During Q1 2011, domestic airfares pushed past the pre-recession levels of Q1 2008 and hotel rates are on the rise, according to American Express Business Travel data. Average domestic airfares increased 10% year-over-year vs. Q1 2010 to $247, surpassing the pre-recession average of $233 in Q1 2008 by 6%.
Intl. Airfare Rates Increase 8% YOY
Average international airfares increased 8% year-over-year in Q1 2011, from $1,726 to $1,866. Unlike domestic airfares, international airfares remain below their pre-recession levels. In Q1 2008, the average international airfare was $1,911, 2% higher than the average cost in Q1 2011.
Domestic, Intl. Airfare Rates Bounce Back from ’09
Q1 2009 was possibly the low point of the recent recession, and both domestic and international airfares have climbed significantly since. Average domestic airfare in Q1 2011 has increased about 16% from $213, and average international airfare has improved 11% from $1,680.
Domestic, Intl. Hotel Rates Improve Moderately YOY
Domestic and international hotel rates show a different three-year pattern than domestic or international airfare. Domestic hotel rates climbed 3% year-over-year in Q1 2011, from $146 to $150. Compared to Q1 2008, they are down 1% from $152.
International hotel rates averaged $238 in Q1 2011, up 4% from $228 a year earlier and down 8% from $260 in Q1 2008.
Interestingly, domestic hotel rates in Q1 2009 were $153, 2% higher than in Q1 2011 and the highest of any first quarter in the last three years. Internationally, hotel rates averaged $229, meaning they were also up 4% in Q1 2011.
TripAdvisor: Memorial Day Flying Increases
Thirty-five percent of US adults planning to travel during the 2011 Memorial Day weekend (May 28-30, 2011) intended to fly, according to data from TripAdvisor. This was up about 21% from 29% who planned to fly in 2010.
