Air fares are flying higher in 2008

NEW YORK, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. air passengers are finding fare increases that accompany new fees and higher fuel surcharges, industry analysts said.

A US Airways ticket for a flight from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Chicago cost $108 a year ago, USA Today reported. Today, the ticket costs $406, a 276-percent increase, FareCompare.com said.

Competitor United Airlines raised its fare on the same route from $78 to $376, while Northwest Airlines offers the passengers a $140 option, on a 79-percent rate hike, the newspaper said.

Discount fares remain. Boston to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., cost $89 on Spirit Airlines this August and a September booking for a flight from Kansas City, Mo., to West Palm Beach, Fla., costs about $162 on American Airlines, the newspaper said.

But, passengers are finding they spend more time researching fares and driving to out-of-the-way airports to save money.

"I've had to take a completely different approach to my leisure travel," Robert Yodice of Cleveland told USA Today. "There's a lot more time invested in researching better fares, looking at alternate airports and determining any potential savings from driving to an airport that may not necessarily be closest to home," he said.