Airfare is changing in ways that are not always obvious upfront. Behind the scenes, fuel costs, policy factors, and airline pricing strategies are reshaping what travelers ultimately pay.

Jennifer C Rykaczewski, President and Executive Director of the Affordable Skies Coalition, has been appointed to the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee at the U.S. Department of Transportation, where she will advise on airline passenger protections and pricing transparency.

Flying doesn’t have to break the bank. Even with rising airline costs, a little planning and a few simple tools—like booking early, tracking