For the majority of 2008 we have had many price hikes imposed on us from gas and electricity to flight costs. Flights have long been a popular expense with many cheap flights companies cropping up from nowhere in the early 2000’s and now with many of these companies going bust or having to place large price mark ups it’s had a significant effect on the numbers of people going away this year.
The reason for the prices being so high was down to the price of natural oil going up early in 2008 and this meant that a wide range of oil by-products shot up to cover this cost increase. Most notably petrol and fuel for vehicles had increased to unprecedented levels and sparked outrage as many people tried to cut back on using their cars.
The flights companies were the hardest hit though as they are probably the highest consumers of fuel for each and every plane and flight costing thousands in aircraft fuel. Many people were faced with additional charges when they got to the airport and definitely left a sour taste in the mouths of British travellers with some refusing to pay and duly being refused to fly.
Now, as any British motorist will tell you, the cost of oil has dropped and prices for fuel have dropped considerably and many have wondered why the ramped up fuel costs for flights haven’t changed. That is up until now as British Airways has pledged to knock off a third of the fuel surcharges that have become synonymous with the airlines as of late. This means for most flights this means roughly £35 per flight will be discounted.
Since MPs and consumer groups have complained about the still present charges and now BA as well as Virgin Atlantic has cut their charges for most
flights. Despite this welcome news many families will still be feeling the pinch as hundreds of pounds will still be added to the cost of their holidays. A family of four taking
flights to New York could be spending an extra £500 on top of the cost of their flights and in many cases the surcharges can account for half of the total cost of the flight.
The drop in surcharges is certainly a step in the right direction but many travellers have been warned that for now the past few years where we have enjoyed
cheap flights to anywhere we please may be over for a long time to come. Timing your holiday right is probably the best way to reduce costs with many last minute deals and out of season trips being the trips that get the most favourable discounts.
