BOOK JULY 4th AIRFARE IN MID-MAY TO AVOID PRICE HIKES
Hipmunk Reveals Early Booking Savings and Top Deal Destinations
SAN FRANCISCO (May 15, 2015) — Nearly 240 years ago, on July 4th, the United States solidified its independence as a nation. Today, millions of Americans take the holiday as an opportunity to gain some independence from their employers. According to the 2014 Hipmunk Summer Travel Survey, July 4th is the most popular holiday of the summer to travel. And as families flock to fireworks shows, parades, carnivals, and family reunions, it comes as no surprise that the demand for airline tickets skyrockets.
Hipmunk looked at its historical flight data and pinpointed exactly when Fourth of July flights start increasing in price, and by how much. An evaluation of the data revealed that travelers who booked their flights before May 18 last year saw savings of up to 58 percent—more than $200—compared to those who booked during the week of the holiday.
“It’s not a surprise that buying holiday airfare early will save money,” says Chris Slowe, chief data scientist at Hipmunk. “But it’s helpful to have a better idea of how early you need to book to avoid the steady price hikes that occur in the weeks before the holiday.”
It’s even more helpful to know which destinations you can go to for the cheapest cost. To help determine this, the Hipmunk data team selected ten cities known for their Fourth of July celebrations and compared this year’s average Fourth of July airfare rates to last year’s.
| Year Over Year Airfare Price Comparison for Fourth of July Weekend Flights Booked in May | |||
| City | Avg 2014 Airfare Price | Avg 2015 Airfare Price | Savings |
| Philadelphia | $471 | $208 | $263 |
| Washington DC | $372 | $196 | $176 |
| Las Vegas | $435 | $368 | $67 |
| San Diego | $437 | $375 | $62 |
| Dallas | $367 | $314 | $53 |
| Boston | $443 | $420 | $23 |
| St Louis | $375 | $362 | $13 |
| San Francisco | $415 | $405 | $10 |
| New York City | $427 | $420 | $7 |
| Nashville | $351 | $362 | $-11 |
*Average airfare prices reflect actual prices booked by Hipmunk users from May 1 to May 12 in both 2013 and 2014 for departure/arrival dates between July 3 and July 7.
With a savings of $263, Philadelphia––the city where the Declaration of Independence was first approved on July 4th, 1776—is this year’s best Fourth of July deal. What better time to visit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall?
For more Fourth of July travel inspiration visit the Hipmunk blog and to book your next trip, visit the Hipmunk homepage. Planning travel on the go? Then download the Hipmunk Flight and Hotel App for free from the App Store and Google Play.
ABOUT HIPMUNK
Hipmunk is the fastest, easiest way to plan travel. The site and mobile apps help save time and money by comparing top travel sites to show the perfect flight or hotel at the cheapest price. Hipmunk offers the most comprehensive travel search, from commercial flights, trains, and charter flights to hotels and vacation rentals through Airbnb and HomeAway. The unique display makes it easy to visually compare results to choose the best option.
MEDIA CONTACT
Liz Santos
Hipmunk
liz@hipmunk.com
650-735-1579
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