Airlines Accused of Jacking Up Prices for Irma Evacuees

As Florida residents seek escape from Category 5 Hurricane Irma, prices on some airlines have skyrocketed, Mediaite reported.

Fox News Channel reporter John Roberts tweeted a screenshot showing a one-way flight from Miami to Atlanta at $6,300.

Roberts noted, however, an economy seat on American was a bit cheaper at $1,800.

American replied it is not unusual for the last seats on a flight to cost more, and added it is increasing the number of flights for those trying to get out of the way of the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic.

Budget carrier JetBlue, on the other hand, capped its prices at $99. And American soon followed suit.

But prices on flights to Miami were much cheaper, though it's mostly journalists at the moment who want to fly into the path of Irma.

Price gouging during times of disaster is illegal in Florida, Mediaite noted, but airlines have a loophole: They are overseen by the federal government, not individual states.

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