JACKSON, Miss.- Summer time is finally upon us, and you’ve probably got some big travel plans for you and the family, so here’s a few tips on flights from Mississippi. The state has two commercial airports, one in Jackson and one in Gulfport. Mississippi is right in the middle of the pack, when it comes to airline prices in comparison with other states.
Rick Seaney is the CEO and Co-Founder of FareCompare.com, and he says there are a couple reasons for the prices.
“The airports there are a bit smaller than some of the major airports,” Seaney said. “They don’t have airlines like JetBlue, they don’t have airlines that are dominant like Southwest airlines, so typically they have only one or two carriers that service them.”
After the huge mega-merger over the last seven years the major airlines have decreased from eight to four that control about 80% of the country.
Seaney also said that the price of air travel out of Mississippi may vary based on the size of your traveling party.
“If you have a family or four or five, sometimes it’s better to drive to either a cheaper airport like New Orleans or Memphis,” he added. “If you’re going by yourself, sometimes it’s better to fly out of Jackson.”
Seaney says if you’re shopping for the fall, he encourages all to start their shopping now. Southwest airline has a sale going on for August to September. The best days to shop are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, that’s when the prices are lowest.
Here’s News Mississippi’s EXCLUSIVE Interview with Rick Seaney:
