By Jacob Passy
Volatile fuel costs could add turbulence to your summer trip.
Gas prices have surged in recent weeks in tandem with war-driven volatility in crude oil markets. The national per-gallon average increased more than 10% over the past week, according to AAA, and it's up even more in states including Utah, California, Florida and New Jersey.
Airlines are grappling with the prospect of more expensive jet fuel, and raising airfares in some cases.
"It's hard to know if the pain will get worse," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
Much as a company can hedge fuel prices, you can cushion the hit to your travel budget by planning ahead and knowing your options. Here's what travel professionals recommend.
Don't be shy about booking that flight
Demand is a big factor in airfare prices, but airlines can also increase fares in response to rising fuel costs, particularly for long-haul routes. Air New Zealand said this week that it will be moving fares up to account for recent fuel inflation.
Waiting around for a deal closer to your travel dates might not be a winning strategy. Right now is generally the prime booking window for summer flights, according to travel pros.
They recommend booking a fare that can be canceled if a better price comes along. After booking, "keep searching for airfares because it's entirely possible they could drop," said Julian Kheel, chief executive of rewards-travel search company points Path.
Getting a new price can be as simple as contacting the airline's customer-service department and requesting a refund or credit for the difference in price. Travelers could also rebook themselves at the new price -- though they might need to cancel their original reservation first. (Airlines generally don't allow one passenger to have multiple bookings for the same flight.)
Some third-party booking platforms offer price-drop protection, which will reimburse you if the cost changes after you reserve your seats. Bear in mind that basic-economy tickets generally don't allow for rebooking or refunds.
If you pay for a flight with miles, watch out for taxes and fees that must still be paid in cash. Those fees can include fuel surcharges, which could increase significantly in tandem with oil prices, said Adam Morvitz, chief executive of rewards-search company Point.me.
Airlines schedules are subject to change
Another reason not to wait on booking: If travel demand drops, airlines might choose to scrap itineraries rather than fly mostly empty planes.
"With the limited seats they then have, they could have higher fares," said Katy Nastro, spokeswoman for travel-deals company Going. If you book a flight that is subsequently canceled, airlines typically will rebook your trip automatically at no additional cost.
Geopolitical developments are another consideration. Some carriers have signaled that they will reduce service to airports in the Middle East while tensions remain high.
That could make alternative routes more crowded. Nastro noted that more travelers from Australia are expected to go through the U.S. to get to Europe in the coming months to avoid transiting through airports in cities such as Dubai.
Tap in to your map apps
Studying the best routes before a road trip -- and noting where cheap gas stations are located along the way -- can translate into major savings at the pump.
Once you have a sense of which gas stations you will visit, sign up for their loyalty programs, suggested AAA spokeswoman Aixa Diaz. Gas retailers including BP, Shell and Circle K offer both discounts and rewards to members when they enter their loyalty-program information at the pump.
Savings typically start at 3 cents a gallon, increasing with higher levels of status in the programs. Sign-up promotions can save you even more. New members to Circle K's loyalty program get 25 cents off a gallon for their first five fuel-ups.
Mom-and-pop gas stations, meanwhile, might have cheaper prices and deals for paying in cash.
Bang for your gas bucks
Simply making sure your vehicle's tires are properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by as much as 3.3%, according to the U.S. Energy Department.
Figuring out your car's sweet spot for fuel efficiency is also a help, GasBuddy's De Haan said. Avoid idling, and remember that at higher speeds, your car will be fighting higher winds. "Even slowing down just a few miles an hour can have a vast impact on how many miles you are getting" a gallon, he said.
And lighten your vehicle's load. The more you're transporting, the more gas you'll use. Fight the urge to pack more than you need, and make sure you aren't toting anything unnecessary in your trunk.
"Say you've got donations in the back of your car and you keep procrastinating in dropping those off," said AAA's Diaz, "get that extra weight out of your vehicle."
Weapons in your wallet
Whether you're filling up your gas tank or booking a flight, deploy credit cards strategically. Cards that offer outsize rewards or cash back on travel-related purchases can come in handy if prices go up.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for instance, has a feature called Pay Yourself Back, whereby cardholders can redeem points toward statement credits for purchases made in certain categories. One of the eligible categories for the quarter ending March 31 is gas stations.
Some other cards such as the Citi Custom Cash offer specific cash-back rewards for fuel purchases, up to 5% back.
Cruises could be safer bets
If you're planning a cruise vacation in the coming months, you're in luck. While cruise lines will bear the brunt of higher fuel costs, that has yet to translate into higher fares.
"Comparing October's prices to today's prices for a June cruise, they are mixed but in general lower than they were in the fall," said Tanner Callais, founder of travel website Cruzely.com.
Cruise lines do reserve the right to charge additional fees for fuel if oil prices exceed a certain level -- it's in the contract passengers receive at booking. Industry watchers said this provision is rarely used, however.
Of course, the cost of getting to a cruise's departure port -- by plane or car -- could be another matter entirely.
Write to Jacob Passy at jacob.passy@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 14, 2026 12:00 ET (16:00 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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