Bad weather over the weekend disrupted holiday travel, and while airport lines have improved, travelers face another headache: higher fares as airlines pass on rising jet fuel costs.
At Newark Liberty, CBS News reporter Shanelle Kaul said airlines are increasing prices because jet fuel has spiked — nearly doubling since the conflict with Iran began. Passengers at airports are seeing round‑trip fares climb sharply; one traveler said a trip that would “usually be about $500” jumped to $1,000, forcing them to cancel.
CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg explained that fuel and labor are the two biggest airline expenses, and fuel is currently beyond carriers’ control. Airlines worldwide are responding: in Europe, carriers are adding surcharges of $50 to $200 per ticket. In the U.S., ticket prices are already rising and are expected to increase between 7% and 20% in the near term.
The higher fuel costs are also affecting ancillary fees. Last week, JetBlue raised checked‑bag fees by up to $9; United followed, increasing fees by up to $10.
Greenberg advised travelers who plan to fly this summer to book now. He said even if the conflict ended immediately, the added costs and price adjustments would likely remain in place for at least six weeks.