Book early, hunt deals

Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Bob Jordan said travelers should book flights early as higher fuel costs threaten to keep airfares elevated into the spring and summer. (abcnews.com) Jordan told ABC News on April 14 that demand for travel is still strong even as airlines face rising jet fuel costs. The International Air Transport Association said the global average jet fuel price rose 7.1% week over week to $209 a barrel, and Airlines for America put the United States spot price at $4.08 a gallon on April 10. (abcnews.com) (iata.org) (airlines.org) Travel sellers are pairing that warning with promotions aimed at travelers who commit sooner. GetYourGuide is advertising 10% off thousands of tours and activities, Riviera Travel is running Europe river cruise discounts of up to 50% on select 2026 and 2027 sailings, and Air Transat says its “Super flight sale” runs through April 19 for travel through October 31. (getyourguide.com) (rivieratravel.com) (airtransat.com) The timing is shaped by a travel market that is getting more expensive in several places at once. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics said transportation consumer prices were up 5.0% in March from a year earlier, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics said overall consumer inflation rose 0.9% in March and 3.3% over 12 months. (bts.gov) (bls.gov) Airfare itself has already been moving higher. Federal Reserve data tracking the consumer price index for airline fares shows the series updated through March 2026, adding to pressure on travelers who wait for late-booking deals that may not appear in a tighter pricing environment. (fred.stlouisfed.org) Southwest has also been changing the product it sells. The carrier ended its long-running open seating system on January 27 and now offers assigned seats, including extra-legroom and preferred options, while checked bag fees apply on many fares. (abcnews.com) (southwest.com) (support.southwest.com) Southwest’s own baggage pages say standard checked bag fees apply, and the airline’s policy update lists $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second for customers who do not qualify for an exemption. That brings Southwest closer to rivals that have leaned harder on add-on fees as fuel and operating costs climb. (support.southwest.com) (swamedia.com) For travelers, the current playbook is less about waiting for one giant sale and more about stacking small savings across the trip: airfare booked earlier, activity discounts, and supplier promotions with fixed end dates. Jordan’s advice and the latest travel offers point in the same direction: the cheapest seat may be the one bought before the next fuel spike. (abcnews.com) (getyourguide.com) (rivieratravel.com) (airtransat.com)