Rising fuel costs can directly affect airline operating costs, which is why your flight ticket price can change. According to the International Air Transport Association<\/a>, aircraft fuel and oil are the largest costs for airlines across the globe, making up nearly 30% of airlines\u2019 expenses.<\/p>\n \u201cThese rising costs are likely to be reflected in ticket prices and passed along to air travelers, especially those booking longer, international routes,\u201d Jesse Neugarten, CEO at Dollar Flight Club, a travel membership service designed to help save on airfare, said in an email to Yahoo Finance.<\/p>\n Already, some airlines are warning of \u2014 or already implementing \u2014 price increases in response to rapidly rising oil prices.<\/p>\n Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) increased prices in March due to fuel costs, calling the hike temporary. Air France-KLM, too, said it would increase prices for long-haul flights in response to high fuel costs. Cathay Pacific also announced an increase in fuel surcharges for tickets on specific routes, more than doubling this fee in some cases.<\/p>\n In the U.S., United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby<\/a> predicted that rising fuel costs would lead to increased airfare, and would \u201cprobably start quick.\u201d Kirby warned fares could increase 20% if jet-fuel costs remained elevated.<\/p>\n Already, reports show airfare prices have increased across airlines since the start of the Middle East war, even if major airlines haven\u2019t announced explicit price changes.<\/p>\n Airfare price increases in reaction to oil prices aren\u2019t unprecedented. Airlines similarly increased fares when jet fuel prices rose as a result of sanctions on Russia<\/a> after the start of its war on Ukraine in 2022. Then, demand remained high even as airlines increased ticket prices, thanks to a major travel boom following the pandemic.<\/p>\n Travel demand <\/p>\n On top of direct jet fuel prices leading to higher airfare, demand can play a part, too. High costs may leave airlines to cut some flights or routes from their regular schedules, which leaves travelers with fewer options when they\u2019re ready to book.<\/p>\n But that demand may not be as strong this year; economic uncertainty was already affecting travel demand in the U.S. even before the Middle East war. In its 2026 Travel Industry Outlook<\/a>, Deloitte said travel demand could be \u201cshowing signs of strain.\u201d<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t mean demand for travel is altogether down. \u201cSigns do not point toward a major slowdown or decline in travel demand,\u201d the report said. Even if some economic factors could lead to a \u201ctravel metrics plateau,\u201d Americans across age groups and income levels still prioritize travel.<\/p>\n \u201cSpring and summer are always peak travel seasons, and with major events like the World Cup in North America driving additional demand on certain routes, we will likely see higher ticket prices,\u201d said Adam Morvitz, founder and CEO of point.me, in an email to Yahoo Finance. \u201cWhen you have a surge of travelers competing for the same flights, prices can jump up quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n You may not be able to do anything about global fuel prices or increased airline operating costs, but there are still some ways you can ensure you get the best deal on your upcoming travel. Before you book, keep these tips in mind:<\/p>\n If you have a rewards credit card<\/a> and you\u2019ve been saving your points and miles, now could be a great time to cash them in.<\/p>\n If you have a general travel rewards card that earns flexible points or miles within an issuer\u2019s rewards program \u2014 like American Express Membership Rewards<\/a> or Chase Ultimate Rewards<\/a> \u2014 you\u2019ll have multiple options to use your rewards. Often, you\u2019ll get the best value when you transfer points to partner airlines and book directly with the airline. But you may also find good deals through the issuer\u2019s travel portal, which you can book using rewards or a combination of rewards and cash.<\/p>\n Morvitz does warn that new airline fuel surcharges could affect award tickets, too, with higher taxes and fees on tickets booked with points. \u201cIn many cases, airline loyalty programs apply those same surcharges to award tickets as well \u2026 which can increase the out-of-pocket cost even when you\u2019re redeeming points.\u201d<\/p>\n But using your points is still one of the best ways to save. \u201cIf cash prices increase, you\u2019re often getting even more value from your points because you\u2019re avoiding those higher fares,\u201d said Morvitz. \u201cSome airline programs still offer relatively fixed award pricing and minimal taxes and fees, which can be especially valuable right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Some credit cards also offer additional benefits<\/a>, including annual credits for airfare, airline incidental credits, increased discounts on award flights, and more, which can go a long way toward reducing your overall flight cost.<\/p>\n![\"Easily](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/credit_card_banner..final_9844.png\")
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