Your summer trip may become more expensive, but there are still smart ways to keep costs under control.
With airlines dealing with flight disruptions tied to escalating tensions in the Middle East, crude oil prices have surged over the past month. Airfares also climbed after Russia was hit with sanctions at the start of its war in Ukraine in 2022.
When crude gets more expensive, jet fuel usually follows. Because fuel is one of an airline’s biggest costs, carriers often respond by raising ticket prices or adding higher passenger fees.
Recently, oil has moved above $100 a barrel—up steeply from roughly $70 before the U.S.-Iran conflict kicked off in late February.
Jet fuel spot prices have jumped, too, rising from about $2.42 per gallon at the end of February to nearly $4.69 per gallon in April.
As those fuel bills grow, airlines’ operating expenses rise with them, which can show up not only in airfare but also in add-ons like checked-bag charges.
Delta, United Airlines, and JetBlue have already said they’re increasing baggage fees. On April 7, Delta announced its first checked bag fee would go up by $10 to $45, the second by $10 to $55, and the third by $50 to $200.
Other carriers have moved earlier. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) rolled out higher prices in March, Air France-KLM said it would raise long-haul fares due to increased fuel costs, and Cathay Pacific introduced larger fuel surcharges on certain routes.
And higher costs aren’t the only concern. Elevated fuel prices can also lead airlines to cut routes or cancel flights, shrinking the number of available seats and limiting choices when you’re ready to book.
Even so, there are still practical ways to reduce what you pay. In comments to Yahoo Finance, Adam Morvitz, founder and CEO of the flight booking service Point.me, shared advice travelers can use when planning flights over the next few weeks.
If you have a rewards credit card and you’ve built up points, using them could help offset rising fares. That said, new or higher fuel surcharges may also affect award tickets, sometimes increasing the taxes and fees you’ll pay even when the flight itself is booked with points.
“If cash prices increase, you’re often getting even more value from your points because you’re avoiding those higher fares,” he said.
Another reliable way to keep flight spending down is to book early rather than waiting until the last moment.
Jesse Neugarten, CEO of travel membership service Dollar Flight Club, recommends locking plans in ‘one to three months out for domestic travel and two to six months in advance’ for international trips.
As departure day approaches, prices often rise with demand—so delaying your purchase can make the same itinerary significantly more expensive.
Being flexible can also pay off. Shifting your departure by a day or two, traveling on a different weekday, or even choosing a different week entirely can sometimes lead to much cheaper fares.
Finally, consider tickets that come with more breathing room, such as fares that offer refunds or airline credit. That kind of flexibility can reduce the financial hit if you need to cancel or reschedule because plans change.