Southwest leads pack in air fare spike

Southwest Airlines has led another air fare spike.

The airline has increased fares by $5 each way on (which would be $10 round trip) on close to 400 flights.

Follwing suite, as they did earlier this summer in a simliar fare hike, were United (except for Hawaiian routes), American, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, US Airways and Virgin America in selected routes.

Airfares look to be on the rise again, with Southwest Airlines initiating a $5 each way hike on about 400 routes.

That represents about 10% of Southwest’s routes. United Airlines quickly followed suit but expanded it to all domestic routes except for Hawaii.

American, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Virgin America and US Airways also raised fares in select markets.

This is the industry’s 13^th attempt this year to raise fares. If successful, it would be the sixth airfare increase.

Typically when Southwest raises fares, others follow and the increase lasts.

"I have never seen a hike with Southwest participating that didn’t stick," says RickSeaney, founder of FareCompare.com, which tracks fare increases.