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According to a recent survey Marriott Bonvoy, A surprising number of Americans plan to travel in 2026, with 91% of respondents saying they intend to travel at some point during the year. Nearly half (49%) of respondents said they planned to travel more in 2026 than in 2025, and 67% said they would prioritize trips over material purchases.
If you’re looking to travel in 2026, you’ll probably want to make sure you stretch your money and make sure you get the best possible experience so you won’t regret spending the money. That’s why GOBankingRates consulted with travel agents and other travel professionals to determine what types of airfare they found worth purchasing.
Travel agents and experts always wonder which five air tickets are worth buying?
premium economy seats
“While costing approximately 40 to 70% more than basic economy, seats in premium economy offer a smoother and more comfortable experience,” said travel consultant and CEO Steven Vigor. to resuscitate. “It’s the difference between arriving rested and arriving completely exhausted.”
They believe that spending money on a better seat means you are paying a premium in exchange for a day that you would rather not spend on recovery rather than enjoying your vacation. While Vigor acknowledges that basic economy seats may be attractive because they are less expensive, they may come with a hidden cost because these do not take into account traveler flexibility and hidden fees.
“It seems like it’s a great deal, but in reality, you still have to pay for luggage and seat selection, without any flexibility. On long-haul flights, I actively advise against basic economy because the restrictions and inconveniences are not worth it,” he said. Vigor recommends its customers to buy air tickets with built-in flexibility and added comfort in flying.
Julian Kheel, a travel expert and founder and CEO number pathexplained, “I always buy tickets that give me flexibility, because the ability to change or cancel without huge penalties is much more valuable than saving a few bucks in advance.”
He also shared that any airfare above the most basic at least offers the ability to rebook or cancel for future travel credit without paying additional fees.
flights through airlines
Vigor comments, “Plans change more often than you might expect, and paying more upfront can really save you hundreds of money later.” “Not to mention less stress. That’s why I always book direct through the airlines. If there is a disruption, direct booking is much easier to manage.”
The annoying truth is that you may get a slightly better deal when you book through a third party, but it can be a complete hassle when it comes time to make a change. Dealing with third parties can be time-consuming, as they have to clear everything with the airline, which adds more communication and layers of management.
Kheel stressed that people will buy flights through third-party agencies thinking they are getting the best deal, but the real savings are in hotels.
“When you book direct, it’s dramatically easier to deal with changes and refunds, and you don’t really save much by booking with another company,” he explained.
Flexible Tickets for International Customers
Christian Petzold, European Travel Expert and Marketing Director citytrip travelnoted that he prefers flexible tickets for international customers.
“Let’s say if a person is traveling from New York to London or even Tokyo, a difference of $200 to $300 in a refundable ticket may be justified because it allows a change without huge fees which can sometimes be $200 to $400 for non-refundable tickets,” he explained.
They found that Delta and Southwest often offer these options in “comfort” or “plus” categories, which can be cheaper once you include your add-ons. When you’re flying for long periods of time and dealing with multiple countries, you want to make sure that you have some flexibility in case something goes wrong at any time.
Airlines with strong performance for punctuality
Petzold closely monitors flight reliability and recommends airlines such as Alaska Airlines and Singapore Airlines for their high on-time performance on international flights. He stressed that delays or cancellations could be disruptive, triggering a chain of events such as missed connections and additional hotel costs. When he books flight tickets for international customers, he prefers airlines that are known for on-time flights.
Tickets from global alliance airlines
Petzold found that tickets from airlines with global alliances, such as Star Alliance or Oneworld, are treated equally by travelers as earning points and benefits that can be redeemed for upgrades, lounge access or future flights. As a result, slightly higher fares become more valuable to frequent travelers who want to get the most out of their experience.