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If you're looking to book a flight, you may be suffering from sticker shock. Flying is more expensive than it was just a few months ago. The war with Iran has caused jet fuel prices to nearly double since the start of the year. NPR's Stephan Bisaha reports that some Americans are changing their vacation plans.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Group 3, welcome aboard your flight. Group 3, welcome aboard...
STEPHAN BISAHA, BYLINE: It has been a rough year for flyers - canceled flights, long security lines and expensive tickets. James Ridgeway just landed back home at the D.C. airport, and he's considering canceling his next trip this summer because the cost for his flights has gone up thousands of dollars.
JAMES RIDGEWAY: We have tickets to see The Cure in Ireland, and I don't think we'll be able to swing it.
BISAHA: You're canceling your trip to see The Cure cause of the ticket prices?
J RIDGEWAY: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
BISAHA: Sounds really disappointing.
J RIDGEWAY: Well, yeah, it is very disappointing. Yeah, yeah.
BISAHA: Not every fare has jumped up by thousands of dollars. The Ridgeways were planning to fly business class and make multiple stops. But on average, international tickets are up about $150 compared to a year ago, according to the travel site Kayak. James' wife, Lee Ridgeway, used to study in Ireland. She says it's never been this expensive to get there.
LEE RIDGEWAY: I guess we'll just sit around and wait for airline tickets to get back down and come up with something at a later date.
BISAHA: But those lower prices might not come back. That's according to Arlene Hogan. She owns the travel advisor company Vacays4u.
ARLENE HOGAN: I don't believe you're going to see prices going back to normal.
BISAHA: Do you mean, like, not go back to normal this year or, like, ever?
HOGAN: Ever.
BISAHA: United CEO Scott Kirby is talking about this too. During a recent earnings call, he said higher prices could stick around after the war with Iran ends. Hogan recently took her own trip to meet up with other travel agency owners, and they are seeing the toll those higher airline prices are taking on fliers.
HOGAN: It was very eye-opening because we all had the same challenges. We are all seeing a dip in bookings.
BISAHA: Hogan's bookings dropped about 10 1/2% for the fall. Most of her customers already booked their summer trips, and those who are still booking are avoiding those long-haul, far-off destinations.
HOGAN: They are going to be suffering the most. We're definitely seeing that for Europe.
BISAHA: The European Union is worried about a possible jet fuel shortage, and that's sending prices up and also leading some airlines to cancel flights. Lufthansa has already canceled 20,000 flights through October. So Hogan says many Americans are choosing trips closer to home. Her customers are also worried about conflicts overseas, like the war with Iran. So Hawaii, it is.
HOGAN: Yes, Hawaii is hot, even though Hawaii is an expensive destination when you think about it. However, it gives people a sense of security because it's still the United States. It still gives you that tropical feel.
BISAHA: And while tickets to Hawaii are not cheap, they have not gone up much. On average, a one-way ticket to Honolulu in late April only went up $12 compared to the same time last year, according to Kayak's airfare dashboard. A ticket to London - up about 350 bucks. Stephan Bisaha, NPR News.
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