As airfares skyrocket, summer travelers take the bus

It’s the thick of the summer travel season, but if you’re looking for a last minute getaway, good luck finding a cheap plane ticket. According to the latest consumer price index report, airline fares are 26% higher than they were in May of last year. And with the collapse of Spirit Airlines, fewer options exist at all for budget fares.

So, what's a cost-conscious traveler to do? Try taking the bus.

“While other forms of transportation this summer have gotten more expensive, bus travel has either stayed flat or actually gotten cheaper,” said Jacob Passy, a travel reporter at the Wall Street Journal.

“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal spoke with Passy about his reporting.

Click the audio player above to hear their conversation.