Several major airlines are raising baggage fees and adding fuel surcharges to flights in response to soaring jet fuel costs.
Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines became the latest American airlines to increase prices for checked bags following a jump in oil costs linked to tensions in the Middle East, with more likely to follow suit.
A fragile two-week ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran was intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world’s oil typically passes. However the travel industry is still grappling with the after-effects of the closure.
The waterway was closed off to most ships for weeks, which choked off oil supply and led to price rises. Iranian state media reported that despite two oil tankers being allowed through on Wednesday morning, passage was halted again by the afternoon, referencing Israel’s continued strikes on Lebanon.
Jet fuel, which averaged about $85 to $90 (£63-£66) a barrel in February before the war, has jumped to around $209 (£155) per barrel globally, according to the International Air Transport Association.
The head of the IATA, Willie Walsh, told reporters it will take months for jet fuel supplies to normalise even with the Strait of Hormuz open.
“It will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be given the disruption to the refining capacity in the Middle East,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to happen in weeks.”
Martyn James, a consumer champion, said it was “highly likely” that more airlines could start “sneaking up” prices for luggage and other add-ons.
“Airlines will be looking at ways to keep their prices artificially low, but that means we might see increases in other areas, like the cost of bags,” he told The i Paper. “The heavier the bag, the more jet fuel could potentially be used.
“You may find that you get discounts for travelling without luggage, but if you take a cabin or check-in bag on, you might be looking at much more expensive fees.”
He said airlines will want to keep advertised prices as low as possible, but “what you pay when you go to the checkout is going to increase significantly”.
James said it was difficult to monitor price increases for things like luggage, which makes this a good choice for airlines wanting to raise bills without much attention.
How the costs break down
Delta and Southwest said fees for first and second checked bags would increase by $10 (around £7) on new bookings, bringing the cost to $45 (£33) for the first bag and $55 (£41) for the second.
The fees for a third checked bag will rise by $50 (£37) to $200 (£149). Delta said the changes will apply to bookings from Wednesday on some short-haul international routes and domestic routes.
The airline said there will be no changes to baggage fees on long-haul international routes, which would include journeys between the UK and the US.
Southwest’s changes will take effect for bookings made on or after Thursday.
Delta’s first hike in domestic baggage fees in two years follows similar decisions by American carriers United Airlines and JetBlue Airways. JetBlue said its baggage prices will rise by either $4 (£3) or $9 (£7).
United raised first and second checked bag fees by $10 (£7) for customers travelling in the US, Mexico, Canada and Latin America.
Travellers also face fuel surcharges
SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, will impose a temporary fuel surcharge of €10 (£9) per passenger on routes between Europe and Turkey, which will apply to departures after May 1.
Indian airline Akasa Air said it was introducing a fuel surcharge ranging between 199 and 1,300 Indian rupees (£2 to £10) on domestic and international flights, while Air India said it would replace its flat domestic fuel surcharge with a distance-based fee.
Indigo, India’s biggest airlines, introduced fuel charges in mid-March, including a charge of 900 rupees (£7) for flights to the Middle East and a charge of 2,300 rupees (£18) for flights to Europe.
China Eastern Airlines raised its fuel surcharges for domestic flights from last Sunday, with 60 yuan (£6.50) levied on flights of 800km and below and 120 yuan (£13) for flights above 800km. The latter charge will apply to flights from the UK to China.
Hong Kong Airlines raised fuel surcharges by up to 35 per cent in mid-March. The biggest jumps affected flights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal, with charges rising to HK$384 (£36) from HK$284 (£27).
Canadian airline WestJet will add a C$60 (£32) fuel surcharge to some bookings, the Canadian Press news agency reported.
EasyJet warned that flight prices would likely rise at the end of the summer, while British Airways’ owner IAG said it would not raise prices immediately because it has most of its jet fuel secured for the short to medium term.
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