Southwest and JetBlue hike fares

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

See recent posts by Josh Roberts

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It had to happen eventually, right? The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports today that low-cost carrier Southwest, caving to high fuel prices, has raised fares on most of its routes. Southwest last raised its prices in September 2005.

If there is a silver lining, it’s this: The fare increase amounts to just $3 each way for flights 750 miles or longer, and less for shorter routes. The good news ends there, because it’s never a good thing when a fare trendsetter like Southwest ups its prices. Expect the airline’s competition to quickly—and gleefully—rush to match the hikes. The news is bad for travelers on a second low-fare front as well. Last week, JetBlue quietly raised its prices by $5 each way.

This doesn’t mean you can’t still find a good bargain, though. Southwest says it will continue to cap its one-way flights at $299, meaning it’s the cheaper off-peak flight times that will be most affected.

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