Paul Charles warns Jet2 Flights travelers as fuel hits $209

jet2 flights travelers are being warned to check emails and messages daily as airlines and cruise lines react to rising fuel costs. Paul Charles of the PC Agency said passengers will pay more over the coming months as carriers add charges, raise fares and cancel routes.

Jet fuel rose from $99 per barrel at the end of February to $209 at the beginning of April, before easing to $179 in recent weeks. Charles said: "Prices have already risen this year, but we haven’t seen the end of it. Travelers will be paying more over the coming months."

Volotea and cruise surcharges

Spanish budget airline Volotea reportedly asked passengers to pay extra fuel charges after tickets had already been purchased. The airline has a clause that allows it to add charges based on oil prices, and it calls the rule its Fair Travel Promise. The added charge was said to be $8 to $11 per passenger, and Charles said travelers need to watch their messages because airlines are under pressure to cancel flights for profitability reasons or because there is not enough jet fuel.

Cruise passengers are facing a similar clause in the fine print. The majority of cruise lines reserve the right to add a daily surcharge if oil hits a certain threshold, a term written into nearly all cruise contracts. That means some travelers who have already paid can still be asked for more if fuel costs stay high.

Air France-KLM and Air Canada

Air France-KLM said it had increased fares. Air Canada has suspended some routes, saying jet fuel prices made them no longer economically feasible. Lufthansa is reportedly leading with about 20,000 summer flight cancellations to conserve fuel, while Norse Atlantic has fully withdrawn from Los Angeles and dropped all summer Europe routes.

Delta is trimming at least eight regional routes domestically. For travelers, the practical response is to keep checking booking emails, airline messages and any schedule changes, because the next change may be a fee, a revised fare or a canceled flight rather than a public announcement.

Summer travel and route cuts

Oil prices have risen more than 40% since Operation Epic Fury got underway on Feb. 28, and the summer travel season is one of the busiest times of the year. That leaves airlines balancing higher fuel bills against full schedules, and some routes are already being cut when they no longer make financial sense. Travelers who are booked should read their carrier’s fuel-charge terms and watch for any message tied to their itinerary.