A new reality is setting in for travelers worldwide: rising fares and fees, fewer flight options and difficult decisions about whether a trip is worth the cost.

The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices, which have spiked sharply since the war in the Middle East began and fighting near the Strait of Hormuz created a chokepoint for global oil supplies.

“Volatility is the real story here,” said Shye Gilad, a former airline captain who now teaches at Georgetown University’s business school. “Right now, the airlines are trying to make bets on what they think will happen in the future.”

Airlines are responding cautiously, trimming schedules and adjusting prices in ways that experts say will ripple unevenly across the market but ultimately affect nearly every type of traveler.

Budget airlines and the customers who rely on them are likely to feel the pinch first and most acutely, experts say, but even travelers in premium cabins won’t escape the higher prices and less convenient schedules.

Oil prices have swung wildly in recent weeks, briefly topping $119 a barrel at one point, plunging Wednesday below $95 on news of a two-week ceasefire that temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz, and then climbing back toward $100 on Thursday as uncertainty over the fragile deal grew. Iran again closed the key artery for global oil shipments in response to Israeli strikes Wednesday in Lebanon.

“When prices move quickly in both directions, it’s very hard for airlines to make predictions,” Gilad said.

In other words, even when oil prices drop, travelers may not see relief right away.

“At this level of fuel, it’s hard to call anything temporary,” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian told reporters this week after the Atlanta-based carrier raised its checked baggage fees.

Global squeeze, local effects

Bastian said Wednesday as Delta kicked off the earnings season for U.S. airlines that the higher fuel prices are expected to add $2 billion in operating expenses in the second quarter alone. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a recent memo to staff that if fuel prices stay elevated, it could add $11 billion in annual costs.

“For perspective,” Kirby wrote, “in United’s best year ever, we made less than $5B.”

According to the International Air Transport Association, the average global jet fuel price rose to $209 per barrel last week, up from roughly $99 at the end of February when the war started. Travelers from the U.S. to Hong Kong and New Delhi are paying the price.

U.S. carriers are embedding the higher operating costs into ticket prices and add-on fees. Delta, United, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue have all increased checked baggage fees.

Both United and American are also moving beyond add-ons to adjust pricing. United said last week it is bringing the “pay for what you want” approach already standard in economy to its premium cabins, turning perks like advanced seat selection and fully refundable tickets into optional extras.

American announced Thursday that passengers in basic economy will have to pay extra to pick their seat beginning May 18, including elite-tier loyalty members. And later this year, basic economy passengers without elite status or an eligible co-branded credit card will be assigned to boarding Group 7, while those with higher status will still board earlier even when purchasing the lowest fare.

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific recently bumped fuel surcharges by roughly 34% across all routes, while Air India on Monday added up to $280 in fees to some flights. Emirates, Lufthansa and KLM have also adjusted fees or fares to keep pace with the price volatility.

Experts say flexibility and careful planning can help offset these costs. Fare-tracking sites can alert travelers to price changes and help them compare multiple options in one place. Booking early and checking nearby airports can lock in better prices, while refundable tickets make it easier to cancel and rebook if fares drop. Traveling light with just a carry-on can also help avoid the rising bag fees.

Flight cuts to cut costs

For business travelers, the costs are already shaping their decisions. Bill Moorehouse, a solutions director who flies for work every four to six weeks, said the uncertainty may keep him closer to home for now.

“When you have business trips and you have a carefully coordinated schedule, you don’t want unknowns and disruptions. And right now, it just feels like it’s more likely that things could go wrong and throw your trip off course,” the Cupertino, California, resident said.

Richard Groberg, an investment banker from Las Vegas who visits clients around the U.S., said he plans to book as early as possible to lock in the best fares.

“There’s sometimes no substitute for in-person meetings and building relationships,” he said. “As travel becomes more expensive, that becomes a tougher decision to make those investments.”

Even family visits are on his mind. Groberg’s brother hopes he’ll stop in Vermont next time he’s in New York for work, but Groberg admits, “I start thinking maybe I should drive instead because this is getting so expensive.”

Airlines, meanwhile, are also adjusting how much they fly.

BNP Paribas estimates that global schedules for April have been cut roughly 5% compared with earlier plans. Most reductions are in the Middle East, the global investment bank said, though smaller cuts were also emerging in Europe, Asia and North America.

United Airlines is cutting about 5% of its planned flights in the near term, trimming less profitable routes and suspending some international service temporarily rather than “burning cash” on trips that can’t absorb the more expensive fuel costs. The airline’s CEO said the cuts will target redeye flights and routes on historically slower travel days such as Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Delta is scrapping plans to add more flights and seats in June, leaving about 3.5% fewer seats than originally planned.

Travel plans upended

These moves show why major carriers are better positioned to weather the spike in fuel prices than budget carriers, whose “no frills” model leaves them with less flexibility. Bigger airlines can lean on dynamic pricing, sell more seats at higher fares or swap in larger planes on certain routes, letting them cut flights without losing overall capacity.

“Leisure travelers and budget conscious travelers are going to absolutely feel it first because it may make the difference between going and not going,” Gilad said.

It’s already made the difference for Anna Del Vecchio. The 36-year-old Seattle resident has made it an annual springtime tradition to visit family in Philadelphia before flying to Paris to see friends she’s known since she was a teenager.

Her credit card points typically cover the roundtrip flight, but ticket prices now hover around $1,400 — about double what she has paid in past years.

“It wasn’t even scratching the surface for the flight this time,” she said, “so I decided to delay the trip.”

But if airfare tops $1,500, she might not be able to make a journey she hasn’t missed in years.

“It might be the kind of thing where it just ends up being that I have to travel less.”

Workers accessing their private pensions could face bills far steeper than anticipated, as HMRC warns schemes claiming to release funds early or tax-efficiently may leave them liable for 100% of tax due plus interest and penalties

Workers accessing their private pension pots are being warned they could end up facing bills far higher than expected.

In a stark warning, HMRC urged people to “check before you dip” into their savings, alerting them that arrangements promising to increase take-home pay could leave them liable for 100% of the tax due – plus interest and penalties. The crackdown follows growing concerns that contractors and agency workers are being targeted by complex pay structures, often routed through umbrella companies, which can obscure how income is taxed.

Hidden dangers that could cost you thousands

HMRC stated that tax avoidance schemes frequently depend on “artificial transactions that serve no real purpose” beyond reducing tax bills on paper. However, the consequences can prove far more costly, reports the Mirror.

Anyone caught up in such schemes remains legally responsible for paying the full tax owed – meaning they could face:

• 100 percent% of unpaid tax
• Interest charges on top
• Potential financial penalties
• Fees already paid to scheme promoters

Officials warned this creates a double blow, where workers not only lose money to the scheme itself but are then pursued for the entire tax bill.

Simple checks could protect you

HMRC said one of the most telling warning signs is when workers receive more money in their bank account than shown on their payslip – a red flag that tax may not have been properly deducted.

Other warning signs include:

• Payments labelled as loans or capital advances
• Pay structures that appear overly complex or unclear
• Umbrella company arrangements that promise unusually high take-home pay

The tax authority stressed that for legitimate wages, 100 percent of net pay should correspond with what appears on your payslip.

Pension access under examination

The caution is aimed particularly at those accessing private pension savings, where certain schemes purport to release funds ahead of time or in a tax-efficient manner.

HMRC’s stance is clear: if it appears too good to be true, it most likely is — and could result in a significantly larger financial burden further down the road.

Real-life examples highlight the risk

HMRC cited a number of cases in which workers were left out of pocket:

• A nurse spotted untaxed income entering her account and subsequently faced a tax demand
• A single parent was encouraged into a scheme that left her with a substantial unexpected bill
• An IT contractor using an umbrella company ended up unknowingly enrolled in avoidance arrangements

In each case, individuals remained liable for the full amount of tax owed, despite having relied on third-party advice.

HMRC urged anyone who believes they may be caught up in such a scheme to come forward without delay, cautioning that the longer one waits, the greater the financial consequences. It said: “The longer you leave it the bigger the tax bill.”

Support is on hand, including the possibility of staggered payment arrangements for those unable to settle the full sum at once. Workers encouraged to remain alert

With umbrella company arrangements widely used among contractors, HMRC emphasised that having a clear understanding of how you are being paid is essential to avoiding difficulties.

Officials pointed out that suspicious schemes can be reported by anybody — even anonymously — as part of a broader crackdown on those promoting such arrangements. Further details can be found here.

A probe was launched by the Air Accident Investigations Branch after the flight from Venice to Manchester diverted to London Stansted due to fuel leaking from the engine

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A plane destined for Manchester was forced to make an emergency diversion before running out of fuel as gallons leaked from the engine due to a mid-flight malfunction.

The Air Accident Investigations Branch initiated an inquiry into the incident following the Ryanair flight on April 25 last year. The report, released today (April 9), stated that the flight from Venice to Manchester had to be rerouted to London Stansted around 1pm.

This was due to a fuel leak, which also heightened the risk of a fire upon landing the aircraft. Fire crews surrounded the plane on the runway and discovered a leak from the right engine.

The journey had to be abruptly diverted to London amid concerns about fuel leaking from the main tank.

The AAIB investigation found that the pilots aboard the Boeing 737 Max were slow to recognise the potential for a fuel leak, and also increased the likelihood of a fire by using thrust reversers to decelerate the plane during landing and not turning off the right engine.

Investigators concluded that this would have scattered spilt fuel around hot parts of the engine, further increasing the risk of a fire breaking out, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The Ryanair flight was initially delayed by an hour due to a failure in the company’s computer system. The report revealed that it was during this delay that the pilots noticed an imbalance had developed between the main fuel tanks, prompting them to carry out a fuel balancing procedure.

Upon reaching a cruising altitude of 38,000 feet, the commander observed the fuel imbalance reoccurring, continuing to cross-feed fuel into the affected right engine. Approximately 20 minutes later, the pilots noted that the right fuel tank was again low, with an imbalance of around 100kg every 10 minutes – suggesting a fuel leak.

The flight, carrying 191 passengers, was subsequently diverted to Stansted Airport. The report found that the pilots chose not to shut off the affected engine due to favourable weather conditions and the diversion being approximately 20 minutes away.

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The pilots successfully landed the plane without any injuries or damage to the aircraft. The AAIB later discovered in their report that if the emergency procedure had been followed continuously, it would have advised them to shut off the engine to avoid the risk of a fire.

The report stated: “In completing fuel balancing from memory, the pilots did not consider the possibility of a fuel leak, delaying diagnosis of the problem. Once the leak was confirmed, they decided not to fully complete the non-normal checklist, which directed them to shut down the affected engine.

“The subsequent use of thrust reverse on landing increased the potential risk of fire due to disbursement of fuel vapour around hot parts of the engine.”

Ryanair has confirmed that it ‘fully participated’ in the investigation and stated that the report did not suggest any safety recommendations for the airline, according to a statement provided to MyLondon.

The New York City man has been charged after allegedly setting fire to a residential building last month in a fit of rage over losing his job, prosecutors said

A man has been charged after four people – including a three-year-old boy – lost their lives in a house fire last month.

The New York City man has been charged after allegedly setting fire to a residential building last month in a fit of rage over losing his job, prosecutors said.

Residents had jumped from the burning home in Queens, New York City, after the fire took hold on Monday afternoon. Officials said the three-year-old boy was found dead in the property. He and three adults, two of whom are believed to be his parents, also lost their lives.

The choice of building was random, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, who called the deadly fire “one of the greatest crimes that this borough has seen in a very long time.”

Prosecutors said Roman Amatitla, 38, was seen entering and leaving the building multiple times on March 16. After buying a box of matches and stealing a beer from a nearby gas station, he returned to the building, lit a piece of paper on fire and placed it on a pile of garbage in the stairwell — then watched the flames spread while drinking a beer outside, according to the criminal complaint.

His attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

The blaze killed Sihan Yang, who was 3, 49-year-old Chengri Cui, 61-year-old Shin Chie and a fourth occupant, 64-year-old Hong Zhao, died after leaping from a window to escape the flames.

Four others were treated for injuries, some severe, after jumping from the building. Two firefighters were hurt after a staircase collapsed.

Amatitla, also a Queens resident, later told investigators that he knew the building was occupied and that people would be harmed, but said he needed to “get out his rage” after being fired from his job, according to the criminal complaint. He said the job was unrelated to the building or anyone who lived there, the complaint said.

Amatitla was charged with eight counts of murder in the second degree, arson and other charges. He faces 25 years to life if convicted.

Paris also reflected on 16-year-old daughter Venezuela getting engaged, and said: “There’s a part of me that is a little bit sad that it’s all happened so soon, because I still feel like I’m so young, and I feel like my kids… imagine my brain, they’re all babies and they’re all at home.

I’m A Celebrity… South Africa viewers saw tensions rise as the two camps finally joined together.

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Tensions were at an all-time high during the latest episode of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa.

On Thursday night (April 9), ITV fans saw the two camps finally reunite as Gemma Collins, Adam Thomas, Seann Walsh, Beverley Callard left Savannah Scrub.

However, as they were joined with the other celebrities, Sinitta wasted no time in letting her feelings known to Gemma.

She said: “What happened with Chicago? You were supposed to follow me as Mama Morton in Chicago, it was announced and everything.”

Gemma explained that she had a ‘terrible’ injury, telling Sinitta is was something to do with the insurance. However, Sinitta confessed that when it was announced Gemma was joining the cast, they thought it was a joke.

Unimpressed, Gemma added: “Not a joke, Sinitta, I auditioned for it and got it fair and square. Did all the training and everything. Had the voice coach.”

Sinitta continued: “I’m sorry, but I’m going to admit it, that when I heard, I thought it was a joke announcement, I was like, ‘Yeah right’.

Clearly unimpressed, Gemma asked why she thought that it wouldn’t be real, as Sinitta highlighted her fall while presenting at an awards show, stating she felt more like a comedian.

Meanwhile, some of the other campmates watched on awkwardly as Scarlett Moffatt hid in her hammock, mouthing to Seann Walsh, ‘What is happening?’

Comparing her to Zsa Zsa Gabor, Sinitta added: “Very camp, very glamorous. But I thought you were that girl. Like, you don’t really do anything, you make a great entrance, and you make everybody laugh. But, I didn’t know you could actually sing, dance and all of that, and all that jazz.”

Biting back, Gemma said: “I don’t think you’d get casted as Mama Morton in Chicago if you didn’t pass the audition.”

In the Bush Telegraph, Gemma explained she was taken aback by Sinitta’s comments, stating she’s not a joke.

It wasn’t long before people watching took to X to share their thoughts on what happened, with many unimpressed by Sinitta’s comments.

One person said: “How rude of sinitta!” Another commented: “Sinitta to go as well.”

Someone else wrote: “Get Sinitta and David Haye OUT.” While one viewer added: “I think Sinitta feels a bit threatened by the possibility of loss of screen time since Gemma Collins joined main camp.”

Another fan commented: “Sinitta thinking she better than Gemma.” While someone else wrote: “Sinitta calling the GC a joke?? Like really??”

I’m A Celebrity…South Africa airs weekdays at 9pm on ITV, ITVX, STV and STV Player.

Katie and Harrison faced budget tensions during the second leg of BBC’s Race Across the World

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A contestant from Race Across the World made an unusual travel request during the most recent instalment of the BBC programme, which follows five adventurous duos undertaking the expedition of their lives.

Close friends Jo and Kush, brother and sister Katie and Harrison, father-daughter pairing Molly and Andrew, cousins Puja and Roshni, and in-laws Mark and Margo have commenced their journey covering more than 12,000km throughout Europe and Asia – the planet’s most expansive continental landmass.

The path winds through eight distinct nations: Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia – each presenting its own dialect, traditions and weather patterns. In what represents the most challenging race yet, environmental conditions range from 30-degree Mediterranean warmth to subarctic temperatures plummeting to –20°C. And participants must accomplish this feat on a budget of under £26 per individual per day.

Following the conclusion of the opening leg, Katie and Harrison secured first position with an impressive 20-hour advantage. The remaining teams found themselves closely grouped, separated by just 25 minutes.

The most recent episode witnessed the teams departing the peaceful surroundings of Kefalonia, racing across Greece to arrive at one of Europe’s largest and most dynamic cities, Istanbul, where two continents converge, reports the Mirror.

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The teams had the option to navigate through Greece’s mountainous interior, catching sight of countryside living. Alternatively, they could journey via the historic capital Athens, before depending on expensive ferries to traverse the Aegean Sea from island to island.

As always, finances were stretched thin, with a single missed connection potentially spelling catastrophe. Without mobile phones at their disposal, the teams had to depend on their resourcefulness to reach the conclusion of the second leg.

After missing the final bus of the day to the mainland, frontrunners Katie and Harrison soon found themselves facing financial difficulties. “Just kicked in the nuts by Greece already. Pretty helpless at the moment,” said Harrison.

Katie subsequently encouraged her brother to attempt to savour the journey after he kept worrying about their diminishing budget.

“It’s impossible to get around here without spending a load of money. So, [I’ve] got a place to bring my notebook down to and crunch some numbers,” an exasperated Harrison explained.

Katie buried her face in her hands before declaring: “Right, okay, I’m going to put in a formal request to finish the race alone… I want you to enjoy it.”

Harrison offered reassurance to his sister, stating: “I am enjoying it. I’m enjoying the experience. I enjoy the planning. I enjoy the budgeting. But I also enjoy being miserable.”

BBC audiences were swift to share their reactions on X (formerly Twitter), with one viewer commenting: “Katie’s getting fed up of Harrison already! He reminds me a bit of Alfie from a few years ago – but he’ll lighten up, like Alfie did. He has to.”

Another viewer chimed in: “Harrison needs to let go a little bit. This is a once in a lifetime experience – embrace every minute of it,” while a third remarked: “Harrison has got his head on, you have to look after the money.”

Harrison gradually began embracing the adventure after the brother and sister pair secured additional funds, with a delighted Katie noting: “Harrison’s really loosened up. He seems a lot happier, a lot lighter. This is movement. This is exciting stuff.”

Race Across the World is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

His mood was understandably in direct contrast to that of McIlroy, who was rightly proud of himself. He began at 10.31am and did not hit a fairway until it was approaching 1pm – missing six in succession. It is not ideal but Augusta can be played that way if you stay aggressive.

He birdied the second, courtesy of a fine pitch to three feet, and the next par five, the eighth, when launching a choked-down three-wood from 269 yards to 25 feet. On the ninth, he took advantage of finally locating the cut stuff, conjuring a wedge to eight feet. He was two under, probably had no right to be, but he appeared unflustered.

From the 13th, he reeled off three birdies. He sliced his drive into the trees on the right, but chopped out and chipped to 14 feet. On this par-five last year, in that excruciating finale, he contrived to lay up and then knock his third into Rae’s Creek.

This was a different pin position and a different day – a Thursday has nothing to a Sunday – but it also felt like a different McIlroy. Stay calm, take the chances when they present themselves. He unleashed a marvellous drive down the 14th and clipped his approach to seven feet.

On the par-five 15th, he was wide again, this time on the left. Twelve months before, he had pulled off one of the great Masters shots when drawing his second around the trees to five feet (remember: he missed the putt). This was no time for heroics and he cosied his ball back onto the fairway and from there played a so-so wedge to the back of the green.

No matter, from 30 feet he rolled it down the slope and clenched his fist when it eventually dropped. He might have picked up another from nine feet on the 17th but it would be churlish to moan.

The William Jameson on Fawcett Street in Sunderland will be taken over by another pub company, after its final day trading as a Spoons on Sunday, April 19.

Despite the closure, there are no job losses expected, as the pub is handed over to its new owners.

A spokesperson for Wetherspoon said: “Wetherspoon does on occasion close some of its pubs and this is the case with The William Jameson.

“The pub has been sold to another pub operator, and there will be no Wetherspoon job redundancies.”

As Sunderland’s first Spoons, the pub was opened in 1997 in part of the former Binns department store.

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The original building was bombed in 1941 and rebuilt, with the store opening in 1962 before closing in 1989.

The William Jameson is among several pubs the company has put up for sale or closed across the UK in recent years.

The Cooper Rose Wetherspoon remains open in Sunderland city centre.

The UK’s sixth-largest supermarket chain said the move is set to create close to 2,000 jobs across the UK.

Lidl said it will host more than 150 property partners and agents later this month to share its future growth plans as it targets new freehold, leasehold or long leasehold properties across Great Britain.

The History of Lidl

The firm has more than 1000 stores across Britain, employing more than 35,000 workers.

Ryan McDonnell, chief executive of Lidl GB, said: “As we grow, we want to positively impact our British communities.

“We’re not just opening doors, we’re unlocking regional growth.

“Our expansion translates directly into high-quality jobs and gives British suppliers the certainty they need to invest in the future.

“Above all, it advances our social purpose of making affordable, healthy food accessible to everyone.”

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Employment minister Kate Dearden said: “This kind of investment is exactly what we want to see from big employers – creating thousands of good jobs that pay fair wages and boost the standard of living in communities across the country.”

It comes after Lidl reported a 10% surge in sales over a “record-breaking” Christmas, which saw nearly 51 million customers shop with the discounter in the festive run-up.