Airlines industry expert Henry Harteveldt said that airlines increase ticket prices to cover fuel cost hikes in several ways, including raising the amount customers pay in each class.
"They'll increase the prices across the different categories, including basic economy, standard economy, and the premium cabins like business and first class," Harteveldt said. "Although the increase for the basic economy could be slightly lower compared to premium economy and first class, as airlines know those customers are already price-sensitive customers, and even a small increase could impact a decision to take the trip."
Travelers could see fares rise by $3 to $10, with adjustments made multiple times throughout the day, Harteveldt added.
International customers seeking flights to Europe, Asia, and South America might encounter fuel surcharges, which are separate fees generally imposed on those flights in addition to the regular ticket price, or increased fees for optional services like checked bags, according to Hartevelt.
He warned that budget airlines like Spirit, Allegiant, and Frontier are not immune to price spikes, noting they could be affected by higher jet fuel prices, as their major counterparts are.
For folks looking to plan trips in the middle or end of summer, Harteveldt recommends waiting for now and seeing if conditions in the region improve, which could lead to lower jet fuel prices.
Harteveldt also said the last resort for airlines to cope with higher jet fuel prices would be to ground some of the older planes, which are less fuel efficient.