Stay home. It's cheaper than gas.

By Jennifer Palmer

Published: August 30, 2008

The cost of getting around has increased, regardless of the method of travel.

Gasoline prices are at an all-time high, up 30-40 percent from last year. That is affecting the bottom line of virtually every method of transportation.

As the price of a barrel of oil increases, so does the cost of vehicle maintenance and oil changes, said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. The oil used to lubricate vehicle engines comes from crude oil, just like gasoline.

"Even the cost of a new car is driven in large part by the cost of oil,” Mai said. This is because so many new vehicle parts are made of plastic, a product made from oil.

Inflation of fuel prices also shows up in the cost of an airline ticket. American Airlines said the fuel cost per roundtrip ticket has increased from $64 to $192 since 2000, but the airline's profit from each roundtrip ticket has gone down during the same time.

"When you talk about impacting the bottom line of an airline — it's fuel,” said Vic Bird, director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. Even Southwest Airlines' tickets have increased by $15 to $30 this year because of fuel prices.

Higher prices may influence some would-be travelers to stay home. If consumers divide their disposable income among the things they need every month, "airline tickets may not be very high on that list,” said Mark Kranenburg, director of airports for Oklahoma City.

So why not take a train?

It's probably the most economical way to travel, but trains still run on diesel. Train travel prices have also been affected by inflation and oil prices. A one-way ticket on the Heartland Flyer, which runs between Oklahoma and Texas, increased this year by $1.

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