Advice for travelers as the Iran war drives up fllight costs

Key Points:

• The U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran is causing a surge in global oil prices, leading to increased jet fuel costs and potential flight reductions, especially in Europe where jet fuel supplies may run low soon.
• Airlines such as Air Canada, United, Delta, and Air France-KLM have already cut routes or raised ticket prices due to soaring fuel costs, with some suspending services temporarily to manage expenses.
• Travel experts advise booking flights early with refundable or standard economy tickets to avoid higher last-minute prices and restrictive basic economy fares amid ongoing uncertainty in fuel supply and pricing.
• Travelers can save money by being flexible with travel dates, choosing alternative airports or destinations, packing light to avoid baggage fees, and using airline points or travel credit cards to offset rising costs.
• Frequent flyer points and credit card rewards remain valuable as airlines have not increased redemption costs at the same rate as fares, offering a strategic way for consumers to manage travel expenses during this period of volatility.