Frontier: We raised fares, too
Frontier Airlines, now the nation's top ultra low-cost carrier following Spirit's demise, is getting in on the action too. It said last week said that it has joined competitors in raising fares five times since the war in Iran triggered the surge in jet fuel costs.
And so far, Frontier said, travelers haven't balked at higher prices — all but dashing hopes of mass discounts anytime soon.
"Higher fares and people transacting and flying at higher rates as well," Bobby Schroeter, the discounter's chief commercial officer, acknowledged on the company's earnings call May 5.
That's certainly not welcome news for travelers with just over two weeks to go until the Memorial Day weekend rush marks the unofficial start of the summer season.
TPG's tips for booking summer 2026 flights
So, ahead of a summer that's shaping up to be more expensive at airports, here are a few things travelers can do to save.
Cast a wide net
The more flexible you are with your travel plans, the better.
Typically, most of us like to pick where we want to go, then search for suitable flights.
I'd reverse that process in 2026, whenever possible. If it works for your schedule this summer, try searching a bunch of different destinations, dates and airlines using a comparison site like Google Flights.
Then, build your itinerary around the flight that fits your budget.
Of course, that's easier said than done for families fitting in a summer vacation, or travelers heading to a wedding, sporting event or graduation.
Make use of points and trip credits in your airline account
Unfortunately, in the world of dynamic award pricing, higher fares often mean higher award pricing. However, your points can still be immensely helpful in offsetting the cost of your trip.
For instance, I had 70,000 Avios sitting in my British Airways account that I'd neglected to use for a couple of years. When booking flights to Europe this summer, I decided to go wherever those miles could take my wife and me.
We're flying to Croatia (via Dublin) on Aer Lingus next month.
Our points and miles valuations can help you weigh whether you're getting a good award deal, but pointsareultimately meant to be used.
And don't forget about those trip credits from past flight cancellations or ticket changes. I had several hundred dollars in my American Airlines account that I'm using to fly us home from our European trip in June.
Get creative with your points
If you're using miles, keep those less conventional airline partnerships redemptions in mind, which can sometimes offer the best value.
For instance, you can transfer points from your Bilt account to Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines' Atmos Rewards loyalty program, which offers great sweet spots on American Airlines flights.
For example, if Delta Air Lines SkyMiles prices are running too high, you can check its partners, Air France and KLM's Flying Blue; which you can transfer points to from nearly every major credit card program.
Fly on Tuesdays or Wednesdays — or during August
Consider an unconventional vacation week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often the cheapest days to fly.
As for the weekend, Saturdays tend to be far cheaper than Fridays or Sundays.
And if you can delay your summer getaway until the tail end of summer, data we've reviewed consistently show that August is cheaper than June or July.
Bust that travel myth: Booking on a Tuesday won't help you save money, but here's what will
Looking ahead: What about flight cancellations because of fuel?
Keep a close eye on your itinerary.
Airlines have already cut some flights from their schedules in response to higher fuel costs.
Most of those cuts have been focused on less popular flights on routes where multiple daily departures exist.
However, we've begun to see total route cuts trickling in.
Meanwhile, we continue to monitor the impact of an outright fuel shortage in Europe, and what that could mean for travelers crossing the Atlantic this summer.
Related reading:
- When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
- The best airline credit cards
- Which US airline is best? TPG's latest rankings
- Flight delayed or canceled? Here's what to do
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations
- How your points and miles are shaping where airlines fly
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
