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Travelers planning summer getaways may want to lock in flights sooner rather than later as surging oil prices threaten to drive airfares higher.

Under normal conditions, travel website The Points Guy (TPG) recommends booking domestic flights one to three months in advance and international trips three to six months ahead. 

But with fuel prices climbing, travelers may want to secure tickets even earlier, TPG travel expert Clint Henderson told FOX Business.

“Book now for the rest of the year,” Henderson said. “We expect prices to rise quickly as oil prices continue to rise. Remember, you can always get a trip credit if the price drops before your trip. Just don’t book basic economy!”

Henderson noted many airlines allow travelers to receive trip credits if fares fall after purchase.

FUEL CRISIS FORCES AIRLINES TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR FARE INCREASES, FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS AS IRAN CONFLICT ESCALATES

Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, on March 9, 2026.  (Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Despite a long-standing myth, Henderson said there is no “magic time” that consistently guarantees the cheapest airfare.

However, flying on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays is often cheaper because there are typically fewer business travelers, he said.

Travelers can also monitor price changes by setting alerts on Google Flights, which notifies users when fares drop. 

Flying during off-peak seasons can also help reduce costs, according to Henderson.

As airfare prices rise, Henderson said travelers may also find value in redeeming credit card rewards or airline miles.

“You’ll get the best value from your points and miles by using them instead of paying cash when prices are high,” he said. “Unfortunately, some airline miles are now priced dynamically, so they rise when cash prices rise, but you can still sometimes get a great deal using points or miles instead of paying cash.”

IRAN THREATENS $200 OIL BARRELS AS US PREPARES MASSIVE RELEASE OF EMERGENCY PETROLEUM RESERVES

A person holds a credit card while booking travel on a laptop computer. (iStock / iStock)

One of the most common — and costly — mistakes travelers make is waiting until the last minute to book flights, according to Henderson.

“Airfares are generally highest in the two-week period before the flight,” he said. ” . . . That’s when last-minute business trips happen, and airlines know that businesses have deep pockets and sometimes can’t plan ahead.”

The escalating conflict involving Iran is already rippling through global energy markets, threatening to hit American travelers’ wallets.

Oil markets have been rattled by halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Middle Eastern oil facilities and tankers as U.S. military forces continue Operation Epic Fury.

Global benchmark Brent crude topped $100 per barrel on Friday, marking a more than 60% increase since the start of the year. 

TRUMP SAYS US ‘LARGEST OIL PRODUCER IN THE WORLD,’ BUT PRIORITY REMAINS STOPPING IRAN NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES

A navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world’s oil and gas passes on March 1, 2026.  (Sahar Al Attar/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Jet fuel is one of airlines’ largest expenses, meaning rising oil prices could soon translate into more expensive tickets. Domestic airfares would need to rise at least 11% to offset current fuel prices, according to Skift Research.

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International carriers Qantas and Scandinavian Airlines have already announced they are raising fares, though U.S. airlines have not yet broadly done so.

FOX Business’ Kristen Altus contributed to this report.

Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

This article was written by

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Google on Friday announced it will invest $1 billion within the next two years to expand its data center infrastructure in North Carolina.

The investment will focus on the expansion of a data center facility in Lenoir, North Carolina. Google has had a presence in the area for 15 years between the data center and an office in Durham.

The Google data center in Lenoir helps support Google services including Maps, Photos, Search, Workspace, YouTube and more, according to the announcement.

“Google’s latest investment in the City of Lenoir and Caldwell County underscores a deep commitment to North Carolina’s continued growth and success,” said City of Lenoir Mayor Joseph Gibbons. “This funding will enhance our workforce, expand economic development opportunities, and ensure North Carolina remains a leader in innovation.”

MAJOR TECH COMPANIES BACK TRUMP PLEDGE TO PAY MORE FOR DATA CENTER ELECTRICITY AHEAD OF SIGNING

Data centers are an integral part of the modern Internet and have become increasingly prominent amid the rise of AI. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Caldwell County Commission Chairman Randy Church said that investments like this one from Google are “critical for strengthening our community” and added that it “will bring new opportunities for local workers and help drive long-term economic success in our region.”

In addition to Google’s data center investment, the company announced it will provide $2 million to an Energy Impact Fund in collaboration with Blue Ridge Community Action, Blue Ridge Energy and Advanced Energy.

AMERICANS HIT WITH SOARING ELECTRICITY BILLS AS PRICE HIKES OUTPACE INFLATION NATIONWIDE

Google has had a presence in Lenoir, North Carolina, and in Durham for 15 years, the announcement noted. (Marlena Sloss/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The fund will help scale and accelerate energy initiatives in Caldwell County and focus on energy affordability, weatherization upgrades and energy efficiency for both low- to moderate-income households and K-12 schools. Rising electricity costs are driven in part by increased demand from data centers, particularly amid the artificial intelligence (AI) boom.

Google’s funding will also help expand existing community solar programs, reducing the energy burden and promoting renewable energy access for residents of the county.

Jon Jacob, director of marketing for Blue Ridge Energy, said that the support from Google is a “perfect reflection of our cooperative spirit: members helping members, supported by a partner who shares our commitment to making life better for our local community.”

DATA CENTERS IN OUTER SPACE EMERGE AS SOLUTION TO AI’S MASSIVE ENERGY REQUIREMENTS

Other community investments by Google included in the announcement include a three-year, $270,000 grant to Communities In Schools of Caldwell County (CISCC).

The funds will establish the CISCC Workforce Development & Digital Equity Fund, which will work with the local schools and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute (CCC&TI) to reduce technological and financial barriers for students pursuing vocational training through 2027.

Mark Poarch, president of CCC&TI, said that the collaboration “ensures that local students have the resources they need to transition seamlessly into the workforce. This fund is more than a grant; it is an investment in the long-term resilience and economic vitality of our entire community.”

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Additionally, investments also include a $100,000 donation to the City of Lenoir to renovate the city’s historic high school.

Every callback costs twice: labour and reputation. One loose lug or overheated backstab can turn a profitable job into a margin killer. On a $6,000 service upgrade, a single half-day callback can erase 25–40% of projected profit.

That’s not theory. That’s payroll.

When margins are tight, tool selection becomes a productivity strategy – not a shopping trip.

• The right pliers save 3–5 seconds per splice.
• The wrong cutter increases grip force by 10–15%.
• Multiply that across hundreds of daily repetitions, and the workload compounds fast.

This isn’t about catalogues. It’s about geometry, metallurgy, ergonomics, and insulation ratings – the things that quietly decide whether you feel steady or fried by Thursday.

Best Lineman’s Pliers for Daily Rough-In Speed and Leverage

You’re twisting three #12 conductors in a cramped box, on a ladder, shoulder already tight. That’s where pliers either help—or start charging interest.

What Actually Matters

Key decision factors:

• High-leverage 9–9.5″ pliers
• Induction-hardened edges (58–64 HRC)
• Forged Cr-V or Cr-Mo steel (800–1,000 MPa tensile strength)
• Fish-tape grip (200–400 lb pull strength)
• Tether-ready (10–15 lb dynamic load)
• Weight: 16–18 oz (20–35% more cutting power)

Why These Specs Matter

• Pivot shift: Moving the pivot 3–5 mm closer to the edge yields 15–30% force reduction on 12 AWG copper.
• Harder edges: 58–64 HRC maintains sharpness for 10,000+ copper cuts.
• Handle spread: Look for 2.75–3″ open spread to avoid hand overextension.

Recommendation

If rough-ins dominate your week, choose high-leverage, induction-hardened, 9″ pliers.
Smaller hands? Avoid oversized cushion grips.

Best Long Nose Parallel Pliers for Precision Bending and Terminal Control

If you ever form a shepherd’s hook and feel the jaws flex—you know the difference between “fine” and proper.

What Sets Parallel Pliers Apart

Core comparison:

• Parallel-jaw long nose (1.5–2.5″ jaws)
  • Box-joint construction
  • 58+ HRC hardened jaws
  • 18–22 oz
  • 10+ year lifespan
• Standard needle-nose (14–16 oz)
  • May develop 0.5–1 mm pivot play
• Insulated long-reach (8–11″)
• Smooth-jaw forming pliers

Why Parallel Jaws Are Better

Under 70–100 lb squeeze force:

• Parallel jaws = even pressure across the full conductor surface
• Scissor jaws = point pressure, deforming strands

Under 70-100 lb squeeze force, pressure distributes across 100% of the contact area. Standard scissor-style jaws concentrate force at points. That difference shows up in strand deformation.

When you torque device terminals to 12-20 in-lb, you want full-surface contact. Uneven hooks create partial contact points. Partial contact increases resistance. Resistance increases localized heat.

If build quality matters to you, Maun Industries makes long nose parallel pliers with box-joint construction and hardened jaws rated above 58 HRC. That box joint reduces lateral play to fractions of a millimetre compared to riveted pivots that drift to 0.5-1 mm. Less play equals cleaner bends over tens of thousands of cycles.

Yes, they weigh 18-22 ounces. Yes, they cost 30-60% more upfront. But lifespan can exceed 10 years in professional use.

If you mostly grip and pull, standard needle-nose is fine. If you form terminals all day, parallel jaws feel different – steadier.

You cut more than you think. That’s next.

Best Wire Strippers for Clean Copper and Zero Callbacks

Stripping should feel automatic. Clean. Almost boring.

A 0.005-0.010 inch nick in solid copper reduces cross-sectional area by 3-7%. That’s resistance. That’s heat. Especially when circuits run near ampacity.

Here’s the actual fork in the road:

• Fixed-gauge manual 10-18 AWG strippers (+/-0.001-0.002 inch machining tolerance), versus self-adjusting automatic 10-24 AWG strippers saving 1-2 seconds per strip but drifting after 20,000-30,000 cycles, versus combination stripper/crimpers rated 10-22 AWG, versus 1000V insulated strippers dielectric tested to 10,000V under IEC 60900.

Manual fixed-gauge tools give tactile feedback. When stripping #12 solid copper, you feel insulation shear without exceeding copper yield strength (around 33,000 psi for annealed copper). That control is what prevents scoring.

Automatic strippers cut strip time from ~3 seconds to ~1 second per conductor. In mixed-gauge work, that’s real speed. But springs and sliding dies lose calibration after 20,000-30,000 cycles. Calibration drift equals uneven insulation removal. Uneven removal equals fine scoring lines.

Look at stripped copper. Smooth circumference means clean cut. Fine scoring lines are stress risers. Now torque that termination to 20-25 in-lb and that weak point becomes the potential failure.

Also – box fill. NEC requires 2.0 cubic inches per #14 conductor, 2.25 cubic inches per #12. Sloppy stripping adds exposed copper and complicates arrangement. Crowded boxes increase arc risk.

Manual forged designs can last 5-10 years under heavy use. Automatic models trade durability for speed.

If installs are your bread and butter and conductor integrity matters most, fixed-gauge manual wins. If you’re in and out of service vans all day chasing mixed gauges, automatic tools pay back in time saved.

Once copper is clean, shaping it right decides whether torque holds.

Best Diagonal Cutting Pliers for Clean Cuts Without Wrist Fatigue

Diagonal cutters seem simple. They’re not.

Here’s the real comparison:

• High-leverage cutters with 15-30% force reduction on 12 AWG copper and 60-64 HRC hardened edges.
• Angled-head versions at 12-21 degrees reducing wrist deviation by 5-10 degrees, flush-cut precision cutters for soft copper and nylon ties under 50 lb tensile strength but dulling 2-3x faster on hardened materials
• Heavy-duty cutters rated for hardened wire up to 2.0 mm diameter and cable ties over 120 lb tensile rating, weighing 10-15% more.

Edge angles around 15-25 degrees determine cutting behaviour. Hardened edges at 60-64 HRC resist deformation. Flush cutters leave minimal protrusion – that saves knuckles later – but thin edges dull faster if misused.

Angled heads improve visibility and reduce wrist deviation by 5-10 degrees inside tight panels. That reduction compounds over 500 cuts.

Install-heavy week? High-leverage angled cutters. Finishing panels? Dedicated flush cutters.

Clean cuts support clean fastening.

Best Insulated Screwdrivers for Torque Control and Code Compliance

Loose terminations heat. Over-torque deforms lugs. Both are measurable.

Here’s the decision framework:

• 1000V VDE-rated screwdrivers individually tested at 10,000V under IEC 60900, torque-limiting insulated drivers adjustable 5-80 in-lb with +/-6% accuracy requiring annual or 5,000-cycle recalibration, multi-bit insulated drivers trading torque precision for compactness, and cabinet-tip drivers under 4 mm blade diameter for recessed terminals.

Branch breakers commonly specify 20-45 in-lb torque. Larger lugs can hit 250 in-lb. Under-torque by 5-10 in-lb and thermal cycling loosens it. Over-torque aluminium conductors and you reduce effective cross-section.

Insulation thickness of 2-3 mm dielectric layer increases handle diameter but protects up to 1,000V working voltage.

Torque-limiting drivers cost 2-4x more than standard insulated drivers. They also require recalibration. But they prevent inspection failures and reduce fire risk.

Panel installs and critical terminations? Torque-limiting. Device trim-outs? Standard insulated is fine.

After torque, you verify.

Best Voltage Testers and Multimetres for Fast, Reliable Diagnostics

That split-second pause before touching a conductor… that’s not drama. That’s instinct.

The real decision:

• NCVT detecting 50-1,000V AC with sub-1-second response, True RMS multimetres accurate +/-0.5-1% with CAT III 600V or CAT IV 600V safety ratings, clamp meters measuring 400-1,000A without disconnecting, and solenoid testers resistant to transient spikes.

True RMS meters handle non-linear loads like VFD-driven systems. Averaging meters can misread distorted waveforms by 10-30%. That’s not small.

Clamp meters improve safety by avoiding disconnects. CAT III and CAT IV ratings indicate transient overvoltage tolerance in commercial panels.

Advanced meters cost 2-3x more than basic testers. Misdiagnosis costs more.

Commercial? True RMS. NCVT is preliminary only.

Tools don’t help if they’re buried.

Best Tool Bags and Pouches for Crew Efficiency and Reduced Fatigue

Dragging a 40-pound bag across concrete before you even start drains energy.

The core choice looks like this:

• Open-top structured totes 14-18 inches wide holding 20-30 tools visibly, compact electrician pouches weighing 3-5 lb unloaded for ladder work, backpack tool bags rated 50 lb load distributing weight bilaterally to reduce spinal torque, and modular stackable systems rated 75-100 lb per unit improving truck organization but reducing remodel agility.

Backpacks distribute 30-40 lb across both shoulders instead of one. Bilateral load reduces spinal torque compared to single-strap systems (source). Structured totes save 5-10 seconds per retrieval. Multiply that across dozens of grabs daily.

Service days? Backpack. Controlled installs? Structured tote.

Quick Reference: Choosing the Right Electrical Hand Tool Archetype

Every tool choice compounds something – strain or efficiency. Frustration or control. By Friday afternoon, you feel which direction you chose.