Would help if you'd give us a little idea of what the "jumped way up" fare was, as a comparison. Also, assume you will fly on any airline, and on any cheap itinerary, as the one below is a little punishing.

Orbitz.com shows a $207 one way fare on US Air from RSW-COS on 7 April. Unfortunately, you'd have to fly RSW-CLT-PHX-COS, as follows:

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Select $176 + $31 taxes & fees = $207 per person Price Assurance

Leave
Tue, Apr 7 US Airways 1507
Depart: 6:35am Fort Meyers, FL (RSW)
Arrive: 8:24am Charlotte, NC (CLT)

2 stops Economy 1hr 49min Airbus A321

No plane change. Time between flights: 1hr 6min

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US Airways 1507
Depart: 9:30am Charlotte, NC (CLT)
Arrive: 11:03am Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
Economy 4hr 33min Airbus A321

Change planes. Time between flights: 0hr 56min

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US Airways 2922
operated by US Airways Express - Mesa Airlines
Depart: 11:59am Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
Arrive: 2:39pm Colorado Springs, CO (COS)

Economy 1hr 40min Canadair
Total duration: 10hr 4min

But you'll need to hurry to book this, as seats are very limited.