By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Nearly one million Arizonans will be hitting the road or catching a flight as the busy summer travel season begins. With no end in sight to the conflict between the U.S. and Iran and the Strait of Hormuz still closed, skyrocketing fuel costs are making this year’s trips more expensive.
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Memorial Day airfare is up across the board, according to Going.com. Domestic tickets are averaging $459 roundtrip, up 15% from last year. International tickets are averaging $1,270, up 9%.
Nancy Purdin, owner of MVP Travel Agency, has been a travel agent for more than 40 years and says she’s rarely seen a conflict impact both domestic and international travel this much.
“I suspect until this is settled, they’re just going to go up and up,” Purdin said, adding that jet fuel is more than a quarter of any airline’s budget.
Purdin says her clients are weighing flights against driving. Despite rising gas prices, she says many are choosing the road trip. AAA predicts more than 850,000 Arizonans to drive and more than 84,000 planning to fly this Memorial Day Weekend. For many families, finding the right flight at the right price is the biggest challenge.
“They’re trying to plan around their kids’ summer vacation, or their summer vacation or other things going on in the family, so they have to have specific dates, and that’s going to be the hardest part,” Purdin said.
Tucson International Airport expects 57,000 passengers over the five-day period of Thursday, May 21 to Monday, May 25. Thursday and Friday will be the busiest days, with about 12,000 passengers each day.
Flights are operating at a 90% capacity at Tucson International and airport officials say flights are 8% fuller this month than the typical May average.
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Purdin says there’s no magic formula, but a few smart moves can help travelers save money. She recommends being as flexible as possible on travel dates, checking flights frequently, considering smaller airports, and booking as far in advance as possible, including holiday travel through the end of the year. She also warns against booking with budget carriers just to save a few dollars.
“They don’t fly daily in many cases and again if you have a problem, you’re stuck with them, until they can get you where you need to be,” Purdin said.
When it comes to travel insurance, Purdin says it’s not typically worth it for a flight, as most airlines offer refundable ticket options or will give a credit for a canceled flight that doesn’t expire for a year.
She says travelers should stay updated on changes in fuel prices, especially with worries international airlines may run out of fuel this summer, which could change several plans.
Tucson International is offering a free parking promotion with details available at flytucson.com.
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