Summer travel costs rising

Summer vacation is getting more expensive before the peak season even starts. The national average for regular gasoline topped $4 a gallon this week, while Alaska Airlines raised checked-bag fees for new bookings. (gasprices.aaa.com) (news.alaskaair.com) AAA listed the U.S. average for regular gas at $4.125 on April 12, after reporting $4.135 on April 11 and saying the national average had moved above $4 for the first time in four years. Its state data showed California at $5.930, Washington at $5.392 and Florida at $4.181 on April 11. (gasprices.aaa.com 1) (gasprices.aaa.com 2) The U.S. Energy Information Administration said on April 7 that higher crude oil prices were pushing up gasoline and diesel prices, and its monthly outlook said the Brent-West Texas Intermediate spread was expected to peak in April before easing as oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz resumed. The agency’s latest gasoline and diesel update was released April 7, with the next update due April 14. (eia.gov 1) (eia.gov 2) Alaska Airlines said April 9 that fees are rising by $5 for a first checked bag and $10 for a second checked bag on North American Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights. The carrier said the new charges apply to flights booked on or after Friday, April 10, 2026. (news.alaskaair.com) (alaskaair.com) The airline linked the increase to “ongoing volatility in fuel prices and an uncertain global environment.” Alaska said Mileage Plan elite members, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature and Business cardholders, and some premium-cabin travelers still qualify for free checked bags. (news.alaskaair.com) (alaskaair.com) Alaska is joining a broader round of fee increases. CNBC reported on April 7 that Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines were each raising checked-bag fees by $10, joining United Airlines and JetBlue, and U.S. News reported on April 9 that American Airlines also raised first- and second-bag fees by $10 for some domestic and short-haul international bookings. (cnbc.com) (usnews.com) Those changes are landing just as summer driving and flying demand usually builds. The Energy Information Administration said in its April outlook that higher crude prices had already lifted retail fuel prices, and airlines have pointed to the same fuel pressure in explaining new bag charges. (eia.gov) (news.alaskaair.com) (cnbc.com) Bag fees are also a bigger business than they were a decade ago. IdeaWorksCompany said in its 2025 ancillary-revenue yearbook that global airline revenue from extras such as baggage, seat selection and loyalty programs topped $148 billion in 2024, above the 2019 record of $109.5 billion. (ideaworkscompany.com) For travelers booking late-spring and summer trips, the math is changing on both highways and airport check-in counters. Gas is already above $4 nationally, and more of the largest U.S. airlines are charging more to check a suitcase. (gasprices.aaa.com) (cnbc.com)