Ready for takeoff?

They’re up, they’re down, they’re all around. One second you hear about incredible deals on flights and the next you may have to pay to use the restroom. Is it the best time to fly or the worst? The economy has everyone in a state of uncertainty, and the airline industry is definitely at the forefront of it all. In late March, IATA upped its previous prediction of a 2009 loss across the industry from $2.5 billion to $4.7 billion – which means airlines need business so they are slashing prices across the board. But not so fast, they are also cutting capacity and looking for other places to get your money (ah, those nasty fees). Every morning, news on airlines seems to counteract what was said the day before, but we do know a few good things:

• Mass sales by airlines like Southwest and United caused everyone in the industry to match their prices almost immediately in March, so unheard of deals are out there.
• Many travel outlets are even reimbursing travelers who have already purchased a package that goes on sale later. Travelocity.com and Priceline.com promotions end May 31 and June 1 respectively, but new ones are likely to pop up.
• Airlines are looking for revenue with extra, optional amenities that customers may be willing to pay for: Wi-Fi, full meals, exit row seats, priority seating and boarding, in-flight entertainment, etc.