Airlines' new normal: Higher fares, fewer flights

That wince you just made while researching travel options? Get used to it.Why it matters: Soaring jet fuel prices are accelerating changes across the airline industry, seen in higher fares, premium-heavy cabins and fewer flight options for travelers. Airfares rose 22% year over year in September, marking a 10th straight monthly increase in the government's airfare price index, which hit an all-time high.State of play: All the major airlines are feeling the pain:American Airlines reported today that its fuel bill jumped nearly 70% in the third quarter from a year ago, adding $1.9 billion in costs and taking significant steam out of its strong revenue growth.Southwest and United Airlines both slashed their profit forecasts this week on higher fuel costs.And Delta Air Lines expects its fuel bill this year to come in $6 billion above last year's.The impact: To protect their bottom lines, airlines are raising fares and turning to more premium seats to squeeze more revenue out of their flights.At Southwest, the average passenger fare rose 26.9% to $231.69 in the third quarter, compared with a year earlier — and that doesn't include fees.Delta's premium seating revenue jumped 18% in the …

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