Airlines double fuel surcharge

Another day, another fuel surcharge. In the face of resistance over the past few weeks, Reuters reports Continental last week doubled its fuel surcharge to $40, from $20, on domestic round-trip tickets. American, United, and US Airways matched the increase over the weekend, Reuters reports.

American and United each initiated higher fuel surcharges in the past several weeks, but both were later rescinded. The current increase is “slightly less aggressive,” FareCompare.com Chief Executive Rick Seaney tells Reuters, which “may be an attempt to give this airfare increase a greater chance of ‘sticking.'” According to FareCompare, the surcharge applies to 66 percent of each airline’s respective network.

If the past is any indicator, this increase, though less aggressive, is still unlikely to stick. Delta and Northwest appear to be waiting it out and have yet to announce higher fuel surcharges of their own.