Will fares go so high that only the rich can fly?
— -- Deregulation of the airline industry 30 years ago made air travel affordable to most Americans. Rising airfares threaten to again make flying a service for the affluent.
Airfares have risen this summer more than any year in the past quarter century, new studies by airfare experts show. The studies, done by Travelocity, FareCompare.com and Harrell Associates at USA TODAY's request, show that domestic fares this summer are up 12% to 15%, and on some routes, more than 200%.
"Consumers are already shell-shocked by higher prices, but their wallets are going to be hit harder than ever before on their next vacation or business trip," says Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, which tracks airfares for consumers.
Airlines are raising fares to combat record jet-fuel prices, which have nearly doubled during the past 12 months. The fares often include fuel surcharges that can range from a few to hundreds of dollars, and a growing number of tickets include restrictions that require fliers to buy further in advance or stay a number of days at a destination. Fliers also face an escalating number of extra fees for roomy seats, checked bags, ticket changes and other services.
For a family of four, a cross-country flight this summer may cost about $1,000 more than last summer. In late July, for example, United Airlines' cheapest non-stop round-trip coach fare for travel in mid-August between San Francisco and Washington was $580, or $2,320 for four people, according to FareCompare.com. That's $920 more than the family would have paid United on that route last summer.
Higher airfares are causing vacationers and business travelers to cut back on air travel, and raising many companies' travel costs.
Robert Yodice, of Cleveland, flew to Las Vegas 10 times last year, but only twice this year. He says he's cut back because the round-trip fare is at least double the $200 to $300 he used to pay.
"With rising airfares, I've had to take a completely different approach to my leisure travel," says Yodice, who owns a TV production company. "There's a lot more time invested in researching better fares, looking at alternate airports and determining any potential savings from driving to an airport that may not necessarily be closest to home."
Changing perspective on 'cheap'
United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski says the $78 fare last year was a special sale price in line with competitors' prices.
Such bargain airfares may be hard to find this year, but they haven't disappeared and can often be found on airline websites.
Discount carrier Spirit offers $19 one-way fares on its website for August travel between Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, Orlando or the Bahamas. Spirit also has $89 fares from Boston to Fort Lauderdale.
Related Stories
ABC News Live