United, American hike round-trip fares $10, analyst says

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines raised fares on round-trip flights by $10 and was followed by UAL Corp.'s United Airlines and US Airways Group Inc., according to FareCompare.com.

The boost is the fifth this year and the second in two weeks, Rick Seaney, chief executive officer of the Dallas-based provider of ticket-price information, said in a report. There were 15 fare increases in 2008, he said.

"Airfare hikes that are matched this quickly by all network airlines rarely fail," Seaney said in the report. He said he'll be watching to see whether discounters such as Southwest Airlines Co. and AirTran Holdings Inc. go along with the higher fares.

American yesterday matched the increase of $5 one way and $10 round trip, which was started by Delta Air Lines Inc. on Oct. 21 and applies to most U.S. flights, said Steve Schlachter, a spokesman for Fort Worth, Texas-based American.