Fare Sales to Faraway Places

There have been some extraordinary airfares this spring, especially from the United States to faraway places such as Australia and Europe. Fares to Australia are so low right now that one analyst told the New York Times “there will probably never be a better time to visit Australia in your lifetime.” Robbert J. van Bloemendaal is quoted in The Times observing that a good one way fare last year at this time was about $900 USD, but this year fares have been as low as $299. One possible explanation: more competition along routes from the U.S. to Australia.

Airfares to Europe have been enticing since winter, but those days might be numbered. SAS is offering a sale to Scandinavian capitals from the east coast of the U.S. One way fares are as low as $261 before taxes and fees. These kind of prices for summer travel to Europe are unusual to say the least.

Meanwhile, fuel costs for driving vacations are much lower than last year, but AAA's Fuel Gauge Report reports a gallon of gasoline costs a whopping 58 percent more than at the start of 2009. Welcome to summer!

_{Photo Courtesy Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images}