SEATAC, Wash. — With rising jet fuel costs due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, flight costs are increasing for everyone, and passengers at SEA Airport are feeling the impact.
According to Lorelei Salas, the former supervision director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, airlines have raised prices by 20 to 30% due to the fuel spike.
She says airlines are also raising prices on checked baggage and seat selections.
“Well, the prices keep climbing higher and higher,” Salas said.
With no end in sight to the conflict, Salas fears prices aren’t going down anytime soon.
“It is a tough time booking flights right now, and there is no hope on the horizon that the prices will go down,” Salas said.
Passengers at SEA Airport are feeling those high costs. One woman tells KIRO 7 that due to some complications with her trip back to LA, she had to buy a one-way ticket home, which was at least $70 more than her round trip to Seattle.
“And I’m lucky I found this $200 one, because they were like $300-$400, and I don’t know how that one popped up. I just jumped on it,” said Stephanie.
Many traveling through SEA fear that if prices don’t go down soon, then they’ll have to reconsider future air travel plans.
“If you can’t afford to spend that on travel, and if it seems a little too outrageous for what it is, you know, absolutely, people are going to have to reconsider. I’m definitely going to have to reconsider,” said Julieanna from Phoenix.
But there are ways to find more affordable flights. According to Salas, she says using credit card reward points can help ease the costs of your flight, along with using a flight tracking app to watch costs on certain dates.
“Usually, flights midweek are going to cost you less than flying on a Sunday or a Friday,” Salas added.
©2026 Cox Media Group
