Many people travel every year; some locally, stateside, continentally, and for some, internationally. Some decide to travel by bike, car, train, plane and so much more. However, in recent months, traveling has become a hassle and, at times, a potential struggle due to a plethora of reasons. A few causes include the continuing American government shutdown causing a TSA worker shortage, a surge of ICE activity in airports and international tension continuing to rise; particularly in Iran. 

As the Iranian War continues to be fought in the Middle East, many Americans struggle to afford gas; but so are major airlines. Major American airlines, such as Delta and Southwest, initiated an increase in baggage fees instead of a standard increase in ticket prices in response to rising oil costs. Both companies have increased checked bag fees by $10 per bag. Currently, the first checked bag fee has gone up from $35 to $45, while the second checked bag has changed from $45 to $55. 

 While some airlines have increased baggage fees, some airlines have begun to cancel flights altogether. On March 12, 2026, Air New Zealand cancelled 1,100 flights from April to early May, impacting about 44,000 worldwide travelers. Other companies, such as United Airlines and Cathay Pacific, have also begun to cancel flights, particularly to Tel Aviv, Dubai, and other middle eastern cities in order to prioritize safety and eliminate security risks the ongoing war may pose.

Budget airlines, such as AirAsia, have turned to different options. Rather than refueling in some of the countries they have landed in, they have turned to bringing extra fuel on their planes in order to save money. The average value of jet fuel per gallon has jumped from $2.90 to $4.14 since the Iranian War started, according to Airlines.org. In lieu of paying high prices to fuel their planes in countries where oil is priced higher, the gas AirAsia brings on flights is used up directly at the airport, with extra fuel not used being placed onto the plane to use again when needed. This is one of the ways they are keeping budget flights cheap and not having to raise prices, prioritizing the consumer over profit. 

Every airline has different responses to the ongoing rocketing oil prices. Due to the uncertainty in global conflict and flights, it is important to check the Airlines website before traveling to guarantee a flight will still occur; as flights could potentially be canceled or merged due to the cost to fly.