The major airlines have raised airfares for the 7th time this year, so for those who keep asking whether they should wait to buy a ticket to Hawaii, the answer would seem to be a resounding no.  However, it is important to remember what is primarily responsible for this latest round of price increases…the higher cost of oil.

The price of oil has surged ever higher over the last 6-8 weeks, as things became unsettled in north Africa.  The question that must be asked is, will things settle down there once the fate of Moammar Gadhafi becomes clearer.  The leadership of Egypt succumbed to the public outcries for a change as the call for more political reform becomes more wide spread throughout the oil producing region.

Should things settle down and the climate become more stable, it is possible that oil prices will also settle down and hopefully, fall back some.  Of course, that is also dependent upon who actually comes into power and what their political and religious outlook is.  We can only hope that whomever ascends to fill the vacuum, they will bring stability and reason with them.

In the meantime, we can look forward to more price increases and probably more or higher fees, such as USAirways recent increase in their excess and overweight baggage fees.  In the short term, if your travel plans fall within the next 30-60 days, it might be a good idea not to wait for the next round of price increases to be announced.