Fare Hike: Major Airlines Raise Prices Again

Major U.S. airlines have initiated another fare hike—and it looks like this one has stuck.

Blame United. The airline led the price increase by bumping up prices last week by up to $10 round-trip. Subsequently, Delta, US Airways, American, and Southwest have followed suit, reports FareCompare. And according to USA Today, JetBlue and Virgin have also matched the increased prices.

A Southwest spokesperson confirmed the fare hike, telling us: “Late Friday, the decision was made to match [United’s] increase on all non-sale fares, excluding short haul markets.” The price hikes vary by route, but range from $4 to $10 round-trip.

This is the fourth successful fare hike of the year. It’s been months since the airlines banded together to push for an across-the-board jump in ticket costs.

The good news? Some analysts say it could be a while before the next fare increase pops up. According to FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney, “Given that the slower fall season gets underway in late August, it is unlikely we will see another hike in the next few months.”

Will this latest fare hike affect your travel plans?

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