Cheap Flights Are Back This Spring, But Only for Certain Destinations

The trend has roots in the post-pandemic travel boom when surging leisure demand in 2023 and 2024 pushed international fares to some of their highest levels in years. Airlines added capacity to meet it, and now supply is running ahead of demand on several popular corridors. Latin American and Caribbean routes are feeling that shift most sharply this spring.

"This is one of the better booking windows we've seen since pre-pandemic pricing normalized," said Jesse Neugarten, founder and CEO of Dollar Flight Club. "Latin America and the Caribbean are where the value is right now, especially out of the East Coast and Florida."

Destinations Where Airfare Dropped

Cancún shows the steepest decline, averaging $251 round trip this spring versus $389 a year ago, a 35% drop. Marrakech, Morocco averages $172 round trip, down 31% from $248 last year. Bogotá, Colombia sits at $233 round trip, down 27%, and Milan, Italy averages $323, off 23% from $418. Mexico City rounds out the top five at $270 round trip, down 22% from $348.

Prices to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Barcelona, Brazil, Rome and Stockholm have also fallen, running 15% to 20% below last spring's levels. Under-$200 round trip fares to Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Aruba have appeared consistently this season, pricing Neugarten called unusual for spring travel this far into the booking cycle.

"More supply than demand is driving price drops across a lot of key routes," he said. "Fares haven't caught up yet, which is why this current window matters more than usual."

Where Travelers Will Pay More

Bangkok, Thailand and Athens, Greece have each climbed 14% over last spring, averaging $509 and $537 round trip. Dublin, Ireland is up 11%, at $432 round trip compared to $389 last year. Travelers with those destinations in mind may save by booking earlier or routing through alternate gateway cities.

Rising oil prices add another layer of uncertainty. Airline operating costs have crept higher in recent months, though carriers have not broadly passed those increases to consumers yet. TSA staffing and operational concerns have added to an already unsettled travel environment.

Booking Strategies For Spring Travel

Dollar Flight Club recommends targeting departures three to six weeks out, with midweek flights offering the most consistent savings. Staying flexible on dates can cut $50 to $150 off most international routes, according to the report.

Neugarten also points to departure city as an underused lever. Travelers in major East Coast and Florida markets have the most options right now, with competing carriers on Caribbean and Latin American routes keeping fares competitive. Midwest and West Coast travelers may find connecting through Miami or Atlanta unlocks lower fares than flying direct. Dollar Flight Club's data shows fare alerts sent to members in those hub markets are running at higher volume this spring than any comparable period since 2022.

The Spring 2026 Travel Price Report is available at dollarflightclub.com.