Major airlines matched "unusual systemwide airfare hike activity initiated by United Airlines," according to FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney.

Seaney on his Web site wrote that the United fare increase--which covered most of the carrier's domestic network, ranged from "$6 and $10 roundtrip" and last week drew competitive matches from Alaska, American, Continental, Delta/Northwest and US Airways--represented the "fourth successful hike of 2009 compared to 15 in 2008 and 17 in 2007."