Summer travel costs rising
Fuel costs are up sharply — the average gas price was $4.15 on April 10, a 39% rise from $2.98 on Feb. 26 — and that spike is feeding higher summer travel prices. Airlines are also passing on costs: Alaska Airlines raised checked‑bag fees starting April 11, joining five major carriers that have bumped baggage charges recently. (cnbc.com) (rollingout.com)
Summer vacation is getting pricier before the peak season even starts. The national average for regular gas hit $4.153 a gallon on April 10, according to the American Automobile Association. (aaa.com) That was up from $2.98 on February 26, when the American Automobile Association said refineries were beginning the switch to summer-blend gasoline, a costlier fuel with additives that reduce evaporation in warmer weather. (aaa.com) The American Automobile Association said the national average also reached $4.08 on April 2 for the first time since August 2022, then climbed to about $4.16 by April 9 as crude oil stayed high. (aaa.com) Airlines are passing some of that pressure to travelers through bag fees instead of base fares alone. Alaska Airlines said April 9 that it would raise its first checked-bag fee by $5 and its second checked-bag fee by $10 for North American flights booked on or after April 10. (alaskaair.com) Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines also raised checked-bag fees by $10 for tickets bought on or after April 8 and April 9, respectively, joining earlier increases by United Airlines and JetBlue. (cnbc.com) American Airlines made its own change on April 9, saying it was adjusting checked-bag fees and tightening the gap between its Basic Economy fare and standard Main Cabin tickets because of the current operating environment. (aa.com) Current posted baggage pages show how the new floor has moved: Delta lists $35 for a first standard checked bag on domestic trips, Southwest lists $45 for a first checked bag and $55 for a second on many new bookings, and Alaska said its new fees add $5 and $10 to the first two bags. (delta.com) (southwest.com) (alaskaair.com) Bag fees matter most in summer because they land on top of the season’s usual price jump for flights, hotels, and rental cars. The fuel spike is hitting both sides of a trip at once: the drive to the airport and the flight after that. (aaa.com) (cnbc.com) Airlines are not charging every traveler the same way. Delta, Southwest, American, and Alaska all still waive or reduce bag fees for some elite members, co-branded credit card holders, active-duty military travelers, or premium-fare customers. (delta.com) (southwest.com) (aa.com) (alaskaair.com) For travelers booking now, the pattern is simple: fuel got more expensive in late February and early April, and by the second week of April the extra cost was already showing up at the pump and in airline add-on fees. (aaa.com 1) (aaa.com 2) (alaskaair.com)
