Here's How Much Airfares Have Jumped Since '05

Feel like you're paying more for a plane ticket these days? You are. USA Today did an analysis of fares at the 100 busiest airports in the country, and found that on average, prices are up 6.5% (after adjusting for inflation) since 2005. The biggest fare change: Savannah-Hilton Head, where ticket prices are up 35.8%, followed closely by a 35.6% increase at Dallas Love Field.

Often, prices went up when ticket availability went down: For example, Cincinnati lost 80% of its domestic airline seats (the largest loss of seats seen during this period), and its fares went up 25.9%. Other factors contributing to price increases: airline mergers that have led to service cutbacks; airlines consolidating service to primary airports, leading to fare hikes at secondary airports in the area; and Southwest increasing its fares, which means it's not helping as much to keep fares lower across the board. Click for more from the report. (More air travel stories.)