If you've been stuck at home while your friends Instagrammed the hell out of their summer vacations, now's the time to get revenge. Airfare is about to get way cheaper, and that means it's time for a perfect fall getaway.
According to researchers at the travel app Hopper, the cost of airfare has started to drop, likely because peak summer travel is over. They predict that the cost of a plane ticket will drop 8.2% this fall, to reach a low of $213 for a domestic round-trip ticket in October. That number is just $1 more expensive than last fall's low, and 16% lower than 2014's fall fares.
"Certainly, there's a big seasonal effect driving down fares," Patrick Surry, Hopper's chief data scientist, told CNBC. "Airfares almost always come down in the fall because there are fewer people flying."
Surry says the low fares have two key causes: low fuel prices and empty seats that need to be filled. "We're seeing more flash fare sales where carriers offer tickets for half price for a limited period of time," he told the network. "They need to fill these planes even if it means selling seats at lower prices.
If you want to get out of town ASAP, Hopper predicts that flights to Dallas, Austin, and Washington D.C. are the most likely to drop in price this month. If you'd prefer to go abroad, try Grenada, Costa Rica, or the Dominican Republic.
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