Summer Travel Prices Surge: Flights & Bag Fees Skyrocket

0:00It's April 8th. This is Tampa Bay News today, powered by AI, I'm Corey with the story. Summer travel is getting pricey this season, with new data showing domestic round trip flights of 19% from last year. Analytics firm. Going check searches for flights leaving June 13th to August 31st on major carriers and the average median price. Jump from $412 to $489. The cheapest fairs tell an even tougher story, climbing nearly 23% while international trips saw a more modest bump. Travelers are feeling the squeeze from rising back fees too, as airlines battle higher costs. Earlier this week, Delta bumped up check bag charges for tickets bought from April 8th onward, with the first bag going from $35 to $45, the second from $45 to $55, and the third from $150 to $200. Those blame soaring jet fuel prices for the hikes, and experts say extra fees could stick around even after costs ease.

1:01If you missed the sweet spot for booking in late March through April, expect slimmer pickings and steeper tabs as summer heats up.