If summer travel is still sitting on your “I’ll get to it later” list, consider this your friendly travel-agent-meets-former-flight-attendant wake-up call: later may cost you more.
Between rising fuel costs, strong summer demand, and the sudden loss of Spirit Airlines from the market, travelers who wait too long to book may find themselves paying more for fewer options.
Spirit officially announced on May 2, 2026, that it had ceased down operations and canceled all flights, with customer service no longer available. That matters far beyond passengers who were booked on Spirit. For years, Spirit helped keep prices competitive in many leisure markets. Even if you never flew them, their low fares often forced other airlines to keep prices in check. With that pressure gone, especially on routes where Spirit had a major presence, fares could climb quickly. (Spirit Airlines)
And then there’s fuel.
Jet fuel is one of the biggest expenses airlines face, and when those costs rise, passengers usually feel it. Recent travel data has already shown domestic airfare running higher than last year, and international trips are not immune either. (CBS News)
So what does that mean for you?
It means this is not the summer to play airfare roulette.
Waiting for a last-minute deal sounds nice in theory, but in reality, last-minute summer travel often means higher prices, less desirable flight times, longer connections, and fewer hotel rooms in the places people actually want to stay. The cheapest seats usually disappear first, and once planes start filling up, airlines have very little reason to discount.
This is especially true for families, groups, cruisers, and anyone who needs specific dates. If you’re trying to travel around a school break, a cruise departure, a wedding, a holiday weekend, or a major event, flexibility gets smaller by the day.
My advice? Book the trip now, or at least get serious about pricing it now.
That doesn’t mean panic-buy the first flight you see. It means start looking, compare options, know what’s refundable or changeable, and lock in the pieces that matter most. Air, hotel, cruise, tours, insurance — all of it gets harder to piece together once everyone else has the same idea.
A few quick tips:
First, don’t just look at the base fare. Check baggage fees, seat fees, connection times, and whether the airline gives you reasonable options if something changes.
Second, build in some breathing room. If you’re flying to meet a cruise or tour, don’t arrive the same day. I know it’s tempting. I also know what it looks like when a delayed flight turns into a missed ship.
Third, consider travel insurance. With airline changes, weather issues, staffing problems, and global events all affecting travel, insurance is no longer something I’d casually skip on a big summer trip.
And finally, use a travel advisor. Yes, I’m biased — but this is exactly when having someone in your corner matters. When prices are shifting, flights are changing, and suppliers are overwhelmed, you want someone who knows how to sort through the noise and help you make a smart decision.
Summer travel is still very doable. There are still great trips to take, great ships to sail, and great places to explore.
But the window for “easy and affordable” is closing.
So if you’ve been thinking about booking summer travel, this is your sign.
Stop waiting. Start planning. And please, for the love of overhead bin space, don’t wait until the week before departure and ask why everything is expensive.
