Book summer trips now

Summer travelers are being told to book flights and hotels earlier than usual, and to favor refundable fares as oil-driven price swings ripple through the travel market. (usatoday.com) USA Today reported on April 12 that airlines have not made major summer schedule cuts, but travel advisers and fare watchers said a longer disruption in oil markets could push airfares higher. The same report said the old strategy of waiting for a late bargain looks riskier this year. (usatoday.com) The pressure starts with fuel. The International Air Transport Association said the global average jet-fuel price rose 7.1% week over week to $209 a barrel in its latest monitor, giving airlines a fast-moving cost they have to absorb, hedge, or pass along. (iata.org) The United States Energy Information Administration said Brent crude averaged $103 a barrel in March, reached almost $128 on April 2, and is expected to peak at $115 in the second quarter before easing if supply disruptions abate. The agency said it is keeping a “risk premium” in its forecast because Middle East supply uncertainty remains elevated. (eia.gov; eia.gov) That matters for summer bookings because fuel is one of the biggest airline expenses, and airlines price seats months ahead while trying to guess what their costs will be. The International Air Transport Association said sudden fuel-price changes are harder for carriers to manage than simply high prices. (iata.org) The timing is awkward for travelers because the conflict escalated on February 28, according to the International Air Transport Association, just as many families were entering the main booking window for June, July, and August trips. A separate USA Today report published March 6 said the usual target for domestic summer flights was three to seven months in advance. (iata.org; usatoday.com) Canadian coverage has described the same pattern. CTV reported on April 7 that higher fuel costs tied to the war were already leading some airlines to raise prices and add fees, and earlier CTV segments said the travel industry was warning that holiday plans were getting more expensive. (ctvnews.ca; ctvnews.ca) The warning is not that every fare will rise in a straight line. USA Today said travel still looks “stable for now,” and the Energy Information Administration expects oil prices to ease later in 2026 if outages diminish, which leaves open the chance of temporary dips and uneven pricing by route. (usatoday.com; eia.gov) That is why advisers are steering travelers toward flexibility instead of pure bargain hunting. Locking in dates earlier can secure current inventory, and refundable tickets or hotel rates leave room to rebook if prices fall or plans change. (usatoday.com)