I thought I was imagining it the first time I saw a $900 price tag for a quick hop across the country. Friends were complaining too, swearing flights had never been this expensive. But then I dug into the numbers, and the story turned out to be more complicated than it looks from a booking screen. Yes, tickets in 2025 can feel sky-high (especially during peak summer or if you’re chasing Business Class), but when adjusted for inflation, many fares are actually lower than they were a decade ago. So why does it feel so different this year? The answer lies in a mix of shifting demand, seasonal spikes, and a few hidden trends airlines would rather you not notice.
- Read next: My Guide to Finding Cheap Airline Tickets
#1 tip to find cheap flights in 2025
Looking for the absolute best flight deals in 2025? This is my not-so-secret weapon: Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). Here’s how it works: you sign up (it’s free), pick your home airport, and then sit back while jaw-dropping flight deals land in your inbox. Think mistake fares, flash sales, and routes so cheap you’ll double-check the price twice.
I’ve personally saved thousands this way. Just last year I booked Boston to Paris for $299 roundtrip…cheaper than a weekend road trip. The free version alone is worth it, but the Premium membership (normally $49/year) is where the real magic happens. One discounted flight covers the cost, and if you fly up front, the Elite tier can save you thousands on business and first class. Last year, I saved over $5,000 on upgrades I never would’ve paid full price for.
And here’s the kicker: if you use my code JON25, you’ll get 25% off Premium or Elite. That’s a no-brainer for anyone who wants to travel more while spending less. Now, let’s break down why flights feel so expensive in 2025…
At a Glance: Flight Prices in 2025
I’ve spent the past year booking flights across the U.S., Europe, South America, and Asia, and I’ve noticed a strange pattern: some fares feel higher than ever, while others are shockingly cheap if you catch them at the right time. After digging into the data and living it firsthand, here’s what stands out in 2025:
- Average prices aren’t skyrocketing. U.S. airfare is only about 0.7% higher than 2024, and still far cheaper than it was a decade ago once you factor in inflation.
- But peak seasons will drain your wallet. Summer and holiday fares spiked hard this year, with places like the UK seeing a 30% jump in July alone.
- Premium cabins are painful. I’ve seen Business and First Class tickets nearly double compared to pre-2020. Upgrades are no longer the steal they used to be.
- The timing game matters more than ever. I paid almost $400 for a quick domestic hop in June, then scored a transatlantic roundtrip for under $400 in October.
- Deals still exist…you just need the right tools. Off-season flights, midweek departures, and alerts from sites like Going (code JON25 saves 25%) are how I keep finding the gems.
The big picture? Flights in 2025 aren’t universally expensive — but they’re more unpredictable than ever. Let’s dive into why.
Flights Are Cheaper Than a Decade Ago (When You Adjust for Inflation)
It’s easy to believe flights have never been more expensive…especially when you’re staring at a $700 domestic roundtrip. But the numbers tell a different story. According to federal inflation data, average U.S. airfares in 2025 are about 40% lower than they were in 2015 once you adjust for inflation. In fact, June 2025 marked the second-lowest airfare levels ever recorded in real terms.
So why the disconnect? Two reasons: we feel sticker shock from seasonal spikes and premium cabin pricing, and we tend to compare prices to pre-2020 travel, when flash sales were everywhere. The reality is that airlines have become more efficient, competition (in economy at least) keeps base fares competitive, and AI-powered pricing sometimes pushes deals even lower.
In other words: yes, flights feel pricey right now. But if you zoom out a decade, 2025 is still one of the cheapest times in history to fly…if you know where to look.
Summer and Holidays Send Prices Through the Roof
If you’ve searched for flights in July or December 2025, you know the pain. Demand during peak travel windows is relentless, and airlines have zero incentive to discount seats when they know planes will fill anyway. In the UK, July 2025 airfares actually spiked more than 30% in a single month…the sharpest jump in over two decades. The US wasn’t far behind.
I felt it myself booking a summer trip: the same route that cost me under $400 in October shot past $900 in June. That’s not random…it’s supply and demand at its purest. Families book around school breaks, holidays compress everyone’s travel into the same week, and business flyers pile on top.
The trick? Avoid peak weeks whenever possible. Flying just one week earlier or later (or midweek instead of Friday/Sunday) can save hundreds. Fall and early spring 2025 have been especially kind to bargain hunters.
Premium Cabins Are More Expensive Than Ever
If you’ve checked Business or First Class fares in 2025, you’ve probably done a double take. Premium seats have climbed far faster than economy, with some long-haul fares nearly doubling compared to pre-2020. I’ve seen $8,000 roundtrips to Europe that used to hover closer to $4,000–$5,000 just a few years ago. According to a Global Wealth report, business-class flight prices rose 18.2 percent (USD terms) in 2025 compared to 2024.
Why? Demand is high. Many leisure travelers are treating themselves after years of delayed trips, and corporate flyers are back in force. Add in limited supply…since planes have fewer premium seats than economy, and airlines can charge what the market will bear.
I learned this the hard way trying to upgrade on a transatlantic flight last spring. The “deal” was more than I paid for the entire vacation. Unless you’ve banked miles or caught a rare mistake fare, premium cabins are the toughest part of flying in 2025.
Fewer Planes Mean Higher Prices
One big reason fares stay sticky in 2025 is simple: airlines don’t have enough planes. Boeing and Airbus are years behind on deliveries, and older jets are being retired faster than replacements arrive. That means airlines can’t just add more flights when demand surges, even though travel appetite is back to record highs.
I saw this firsthand flying through smaller airports in Europe…routes that used to have three or four daily options now run only once or twice. Fewer seats in the air almost always translate to higher prices, especially on popular corridors. Airbus has delivered just 243 aircraft (≈49 per month) through May 2025 (well below its target), symptomatic of persistent supply-chain delays.
Until manufacturers catch up, airlines will keep leveraging scarcity. Don’t expect a flood of cheap seats in 2025. It’s more likely that limited capacity will keep fares firm through at least 2026.
Green Fuel Is Making Tickets Pricier
Sustainability is reshaping aviation, and in 2025 that comes with a cost. Airlines are under growing pressure to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can cut emissions but costs more than traditional jet fuel. Governments in Europe have already rolled out SAF mandates, and U.S. carriers are investing heavily to keep up.
For travelers, this often translates into higher fares. Airlines pass a portion of these costs directly onto ticket prices, especially on long-haul international routes. I noticed it flying out of Amsterdam this spring…the taxes and surcharges tied to green fuel policies pushed the base fare far above similar flights from neighboring airports.
It’s a tradeoff: cleaner skies but costlier tickets. Until SAF production scales up and prices stabilize, sustainability will remain a quiet but powerful driver behind the fares we pay. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is projected to stay 2–3 times more expensive than regular jet fuel, keeping ticket costs elevated at least through 2030. This is one of the biggest trends in air travel right now, so I expect this to continue in the coming years.
Fewer Budget Airlines, Fewer Cheap Seats
Low-cost carriers have long kept the big airlines honest, but in 2025 that competition is thinning. Spirit Airlines is in financial trouble, which could eliminate routes that are often 15% cheaper. Several European budget carriers have cut routes, and rising operating costs are squeezing the ultra-low-cost model.
I felt the impact booking flights out of Florida earlier this year. Routes that Spirit once sold for under $100 now have legacy carriers charging two or three times as much. When a budget airline pulls out of a market, fares usually climb because fewer seats are competing for the same demand.
This doesn’t mean deals are gone completely, but it does mean travelers can’t rely on rock-bottom fares like they once did. As discount carriers scale back, price pressure eases, and the majors can keep rates higher without worrying about being undercut.
Rising Fuel and Labor Costs Keep Fares High
Even with efficiencies, airlines can’t escape two of their biggest expenses: fuel and labor. Jet fuel prices remain volatile in 2025, tied to global oil markets, and pilots and crew have won major pay increases after years of shortages. Together, these account for the bulk of operating costs, and when they rise, ticket prices almost always follow.
I noticed it flying cross-country earlier this year…fares were far steeper than the same route I booked in 2019, even though demand felt about the same. Airlines are simply passing higher baseline costs onto passengers.
The good news? When oil dips, fares can soften. But with labor contracts locked in for years and geopolitical uncertainty still pushing up energy prices, don’t expect a sudden return to ultra-cheap flying in 2025.
Smarter Pricing Means Mixed Results
Airlines in 2025 are leaning hard on AI and dynamic pricing. Instead of fixed fare classes, algorithms now adjust prices in real time based on demand, booking trends, and even how many people are searching a route. Sometimes this works in travelers’ favor, pushing economy fares lower to fill empty seats, but it can also mean wild swings when demand spikes. Delta plans to use AI-driven pricing for 20 percent of its domestic fares by late 2025, signaling a major shift in how tickets are priced.
I saw it firsthand booking a flight from Boston to Denver. On Monday, the fare was $220. By Wednesday, it had jumped to $370, only to dip again a few days later. It’s frustrating, but it’s how airlines maximize revenue.
The silver lining is that dynamic pricing occasionally creates surprising bargains, especially for flexible travelers who can pounce when fares drop. But for most people, it makes flying in 2025 feel unpredictable, even when overall averages aren’t skyrocketing.
Demand Outpaces Supply
Travel appetite in 2025 hasn’t cooled off. If anything, it’s stronger than ever. Families are traveling more, remote workers are blending vacations with work, and international routes are rebounding fast. The problem? Airlines don’t have enough seats to meet that demand, so they can confidently charge more.
I noticed this booking flights to Italy earlier this year…planes were packed, even midweek in the shoulder season. When airlines know they’ll sell out flights regardless, there’s little incentive to discount.
Economists call it “pricing power,” and airlines have plenty of it right now. Until demand levels off or capacity expands, expect fares to stay firm, especially on high-demand leisure routes.
Some Places Are Still Surprisingly Cheap
Not every route in 2025 will drain your wallet. While summer trips to Europe or holiday flights in the U.S. feel brutal, other regions are seeing prices drop. International airfares to places like Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of South America are actually cheaper than last year, with some routes down as much as 20–30%.
I saw this myself booking a last-minute flight to Cancún in March…the roundtrip was under $300, less than half what a domestic coast-to-coast ticket was running that same week. Airlines often cut fares to these markets to stay competitive and fill seats, making them great value compared to trendier destinations. So while the headlines scream “expensive,” savvy travelers can still score affordable getaways…if they’re flexible with where they go.
FAQs about the Cost of Flying in 2025
Are you still curious about why flying is so expensive this year? Here are some popular questions (and answers) I get asked often.
How far out should you book flights for the best price?
In my experience, timing is everything when booking flights online. Generally, booking flights about 3 to 6 months in advance for international trips and 1 to 3 months ahead for domestic travel can snag you the best deals. Airlines often adjust prices based on demand, and these windows tend to be the sweet spot before prices start climbing. However, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule. Keep an eye on flight trends, especially during peak travel seasons or for popular destinations.
What is the cheapest month to fly?
Typically, January and February are the cheapest months to fly. The holiday rush is over, and demand drops significantly, leading to lower prices. It’s the perfect time for budget-conscious travelers to explore destinations without breaking the bank. However, this can vary based on your destination. For instance, if you’re eyeing a popular ski resort, winter months might not be the cheapest.
What is the most expensive time of year to fly?
The most expensive time to fly is typically around major holidays and peak vacation periods. Think summer months (June to August), Christmas, New Year’s, and Thanksgiving in the U.S. During these times, demand skyrockets, and so do ticket prices. If you’re planning to travel during these periods, booking well in advance or considering off-peak dates can sometimes offer cost savings.
And don’t forget to sign up for Going.com to get the best possible deal on airfare this year! Happy Travels! -Jon
