Your Summer Travel Will Cost More
Whether you are flying or driving, the Iran war is making summer 2026 travel more expensive.
Flying
- Airfares: Up 15-35% compared to pre-war prices, driven by jet fuel costs nearly doubling ($85-90/barrel to $150-200/barrel)
- Route changes: Flights between Europe and Asia are rerouted around Middle Eastern airspace, adding hours and fuel costs
- Availability: Over 4,000 daily flights remain cancelled. Fewer flights means less competition and higher prices
- Fuel surcharges: Airlines are adding surcharges of $50-150+ per ticket on long-haul flights
Driving
- Gas: Up 17% nationally, above $5/gallon in California. A cross-country road trip costs $100-200 more in fuel than it would have in February
- Hotels: Prices in many domestic markets are ticking up as more travelers choose domestic destinations over international ones
Cruises
- Mediterranean/Middle East cruises: Many are cancelled or rerouted
- Other regions: Caribbean and Alaska cruises are seeing increased demand (and prices) as travelers redirect
What to Do Now
- Book flights early: Prices are likely going up, not down, in the near term
- Buy travel insurance: Get coverage that includes “cancel for any reason” — standard policies do not cover war
- Consider domestic destinations: National parks, beach towns, and mountain resorts avoid most war-related price increases
- Be flexible on dates: Mid-week flights and shoulder-season travel (May, September) are cheaper
- Road trip smart: Use apps like GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas along your route
- Set price alerts: Sites like Google Flights can notify you if fares drop