MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Because of rising fuel costs, due in part to the conflict in Iran, airlines have raised ticket prices. The Spirit Airlines shutdown will only add to the problem facing passengers as they plan trips this summer, according to Milwaukee travel agents.

According to data from Kayak, the average domestic flight now costs an average of $361. That’s up from $291 at the start of 2026.

Spirit Airlines ended service to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in January. However, the airline still operated out of Chicago and was utilized by some people on a budget, according to travel agent Dawn Makowski.

CBS 58

“The Spirit Airlines thing has really created quite a fiasco for passengers,” Makowski said. “I think that people using Spirit Airlines are having to pay what they would have had they had booked with one of the other lines to begin with.”

Hannah Lukaszewicz has been a travel agent in the Milwaukee area for 14 years, specializing in trips to Mexico and the Caribbean. She said she’s seeing international ticket prices on the rise, too.

“To Mexico, for example, I sell a lot of Cancun, {tickets are] probably at least $200 more than last year,” Lukaszewicz said.

Makowski and Lukaszewicz recommend booking trips early rather than waiting for prices to drop. Lukaszewicz said she is telling her clients to be flexible with the dates of their trip to get the best deal.

“Maybe spend the extra money for refundable tickets, or for sure do the main cabin in the event if prices do go down, you have the option to cancel or rebook at that cheaper rate,” Lukaszewicz said. “It might be reducing your seven-night trip to six nights, so that way we stay on budget.”

For any travel needs, you can contact Lukaszewicz or Makowski.