Airline Fares (inspired by "Delta Change of Flights")

[bicker]

The poll doesn't let me put in a complete enough question, so here's the full question:

If airfares increased to a consistent $250-$300 r/t from the East Coast cities to WDW, and $450-$500 r/t from the West Coast cities to WDW, how would that affect your vacation plans?

 

[bavaria]

As I posted elsewhere, I routinely paid that amount to fly 4x/year (granted, it's easier when one is paying for one ticket vs a family ticket cost).

Where I live, the cost of airfare within the country is about 2-3x the legacy carrier cost for a flight of the same distance within the US. Until the low cost carriers burst on the scene in Europe a few years ago, it was a similar situation there. So one became conditioned to the 'real' cost of flying, or took the train or the car.

I realize that we all want to save money, but for me the money saved vs service lost balance starts to tip as soon as services are slashed. I pay more for my Economy Plus seating, frequent flyer miles and bonuses, confirmed preferred seating, etc. I also realize that for others, the cost savings is the primary factor.

It's when people don't realize that they often have to sacrifice quality/service in order to see lower prices that we see complaints. Recent threads here complain about change in schedules (and resulting loss of seat assignments), lack of on board meals, lack of compensation for delays, etc. Most airlines cannot provide those services and still keep prices at the bottom of the scale for long.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm not sure I should answer this question truthfully because I'm afraid that the airlines would be more willing to raise their rates.

But, yes my Disney jones is strong and I would still pay the higher price to visit WDW as often as I do now. We visit at least 4 times a year from MA - it was 5 last year and we've already got 2 booked for 2007, with another in the planning phase.

 

[bicker]

Indeed, many airlines cannot even provide what they're currently providing, long-term, at the current airfares. I'm torn:

On the one hand, I really do feel that if they cannot compete, then just let them fail: Let the owners, directors, managers, employees, communities where they're based, and passengers with lots of frequent flyer miles take the entire burden for the airline's failure -- not the American taxpayer.

On the other hand, just think of all the people who would be harmed -- people who would not be harmed if government reregulated the industry and imposed airfares sufficient to keep all the airlines in business. I cannot help by feel sorry for those who would be harmed, and can therefore see the rationale of those folks who would favor this approach.

 

[ducklite]

I voted for keeping my travel the same. Even though I do'nt fly to WDW, I still fly the same route in the opposite directions (MCO to PHL or ERW) and won't change my travel habits if fares go up $100 or so.

Anne

 

[bavaria]

Indeed, many airlines cannot even provide what they're currently providing, long-term, at the current airfares. I'm torn:

On the one hand, I really do feel that if they cannot compete, then just let them fail: Let the owners, directors, managers, employees, communities where they're based, and passengers with lots of frequent flyer miles take the entire burden for the airline's failure -- not the American taxpayer.

On the other hand, just think of all the people who would be harmed -- people who would not be harmed if government reregulated the industry and imposed airfares sufficient to keep all the airlines in business. I cannot help by feel sorry for those who would be harmed, and can therefore see the rationale of those folks who would favor this approach.

Not to get too far off topic, but I think that United's model was really interesting. They emerged from bankruptcy by focussing on the business traveller, and trying to meet their needs. (often to the dismay of the leisure traveller)

Sure, fares are higher on UA, but it is one of the carriers my company mandates for travel. In return, I get some pretty great preferential treatment (and UA is the only domestic airline to still have greater seat pitch for elite members). There are still pillows and blankets, and decent buy on board options. One can choose to pay to 'upgrade' to E+ seating if one isn't elite. UA has service guarantees for elites - if a 'ps' flight is delayed a certain amount of time, for instance, they automatically offer compensation and a written apology.

As a result, UA now has my loyalty for leisure travel as well.

United has succeeded so far by doing the opposite of most legacy carriers, which try and compete by cutting service. They chose to go with 'increase fares and increase service' rather than 'cut fares and cut service'

 

[BillSears]

I voted for a little bit less. Since I sually am just paying for myself and maybe one other the increase in fare would be equal to about 1 days worth of travel costs. So it's not too bad but it would affect me some.

 

[jjohnson]

Although I can't stand the thought of it, I voted for less or not at all. Our June trip was dependant on the airfare. They had been around $300 for a long time. Luckily, Airtran released my target fare of $79 each way. We have never paid more than that.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

If a certain air carrier (who shall remain nAAmeless) went bankrupt or out of business altogether, not only would I be harmed to a small degree, moreso would DF, who currently captains 757s and has flown loyally and without incident for nearly 16 years.

Personally, I would like to see some standard fares set up based on distance. I don't pretend to be any sort of accountant, but it seems to me that would ensure survivability for most. YMMV.

 

[GEM]

That's pretty much in line with what we pay anyway, flying out of Oklahoma or Arkansas.

 

[shafke]

I voted for just as often. Right now $250 is my limit on what I am willing to pay for a round trip flight. However... if it was more than that we would drive and not fly. This would have an affect of us spending less days at Disney but not affect how often we go. Luckily for out next trip we can be flexible about the traveling days and do not have to fly on a weekend when the airfares can be double what they are on weekdays.

 

[bicker]

That's pretty much in line with what we pay anyway, flying out of Oklahoma or Arkansas.

That's why I mentioned East Coast cities and West Coast cities -- of course, from more expensive cities, the airfares would be even higher than what I mentioned.

 

[AllyBri]

I voted for just as often.
We have a home and need to be there
So we fly down, once or twice a month.
The air fares, so far are great, the car rentals are another story.
If air goes up, not much we can do about it.

 

[TDC Nala]

I visit a lot but that is only because I can get $49-$59 one way flights on Southwest on a regular basis. For that kind of price (over $200), I would not do weekend visits anymore.

 

[pooksma]

Either way, its stilll cheaper than flying from my home. Current airfares are around 600pp.

 

[DVC Grammy]

I checked off that we'd visit WDW just as often. BUT.......we'd DRIVE !
(With the SWA Dings and DME, it's cheaper to fly. )

 

[UrsulasShadow]

That's the range I usually end up paying now. Sometimes a little less. If it's something I could budget on, and consistent one airline to the next, I think it's a fair price. I just hate the game of searching and waiting for the lowest airfare, and getting credits when prices drop, and getting bumped from flights. I don't know how Jetblue does it, really...I didn't get switched around on their flights at all, and the price seemed to stay fairly consistent (with one significant drop, which I got credited with a service charge).

 

[CarolA]

I would probably cut out the last minute trips based on things like Dings, but my major trips would still be a go. I think that the current situation has to change. There is no economic model where it makes sense to provide service for LESS then cost over the long term.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

At $450-$500 pp from LAX, that would double what we currently pay if we change planes in MIA or go nonstop on DL or UA and it would be about equal to a nonstop flight on AA. On our April trip, we chose to change planes to save money, but I am sure we would still find a way to visit once a year even at the higher price. Heck, we go to Maui once a year and often pay way more than that! -- Suzanne

 

[Alexander]

Well, since we already pay on average $250/flight to Orlando from Syracuse or Rochester, I voted that I would continue to visit the same.

As I posted on the other thread, cheaper flights are available at times, but they are times we cannot travel. We have to travel during the school breaks which are peak travel times.