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John Daley ReportingHigher gas prices are not only hitting your pocketbook at the pump these days, but also in the skies. If you haven't flown lately, you might be surprised to learn it's a whole new world up there.
Greg Hatcher, Boise: "You know, no meals on planes or limited meals. If they do offer them, they charge you for them."
"There were always extra seats so we could lay down on the night flights coming home. And now they're packed because they're going to the smaller planes. That's what I've noticed on the long flights."
Just like motorists, airlines are facing skyrocketing fuel costs. As a result, ticket prices are climbing too. One industry group says they were up 10% the first three months of the year.
"I bought a ticket to go to San Francisco. It would probably have been maybe $150 a couple of years ago. It was like $250, almost a hundred dollars more."
Suzanne Kennard, Morris Murdock Travel Agent: "In major hot spots, especially now for summer, they're going, the loads are full, so the prices are high up."
Airlines are cutting the number of flights, going to smaller planes to fill seats and maximize capacity and charging more for extras like overweight bags and meals.
The best advice is to buy your tickets early, try to package your airfare with a car rental or hotel reservations and consider using a travel agent who may have access to special deals.
Suzanne Kennard, Morris Murdock Travel Agent: "If you can be flexible in the time you go, for instance try to avoid maybe a Friday, a Sunday or Monday, those are the peak travel days. If you have flexibility in your airports."
And don't expect airfares to go down much. Jet fuel prices are up 28% compared with a year ago. Industry analysts say with many airlines losing money, ticket prices are likely to keep going up.
