Our friend, Lucas Studer from Exito Travel is an expert in all things air travel. We are all doing our best to keep up with the latest information on booking flights - should we take advantage of deals? Or hold off until we have a better picture of what travel looks like? Are these flights really refundable. For answers to these questions and more, read on…

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Industry professionals, as well as the general public, are all in agreement that there’s a lot of pent up demand and desire to travel. Cabin fever is palpable, and travel bugs are biting us all. As society begins to open back up and fear of infection starts to abate, many will take to the open roads to scratch their travel itch. Others, however, wishing to view more distant horizons will need to take to the skies to reach their destinations. The majority of airlines have made significant cuts to their routes, both domestic and international, with the latter seeing the greatest adjustments. Demand has understandably plummeted, and hundreds of aircraft remain parked for an unknown amount of time.

What does this mean for the consumer?

Number one – getting anywhere is likely going to be a bit more challenging. Routes that had high frequencies operating may have seen them slashed by 50% or more. So where you were once accustomed to flying non-stop may now require a connection. Attempting to get from one side of the globe to the other may even require waiting until a specific day of the week so that the necessary flights line up.

Number two – airlines and consumers alike are waiting for countries to open back up. Two examples, Argentina and Colombia, recently announced that they wouldn’t be allowing any air traffic until September at the earliest. This means travelers may have to forgo visiting their dream destination during the prime season.

Number three – and probably the most relevant to the consumer – airlines are cash-strapped and extremely eager for any new revenue. Most have implemented some sort of “Book with confidence” policy that eases the normally rigid restrictions. This could mean waived fees if you book by a certain date and end up needing to change your plans due to the pandemic. It could also mean double the ticket validity from one year of purchase to two. In the short term, we may see extremely competitive fares as airlines struggle to fill their seats. Once the demand comes back and the inventory is still historically low, though, we can expect to pay higher prices than we’ve ever seen.

Ultimately, with the more flexible restrictions airlines have temporarily implemented, they’re making it easier than ever to plan an adventure with plenty of peace of mind. If the uncertainty continues, you’re very likely going to be able to change your plans with little to no cost. As always, understand the terms and conditions prior to pulling the trigger so you can make an educated decision on where you journey to next.”

- Lucas Studer, Exito Travel

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If you need further information or assistance in navigating the new terms, do not hesitate to reach out to Exito Travel or Root Adventures!