Rollercoaster Ride: Navigating Drastic and Upsetting Airline Ticket Price Fluctuations
Rollercoaster Ride: Navigating Drastic and Upsetting Airline Ticket Price Fluctuations - The Joys and Frustrations of Tracking Fares
The thrill of finding an incredible airfare deal can be one of the most exhilarating parts of travel planning. There's nothing quite like stumbling upon roundtrip flights to Europe for under $400 or scoring a business class ticket to Asia for less than a grand. For many travelers, the journey of tracking fares and uncovering these golden deals becomes an addicting hobby.
Yet chasing cheap flights also comes with its fair share of frustrations. Fares fluctuate rapidly, often without rhyme or reason. What was a steal yesterday may now be double or triple the original price. And the constant monitoring of flight deals can become tiresome, especially when that sub-$500 fare to South America never reappears no matter how many times you check.
Avid flight deal trackers describe the process akin to a rollercoaster ride. One minute you're elated when Norwegian Air announces $99 one-way fares from the US to Europe, and the next you're crestfallen when you go to book and see the fare is already gone. Sales come and go at lightning pace, and you have to pounce on deals the second they appear.
Blogs and deal websites alert travelers to price glitches and flash sales that are usually short-lived. The deals spread like wildfire across social media, with travelers hurriedly trying to take advantage before airlines realize their mistake. But more often than not, hopeful flyers end up disappointed when the fares vanish as quickly as they surfaced.
Yet despite the frustrations, fare tracking devotees relish the thrill of the hunt. Many have honed their skills and know exactly when and where to find the lowest fares. Flexible travelers who can fly at a moment's notice are best poised to capitalize on the deals. With persistence and some luck, all that time spent tracking fares pays off in scoring that ultimate steal of a flight.