage fees collected: $242,173,000 ($10.46 per passenger)

- Total passengers boarded: 23,153,191

Eligible Alaska Airlines Visa credit card holders may get their first checked bag fee waived, but for everyone else, there's a $30 charge for the first, $40 for the second, and $100 for the third and beyond. There's also a $100 charge for oversized bags, so be mindful of the weight and dimensions of your luggage. 

- Total baggage fees collected: $1,224,288,000 ($10.54 per passenger)

- Total passengers boarded: 116,173,259

American Airlines offers several ways to receive a complimentary baggage check depending on various card members and status, but there's a fee on domestic flights for most passengers. The first bag will cost $30; the second, $40; the third, $150; and the fourth or more are $200 apiece. The charges differ depending on the type of flight, so be sure to look at American's website to find the right information for your particular travel plans. 

- Total baggage fees collected: $869,626,000 ($12.00 per passenger)

- Total passengers boarded: 72,488,269

If you're flying United Airlines with a heavy bag and you're in First or Business Class or have MileagePlus status, you're in luck: The weight restrictions are 70 pounds rather than the standard 50 pounds. The carrier's checked baggage fees vary depending on your destination and status, so United developed a handy baggage fee calculator to help you prepare for your trip. It also offers baggage delivery at select U.S. destinations for those who don't want to wait at baggage claim.

- Total baggage fees collected: $1,549,000 ($13.34 per passenger)

- Total passengers boarded: 116,095

With hubs in Miami, New York, and San Juan, Eastern Air Lines primarily runs in the southern and eastern United States (as well as some international destinations). The benefit of flying with Eastern is the baggage size limit (70 pounds no matter your status) and the first bag flies for free. A second checked bag will cost $65; the third and fourth are $100 apiece; and the fifth and sixth come with a $200 charge per bag.

- Total baggage fees collected: $517,202,000 ($17.15 per passenger)

- Total passengers boarded: 30,159,824

Many airlines allow somewhere between six and 10 checked bags per passenger (for a fee, of course), so it's worth pointing out that JetBlue only lets travelers fly with two. The fees are calculated depending on your fare and destination and can be found on the airline's website. If you're a planner, you can save $5 per bag by checking your bags online more than 24 hours before your flight.

- Total baggage fees collected: $246,127,000 ($18.09 per passenger)

- Total passengers boarded: 13,607,794

Allegiant Air may save passengers money on low fares, but it recoups some of it with baggage fees. In addition to charging per checked bag (you are allowed up to four), the airline also charges travelers for a carry-on piece of luggage (you can bring a personal item on board for free). This can cost an additional $10-$75 depending on the size of your suitcase and when in your travel plans you decide to pay. A full baggage fee chart can be found on Allegiant Air's website.

- Total baggage fees collected: $8,535,000 ($18.78 per passenger)

- Total passengers boarded: 454,453

Silver Airways is a regional airline that flies between Florida, the southeastern U.S., and the Bahamas, but if you're going on a tropical vacation, you might want to pack light. The carrier limits two checked bags per guest, with a fee per piece. If you need that third bag, Silver Airways will allow it for a $100 charge. See a full baggage fee chart on the airline's website.

- Total baggage fees collected: $635,038,000 ($20.64 per passenger)

- Total passengers boarded: 30,770,259

Spirit is a budget airline that capitalizes on extra fees. In addition to charging passengers who want to choose their own seats, the carrier also charges for carry-on luggage (aside from a personal item) and all checked bags. Spirit doesn't openly disclose its baggage fees, but its website comes equipped with a baggage fee calculator so you won't be surprised when you get to the airport.

- Total baggage fees collected: $463,388,000 ($22.44 per passenger)

- Total passengers boarded: 20,654,583

Frontier Airlines' slogan might be "Low Fares Done Right," but what customers save in airfare they may lose in extra fees. Like many of the budget airlines, Frontier allows travelers one personal item to fly for free, but everything else comes at a charge. The carrier offers a travel bundle called "the Works" that includes a carry-on and checked bag, seat selection, priority boarding, flight flexibility, and refundability, but the catch is it's only available for purchase during initial booking.

- Total baggage fees collected: $61,554,000 ($22.58 per passenger)

- Total passengers boarded: 2,726,516

You may see a pattern in the top airlines on this list: They're all billed as "ultra-low-cost," but words can be deceiving. These carriers are great for the minimalist traveler, but there will be extra charges for luggage. Sun Country Airlines charges for carry-on and checked bags. Travelers can save money by choosing bag options when making their reservation. Fees vary depending on where you're flying, so check Sun Country's website for a fee calculator.

This story originally appeared on Bounce and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.