Spring break travel forecast: What you need to know
Families are gearing up for spring break travel, with 173 million Americans expected to take to the skies in March and April.
Whether you're packing for a relaxing beach vacation or preparing to explore a new city, here's what you need to know before heading to the airport:
U.S. airlines expect to carry 173 million passengers from March 1 to April 30 -- up 4% from the same time last year, according to Airlines for America.
Airfare for March and April is up compared to last year. The average price per ticket is now $280, which is a 4% increase from the same time last year, according to Hopper.
The cheapest day of the week to fly for both domestic and international travel is Tuesday, according to Expedia. Passengers who fly on Tuesday instead of Saturday and Sunday can save about 15% on average.
The first two weekends of March are the cheapest travel weekends this spring, according to Hopper.
The busiest and most expensive time to fly in the U.S. will be the week of Wednesday, April 2, according to Expedia.
United Airlines said it expects its busiest spring break ever, with more than 24 million passengers expected to fly with the airline between March 10 and April 27 -- about a 5% jump from last year.
The week of March 10 will be United’s busiest, with more than half a million people expected to fly each day, the airline said.
Southwest Airlines said it's expecting to fly more than 8.2 million passengers between March 8 and March 23. Southwest predicts March 20 will be its busiest day in that time period.
The top destination in the U.S. is Orlando, Florida, followed by Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles and New York, according to Expedia.
Spring break may be travelers' last chance to fly before upgrading to a REAL ID, the Transportation Security Administration said.
"With REAL ID’s May 7 deadline looming, it’s important to prioritize REAL ID registration now," Adam Stahl, the senior official performing the duties of the TSA administrator, said in a statement. "By doing so, travelers can ensure a smooth and secure journey through the airport for both spring and summer travels."
