Travel Costs Are Rising As Jet Fuel Prices Spike, Here's When Experts Say To Book Flights

In late 2025, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), predicted that the price of jet fuel would stay broadly flat in 2026. While the prediction may have been based on economic trajectory at the time, it ultimately failed to foresee how geopolitical tensions, and their corresponding logistical fallout, would pan out.

As of March 2026, jet fuel prices have spiked as high as 90% since January 2026 — thanks in large part to escalating tensions involving U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran. The Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index pegged the average price at around $3.93 per gallon in early March, up from $2.07 in early January 2026. According to the Energy Information Administration, the U.S. Gulf Coast kerosene-type jet fuel spot price jumped from around $1.88 per gallon in early January 2026 to $3.10 per gallon for the second week of March.

While fuel costs alone aren't what determines the price of plane tickets, there are already reports of airlines increasing ticket prices, some as much as 10-15%, and even an increase in canceled flights due to fuel costs. If geopolitical circumstances continue as they are, these numbers are likely to get worse. For those worried about the price of future flights, experts say the key is to plan ahead and book early. According to Scott Keyes, the founder of Going, the best option is to book 1 to 3 months in advance for domestic travel, or 2 to 8 months in advance for international travel. However, you may want to book even earlier if you're looking to travel during peak periods like summer or winter holidays.

While Scott Keyes, and other industry experts, may speak from years of experience, the closest thing to an algorithmic expert would be Google Flights. The platform analyzes years of historical airfare searches and bookings, making it the ultimate tool for studying flight patterns and ticket prices. In fact, it was Google Flights that busted the long-standing myth that Tuesdays are the best time to get a deal on flights.

Specific days of the week aside, according to a 2024 analysis published by Google, the cheapest window to book domestic flights in the U.S. typically falls around 38 days before departure, with the lowest historical range landing between 21 and 52 days out. International trip prices, on the other hand, tend to reach their lowest point 101 days before departure but are still at their cheapest anytime up to 50 days before.

By combining Google's suggested strategies, and industry know-how, you just might be able to outsmart the fuel-cost crisis, at least temporarily. After all, ever-increasing flight prices have led consumers to come up with unique ways to save like one specific yet simple trick for saving money on flights – hidden city flights. Using this strategy, you would disembark at your flight's layover location instead of your flight's final destination. You can also potentially unlock even cheaper flights if you take travel aficionado Rick Steve's advice and use affordable consolidator flights.