NEW UPDATE (AS OF 5-9-08): ALL LEGACY CARRIERS NOW MATCH HIKE! Last night, Delta Air Lines initiated the 15th attempted domestic airfare increase of 2008 by raising its fuel surcharge by an additional $20 roundtrip; this surcharge affects the bulk of its route system. The new total fuel surcharge (on numerous Delta city-pairs) is now up to a record $130 roundtrip. Even worse, this means the total fuel surcharge combined with taxes and fees costs more than the actual base airfare on several short-haul domestic flights. Let’s dig a little deeper, shall we? Keep reading…

With a backdrop of a slowing economy, I continue to look for a tipping point where domestic air travelers begin to significantly push back on record high airline ticket prices. At best, the entire jury is still out on whether we are seeing the first signs of push back, but it’s looking like it’s heading that way.

I had predicted at least 2 more increases in May and nothing has changed recently changed to alter this opinion - the torrid pace of airfare increases puts us on track for just shy of 40 increase attempts this year (compared to 23 last year) - and while this total is unlikely, it is not inconceivable if oil cracks the $150 barrier and beyond.

In related airfare increase news tonight — United Airlines increased airline ticket prices between the U.S and Canada by $86 to $129 roundtrip.

I have updated our 2008 domestic airfare hike timeline as follows:

1. January 3^rd, initiated by United, $10 roundtrip, base airfare hike, successful

2. January 11^th, initiated by United, $30 roundtrip, fuel surcharge hike, unsuccessful

3. January 17^th, initiated by American, $20 roundtrip, fuel surcharge hike, unsuccessful

4. January 24^th, initiated by Continental, $20 roundtrip, fuel surcharge hike, successful

5. February 22^nd, initiated by United, $10 roundtrip, base airfare hike, successful

6. February 28^th, initiated by Delta, $10 roundtrip, base airfare hike, successful

7. March 7^th, initiated by United, $10 roundtrip, fuel surcharge hike, successful

8. March 14^th, initiated by United, $4-$50 roundtrip, base airfare hike, successful

9. March 19^th, initiated by Delta, $10 roundtrip, fuel surcharge hike, unsuccessful

10. March 27^th, initiated by Delta, $10 roundtrip, fuel surcharge hike, unsuccessful

11. April 9^th, initiated by United, $4-$30 roundtrip, base airfare hike, successful

12. April 15^th, initiated by United, $10-$20 roundtrip, fuel surcharge hike, successful

13. April 24^th, initiated by United, $4-$70 roundtrip, base airfare hike, successful

14. April 28^th, initiated by Delta, $10 and $40 roundtrip, fuel surcharge hike, successful

15. May 7^th, initiated by Delta, $20 roundtrip, fuel surcharge hike, pending