Anabelle Colaco
25 May 2026

NEW YORK CITY, New York: Airline passengers hoping to use frequent flyer miles and travel rewards this summer may find their points no longer stretch as far, as rising fuel prices linked to the Iran war push up airfares and travel costs.

Jet fuel prices have surged amid disruptions to global oil supplies, driving airlines to raise ticket prices and fees. According to the U.S. Labor Department, airfares in April were 21% higher than a year earlier, while summer demand has added further pressure on prices.

Travel experts say customers using airline-branded credit cards or bank rewards programs may now need more points for flights, pay additional cash, or adjust their travel plans to get the best value.

Most airlines have shifted from fixed reward charts to "dynamic pricing," where ticket prices in points rise and fall based on demand, much like cash fares.

"There's no question that dynamic award pricing, higher redemption rates on some domestic routes, and added fees have made it harder to find the outsized deals that travelers enjoyed a decade ago," said Brian Kelly, founder of travel rewards platform The Points Guy.

"But that doesn't necessarily mean points have lost value. It just means consumers need to be more strategic about how they redeem them," Kelly added.

Frequent flyer programs remain one of the easiest ways for travelers to collect miles, often at no cost. Airlines allow customers to earn points through flights and partner purchases and redeem them for perks such as discounted tickets, upgrades and free checked baggage.

Major carriers also partner with banks on co-branded credit cards that award miles on everyday spending.

"When you're going to spend money anyway, you might as well get something back for it," said Adam Morvitz, chief executive officer of travel loyalty platform point.me.

"If you're already buying groceries, paying for gas or booking a hotel, a travel rewards card turns that everyday spending into points that can fund your next trip," Morvitz said.

The benefits may be especially useful now that airlines are raising baggage fees to offset higher fuel costs. United Airlines increased the fee for a first checked bag from $40 to $50, while Delta Air Lines raised its fee from $35 to $45. However, customers with elite loyalty status or airline-linked credit cards can often still check bags for free.

Banks including American Express, Chase and Citi also offer flexible travel rewards cards that allow points transfers across multiple airline programs. Perks can include airport lounge access, travel insurance and TSA PreCheck credits.

Morvitz said flexible rewards cards are often better for beginners because they offer more redemption choices if airlines change pricing structures. He also urged consumers to choose cards that match their spending habits and to carefully track spending requirements tied to sign-up bonuses.

Many banks are currently offering sign-up promotions of 100,000 to 150,000 points for new customers who meet spending thresholds during the first few months.

Still, experts warn that rewards lose value quickly if cardholders carry balances. Credit card interest rates averaging above 20% can erase any savings from travel perks.

"Travel rewards cards are one of the best financial tools available to responsible cardholders, but they're designed for people who treat them like a debit card," Morvitz said.

Hotels are also making reward stays more expensive. Hyatt recently expanded its loyalty system from three pricing tiers to five, meaning some upscale properties could require significantly more points.

Travel website One Mile at a Time estimated that certain Hyatt luxury stays could cost up to 67% more points under the revised system.

"If you're sitting on hotel points, don't sit and hoard them. ... They quickly seem to be getting less valuable," said Sally French, who covers loyalty programs for NerdWallet.