With the rising costs of airfare, travelers are always on the lookout for a good deal on plane tickets. Recently, headlines have touted $49 fares on certain routes, leaving many to wonder: What airline is offering these ultra-low fares, and how can you get your hands on them?
What airlines are offering $49 fares?
Over the past couple of years, various low-cost carriers have promoted limited-time sales with $49 one-way fares. Most recently, Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines advertised these rock-bottom ticket prices on select routes in the United States.
Allegiant Air, known for flying into smaller airports and leisure destinations, has offered $49 fares on routes connecting cities across the country. For example, Allegiant advertised one-way fares as low as $49 on routes like Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Orlando to Knoxville, and Indianapolis to Los Angeles. These promotional sales are usually limited to certain departure dates and seats.
Meanwhile, Frontier Airlines has also gotten into the $49 fare game. In summer 2022, Frontier promoted $49 fares on dozens of routes for travel in spring 2023. Some of the $49 routes included Atlanta to Orlando, Denver to Salt Lake City, and Chicago to Phoenix. Like Allegiant, Frontier’s super low fares are contingent on blackout dates and availability.
Are the $49 fares nationally available?
No, the $49 promotional fares are only available on select routes and dates. They are not available systemwide on all flights for an airline. The cheap fares are offered when airlines want to stimulate demand on specific routes or during particular travel periods.
For example, Allegiant may offer $49 fares between Los Angeles and Las Vegas to entice leisure travelers to plan spring break or summer vacations to Vegas. Meanwhile, Frontier may offer $49 fares between major cities like Denver and Phoenix to ramp up bookings in the fall shoulder season when travel demand typically drops.
So while they generate headlines, the super cheap $49 fares are quite limited and targeted. Don’t expect to find them available on all flights between all destinations across an airline’s network.
Can the $49 fares be found coast to coast?
Typically not. Most airlines advertising $49 airfare specials focus on shorter flights between regional cities. You probably won’t find too many $49 fares for cross country trips.
For example, Allegiant’s $49 fare deals are aimed at routes under 3 hours in length – think regional hops like Nashville to Orlando or Boise to Los Angeles. Frontier also sticks to shorter routes of 500-600 miles when offering the discounted $49 fares, like Atlanta to Ft. Lauderdale or Minneapolis to Dallas.
That said, once in a blue moon an airline may offer $49 promo fares on longer transcontinental routes. JetBlue Airways recently offered $49 one-way tickets on flights between New York City and Los Angeles or San Francisco when booked by a Sunday for Tuesday/Wednesday travel the following week. But such extreme coast-to-coast bargains are rare.
What are the $49 fare restrictions?
As tempting as those flashy $49 fares may be, keep in mind that they come with restrictions just like any other airline deal. Here are some of the limitations to watch out for:
- Limited availability – There are only a handful of seats offered at the $49 price.
- Advance purchase requirements – You usually have to book at least 3-7 days in advance.
- Blackout dates – The $49 fares may not be offered during peak travel periods.
- Non-refundable – Don’t expect to get your money back if you cancel.
- Baggage fees – Don’t count on your first checked bag being free.
- Route restrictions – The $49 deals are often limited to one-way economy class tickets on specific routes.
Savvy flyers will read the fine print carefully to understand all the limitations before jumping at a $49 airfare.
When are the $49 fares available?
The golden window for snagging $49 fares seems to be 1-3 months before departure. Airlines typically announce the deals a few months before the travel period when they want to stimulate bookings.
For example, if Allegiant is trying to fill planes for June flights, they may launch a $49 fare sale in March or April. Frontier might announce $49 fares for September and October travel dates in late June and July.
Aim to book your cheap tickets as soon as you see an airline announce the $49 fares for your travel timeframe. They tend to sell out quickly once seats at the promotional price are filled.
Booking last minute is unlikely to yield any $49 airfare deals. Airlines offer them in advance to incentivize planning ahead.
What’s the catch with $49 fares?
The catch is that airlines only make a limited number of seats available at the headline $49 fare. So even if you try to book right when the sale launches, the odds of getting the lowest fare are slim.
According to travel experts, allegiant may only allocate around 5 seats per flight at the $49 promotional fare. Meanwhile, Frontier may offer $49 fares on just 1-3 departures per day on a route.
So while the $49 fares generate buzz, the vast majority of seats on those flights are sold at higher prices more in line with typical airfare costs. The seats at the rock bottom $49 price go fast.
Should you book $49 fares?
Booking $49 fares can be a great deal if you understand the restrictions and are able to find availability at the promotional price. The key is being flexible with your travel dates and routes.
Monitor announcements from low-cost carriers to snag these deals right when they hit the market before seats sell out. Sign up for airfare deal alerts and check airline social media for promotions.
As long as you can work within the blackout dates and book early enough, $49 fares are hard to beat. Just know that scoring the promotional price involves a bit of luck and good timing.
How do $49 fares impact airline industry?
The proliferation of $49 fares from low-cost carriers is impacting the airline industry in several ways:
Stimulating demand
The tantalizingly cheap $49 fares are powerful at spurring travel demand during slower booking periods. Airlines can utilize them to fill planes during seasonal lulls.
Maximizing ancillary revenue
While they may lose money on the base fare, airlines earn back revenue through ancillary fees on $49 ticket holders. Bag fees, seat selection charges, onboard purchases, etc. boost profitability.
Obscuring real ticket prices
Advertising $49 fares may mislead consumers when those promotional prices are only available on a slim percentage of seats. Most passengers end up paying more.
Pressuring competitors
Successful $49 fare sales from one airline can force competing carriers to offer similarly low fares or risk losing market share.
Conditioning flyers to book early
The limited availability of $49 fares trains travelers to book as far in advance as possible. This benefits airlines by increasing booking lead times.
While not revolutionary, $49 fares help airlines tactically manage demand and revenue. Don’t expect such deep discounts to become the new norm, though.
Will other airlines offer $49 fares?
Major carriers like American, Delta, and United are less likely to offer $49 airfares given their higher cost structures. However, other low-cost airlines could certainly join Allegiant and Frontier in promoting rock-bottom $49 fares.
Here are some airlines that may test out $49 one-way airfares in the future:
Spirit Airlines
Known for its cheap base fares and plethora of fees, Spirit already offers some flights in the $50-$70 range. $49 fares seem like a natural next step in targeting budget flyers.
Sun Country Airlines
This Minnesota-based airline promotes itself as a hometown, low-fare carrier. Matching competitors with $49 deals could help raise Sun Country’s national profile.
JetBlue Airways
While not an ultra-low-cost carrier, JetBlue has been expanding service with multiple fare classes. $49 promotional fares could work on its bare-bones Basic Economy class.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska has dabbled with no-frills fares through its Saver class. As competition heats up on the West Coast, Alaska may trial $49 fares to drive traffic.
Don’t expect legacy airlines like Delta or American to go as low as $49 fares. But among low-cost, lean carriers, more 49-cent deals may be on the horizon.
Tips for finding $49 fares
Here are some tips for travelers hoping to score those coveted $49 one-way airline tickets:
1. Be flexible
Since $49 fares have restricted travel dates, remain open-minded on departures and lengths of stay. Midweek flights typically offer the best low fare availability.
2. Sign up for deal alerts
Provide your email and airport preferences so airlines can notify you right when they announce specials. Enabling push notifications helps too.
3. Follow fare sales closely
Check airline websites frequently when they first launch a sale. Grab seats quickly before the limited $49 fares sell out.
4. Book directly on airline sites
To avoid third-party surcharges, book discounted fares directly on carrier websites like Allegiant and Frontier.
5. Consider nearby airports
Look for $49 deals out of smaller regional airports if you live near any. Their additional capacity can mean better fare availability.
Finding those golden $49 tickets takes effort and awareness. But for savvy travelers, the savings are well worth having to be a little flexible.
The future of $49 fares
Are promotional $49 fares here to stay? Here’s what we may see going forward:
- More targeted route deals as airlines play with stimulating demand.
- $49 fares during off-peak periods like late winter and fall to fill seats.
- Major carriers resisting the $49 trend due to higher costs.
- Ancillary fees rising to offset losses on ultra-low fares.
- Furtherfare fragmentation with bare-bones $49 class offerings.
While not becoming the norm, $49 fares are likely to remain an attention-grabbing airline marketing tactic. Just don’t expect to see them available on every flight. Flexibility and pouncing on deals will be key to scoring those elusive $49 tickets.
Conclusion
$49 airfares capture travelers’ attention and stimulate bookings, but the deals are quite restricted. Allegiant and Frontier strategically offer the promotional fares on select routes and dates when they need to fill seats.
Savvy flyers who quickly jump on $49 fare deals can score ultra-cheap tickets. But seats at the rock bottom price are limited. Being flexible and acting fast is key to success.
While not revolutionary, $49 fares let low-cost airlines tactically manage demand amid rising operating costs and competition. Don’t expect such deep discounts to become the new normal, though. Airlines will continue utilizing $49 airfare sales to strategically market certain routes and timeframes when they need an extra push.
