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Tips for booking airline trips
Brian Kelly, Found of The Points Guy, shares important tips for anyone looking to fly.
Summer is shaping up to be one of the more expensive travel seasons in recent memory, according to new data.
Flight analytics company Going analyzed summer travel search data year-over-year for roundtrip flights departing June 13–August 31 on legacy carriers.
Domestic airfares up significantly
By the numbers:
The data found that domestic airfare is up roughly 19% compared to this time last year, with average median round-trip flight prices climbing from $412 to $489.
FILE: Airplane flying overhead. (Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
According to the findings, the lower end of the range tells an even higher story: rock-bottom fares are up nearly 23%, meaning the cheapest options have seen the steepest climb.
International travel is more modest increase
Dig deeper:
Meanwhile, international travel offers a more modest picture, up only about 3% year-over-year, with the average median round trip price climbing from $1,115 to $1,138.
What they're saying:
"At this point, we'd be more surprised if airlines didn't keep raising fees," Going wrote in a statement, adding, "As jet fuel costs soar, elevated ancillaries may be here to stay even after airline expenses come down."
Baggage fees also increase
Big picture view:
This data comes as travelers also contend with a wave of bag fee hikes.
Earlier this week, Delta Air Lines quietly increased its checked bag fees as airlines face mounting financial pressure tied to rising fuel prices, according to One Mile At A Time.
For tickets purchased starting April 8, the airline will raise fees by $10 to $50 depending on the number of bags. The first checked bag will increase from $35 to $45, the second from $45 to $55, and the third from $150 to $200.
RELATED: Delta Air Lines increasing checked bag fees due to fuel costs
In a statement, Delta said the changes are part of an ongoing pricing review and reflect "the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics."
JetBlue was the first U.S. airline to raise its baggage fees and United Airlines did the same about a week later.
Bottom line: Going said the best window for booking summer flights is historically late March through April, so travelers who wait are increasingly likely to find fewer deals and steeper prices.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by Going, which looked at the average prices based on internal Going search data pulled March 31, 2026, for roundtrip flights departing June 13–August 31, on legacy carriers. This story was reported from Los Angeles. Previous FOX Local reporting contributed.