The Thrifty Traveler Podcast Cheaper Fares Abroad, Big Bilt News, a Merger & 7 Other Big News Stories
Jan 15, 2026
This episode dives into the surprising drop in one-way international fares and the reasons behind it, including competition from budget airlines. The hosts discuss Allegiant's bold acquisition of Sun Country and its implications for Minnesota travelers. Bilt's new offerings are reviewed, along with updates on American Airlines' free Wi-Fi and changes to their basic economy ticket policies. Hawaiian Airlines is planning exciting updates, and Delta's order for new Dreamliners highlights their growth. Plus, they tackle a listener question on dealing with flight swaps.
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One-Way International Fares Are Dropping
- Major U.S. carriers are increasingly offering one-way international fares priced far below round-trips on many routes.
- This shift could change booking strategies and weaken legacy pricing that punished one-way travelers.
Book Cheap One-Ways Now
- If you need to travel soon, search one-way international fares now and book quickly before they vanish.
- Use miles for the return when one-way inbound fares are cheap but return fares remain expensive.
Why Airlines May Be Cutting One-Way Fares
- Legacy carriers may be matching budget-carrier tactics to win back economy demand.
- Filling the back of the plane likely motivates lower one-way pricing, not altruism.