Here's How to Know if That Memorial Day Flight Is a Deal

What's the going rate for flights this Memorial Day weekend?

ByABC News
April 8, 2014, 11:03 AM
It's helpful to know the going rate when shopping online for deals on flights.
It's helpful to know the going rate when shopping online for deals on flights.
Roberto Westbrook/Image Source/Getty Images

April 8, 2014— -- It's been a long, cold winter for many and those looking forward to summer have Memorial Day getaways on the brain.

But summer weekends -- including summer's unofficial kickoff -- are among the most expensive times of the year to fly. Airfare for Memorial Day weekend is about 4 percent more expensive this year than last, according to booking data from Travelocity.

The average price of a flight for the holiday weekend is $367 for a round-trip ticket, including tax. International travelers will pay $939 on average, a less than 2 percent increase from international flights for Memorial Day weekend flights in 2013.

Those prices are important, Travelocity says, because they're considered the "price to beat." In other words, travelers should consider flights priced similarly as a relative deal. Of course, distance traveled is a factor: a popular, relatively short flight from New York City to South Florida, for example, will likely cost less while a cross-country flight will likely cost more.

Still, in an age when it seems fares always on the ascent, it's helpful to know the going rate. But even with the fare increase reported by Travelocity, it does seems airlines are having trouble making system-wide fare increases stick.

Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare, told ABC News that of the 7 fare hikes attempted this year, only one was successful, and only successful in business class.

Those shopping for Memorial Day flights will find the cheapest flights when electing to depart on the Wednesday prior to the holiday (May 21) and return the Sunday prior (May 25), according to Travelocity.

Days to avoid Memorial Day itself (May 26) and the Wednesday following (May 28). Prices fluctuate an average of $254 per domestic ticket based on flight dates.