Anyone else having airline ticket heartburn??

[Gracie09]

The increases seems to be caused by a few things. One all the mergers means less seats available. Also people are starting to travel again after not travelling for a few years. I think the news this morning said aaa says this weekend is the busiest Memorial Day for travel in years. So supply and demand = increased prices. Also the cost for the airlines in fuel, overhead, gate fees etc goes up. So fares go up. Does it suck, sure it does. If you can be flexible with dates it does help. We are traveling Thursday to Thursday this year instead of our usual Friday or Saturday. It really brought the cost down for airfare.

 

[keri125]

I thought it was just me. I just recently started booking my own airfare for myself and my son. Was shocked at the prices and I thought I had a good handle on the estimates for airline fare. The prices all of you are saying you are used to paying is about what I was expecting. Glad to see I wasn't just horribly naive when it comes to airline prices. We are flying to Orlando from Spokane in November on SW (using points) and while I would like to wait to see if prices go down, I went ahead and booked our flights because on the day we need to fly out there were only two available flights. I was too nervous to risk it losing out on getting seats for us both.

And I wish my salary would increase at the rate the airline ticket prices increased this past year!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We bought our August airfare back in November, about 2 weeks after the Jetblue schedule opened up. We paid $400 pp for our non-stop return flights....and thought that was horrible (same time period in 2012 was $863 for 4 of us, and last year's August flights were $1000 for 3).

Same tickets now? $858 per person .

The strange thing is, both planes are less than half full. I can't understand, with our travel dates being less than 100 days away, while the prices aren't going down to something at least halfway reasonable so they can fill the empty seats.

How do you know they are less then half full?

Let me guess, seat maps. One of the world's most unreliable indicators. I have been on full planes where the seat map indicated the thing was empty and empty flights with every seat blocked.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I haven't had a raise in years. Honestly I don't know anyone in my area that has had a raise in years. I expect things to go up in price, but airline prices have tripled what I paid for flights for our trip last October. I blame that on the southwest AirTran take over, which happened here last November. With AT, there were usually 7-10 flights per day from my city to Orlando. With southwest there is 1, and the airport here is a large international airport. I am hoping eventually southwest will add flights, and maybe that will help.

No, but you were not giving your services away either.


The sad truth is airlines were selling seats for under what it costs to fly for years and were loosing money. That model had to change.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Just keep looking! The prices really do bounce around!!! We're going in August too, flying out of Providence on Southwest. Once dates opened, I started stalking the prices. They were bouncing all over the place, but seemed to be averaging $150 each way. For the four of us, that's a lot more than we've paid in the past.

But then in March, on a Sunday morning of all things, I clicked on the site and the exact flights we wanted were $109 each way. I grabbed them immediately! Now those flights are $127, but other times on the same days are still at $109.

You just never know when prices are going to go up or down. It's kind of like playing a game of roulette!

But in the end, we ended up paying $872 for four of us; last year the same flights were $970-something. So we're actually ahead of the game this year!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I feel like we're living in some sort of bizarro world here. We are paying the least we've ever paid to fly to Disney during our next trip in December...I picked up tickets for $230/pp several weeks ago. I just checked, and the same flights are now $262, so still not bad (we've always paid over $300/pp in the past). Nonstop flights on Delta. Maybe it's because it's for the week before Christmas?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

How do you know they are less then half full?

Let me guess, seat maps. One of the world's most unreliable indicators. I have been on full planes where the seat map indicated the thing was empty and empty flights with every seat blocked.

We are flying Jetblue. Advance seat selection is included in your fare. I am going to assume you are not familiar with their website.

You can view available seats when checking fares online. Or, I can log in to our Jetblue account and select or change my seat from my currently selecte seat to another which is available. Both methods are showing more than half the plane as empty.

I suppose it is possible that a large portion of the 57 seats showing as available (on a plane that only seats 100) have been spoken for but no one has bothered to select them during the purchase of their tickets. Possible but likely? I would assume most folks would pick their seat, when its no additional cost, at the time their tickets are purchased as there is no benefit to waiting. In fact, its a detriment....less options from which to select.

 

[kbwright]

I booked our R/T PVD-> MCO at 6:05 am when the SW flights came out on 5/19 for $236 both nonstop. Within the hour the same flights were over $350 rt and have reached as much as $500 r/t pp since then. So far it was worth getting up an hour earlier. I budgeted $275 each based on past years costs. Now it is like a game to check SW and see how they change! Blows my mind!!!

 

[andieb0602]

I blame that on the southwest AirTran take over, which happened here last November. With AT, there were usually 7-10 flights per day from my city to Orlando. With southwest there is 1, and the airport here is a large international airport. I am hoping eventually southwest will add flights, and maybe that will help.

Agreed. I'm also near a major international airport and SW has reduced from 10 or so flights to 4, none of which are nonstop. If we wind up flying we'll have to take US Air because they're the only one that has nonstop route but it will only be if DH gets an extra nice bonus in July.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We are flying Jetblue. Advance seat selection is included in your fare. I am going to assume you are not familiar with their website.

You can view available seats when checking fares online. Or, I can log in to our Jetblue account and select or change my seat from my currently selecte seat to another which is available. Both methods are showing more than half the plane as empty.

I suppose it is possible that a large portion of the 57 seats showing as available (on a plane that only seats 100) have been spoken for but no one has bothered to select them during the purchase of their tickets. Possible but likely? I would assume most folks would pick their seat, when its no additional cost, at the time their tickets are purchased as there is no benefit to waiting. In fact, its a detriment....less options from which to select.

your assumption is wrong. I know how JetBlue works

Seat maps are NOT reliable indicators on ANY airline for large number of reasons.

Just because people CAN book seats on booking doesn't mean they did for starters. And amazingly lot of travelers's don't. In addition, if there are any "seats" sold via travel packages etc.. those aren't booked generally far in advance but are just "holding"



Seat maps don't show you anything about "sales" just seats selected. And they are not always related even on JetBlue.

 

[disneyag]

Originally Posted by Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina View Post
We are flying Jetblue. Advance seat selection is included in your fare. I am going to assume you are not familiar with their website.

You can view available seats when checking fares online. Or, I can log in to our Jetblue account and select or change my seat from my currently selecte seat to another which is available. Both methods are showing more than half the plane as empty.

I suppose it is possible that a large portion of the 57 seats showing as available (on a plane that only seats 100) have been spoken for but no one has bothered to select them during the purchase of their tickets. Possible but likely? I would assume most folks would pick their seat, when its no additional cost, at the time their tickets are purchased as there is no benefit to waiting. In fact, its a detriment....less options from which to select.

Actually, seat maps are not at all reliable as indicators of whether your flight is full or not. Jet Blue, United, American, British Airways, etc, etc, etc all work similarly---the customer can't see how many seats have been sold. Check out Flyertalk if you are unsure about this.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

In addition, if there are any "seats" sold via travel packages etc.. those aren't booked generally far in advance but are just "holding"

We booked a vacation package for our August 2013 trip the January prior. Our flights were with Jetblue both directions. We were definitely able to book our seats at the time of purchase (had our choice of all available seats), and were not put in "holding".

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Actually, seat maps are not at all reliable as indicators of whether your flight is full or not. Jet Blue, United, American, British Airways, etc, etc, etc all work similarly---the customer can't see how many seats have been sold. Check out Flyertalk if you are unsure about this.

I know you can't see how many have been sold. But Jetblue differs from many of the others by having no additional fee to select your seat....its included in your base fare. There is no advantage to waiting to book your seat until later. I am sure "some" people don't select their seat when their tickets are purchased, but when its no additional cost, it would be logical that most do.

Maybe the flight *is* darn near sold out. Maybe 50 of the 57 remaining seats (on a small plane that only holds 100) are actually sold but people are waiting to select their seats at check in.

 

[WendyWuWu]

I'm in agreement with the OP. When SW fares came out Monday for Nov/Dec when we're headed to WDW, the return fare from MCO was comparable to what we usually pay, however, the fare down out of Nashville was much higher than we usually pay. In spite of there only being 2 nonstop flights on the day we're flying down, I made the mistake of waiting to see if the fares went down. Today, I looked a SW's website, and the first (and least expensive) of the 2 nonstop had already sold out! So I caved and booked us on the 2pm flight for $177 each. I figure if the fare goes down, at least I can get credit.

 

[Redarrow5150]

By eliminating competition. Part of the airlines problems were in the inefficient routes and fuel costs which they've managed much better. The real cost savings has been mergers and elimination of competition.

No, but you were not giving your services away either.


The sad truth is airlines were selling seats for under what it costs to fly for years and were loosing money. That model had to change.

 

[Dawson's Mom]

We usually fly out of Detroit,Mi on Delta just about the only non stop flight for around 250-300rt.p.p. for February. This year we decided to go for christmas and are looking at about 400-1,000rt p.p. I cannot believe that we made the decision to plan on driving down this time! Have not driven to WDW since I was like 10, so I'm not so sure how I'll do not being there in 2 1/2 hrs! The prices out of Detroit just keep going up for us, atleast at the times we want to fly.

 

[shoppie]

I just booked one way tickets to Orlando last night. I checked today, the price went up $50 a seat!!! I am glad I booked!

Now waiting for my return flight to come down...

 

[pbruce706]

We bought our August airfare back in November, about 2 weeks after the Jetblue schedule opened up. We paid $400 pp for our non-stop return flights....and thought that was horrible (same time period in 2012 was $863 for 4 of us, and last year's August flights were $1000 for 3).

Same tickets now? $858 per person .

The strange thing is, both planes are less than half full. I can't understand, with our travel dates being less than 100 days away, while the prices aren't going down to something at least halfway reasonable so they can fill the empty seats.

I'm in the same situation, I booked back in November for our August trip on JetBlue (Buffalo). I thought the $400 PP was high, but it was the time and non-stop flight we wanted so I thought I'd grab it and if it went to half price at least I didn't have to worry.

Now it's over double, I don't often get lucky like that.

ETA: Factor in the drop of the CDN$ compared to November and it's even more savings.

 

[shannonstar]

I am trying to justify flying, but the prices are horrible! Southwest isn't bad from Houston to Orlando on the 21st of November, but the return is almost 400/person. I am considering renting a car and driving to Jacksonville to save $198/person on the 29th.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I know you can't see how many have been sold. But Jetblue differs from many of the others by having no additional fee to select your seat....its included in your base fare.....

This isn't quite true. Most US airlines allow you to book seats in advance at no cost. It's only when you want to chose premium seats (such as economy plus seats in United when you aren't an elite FF program member) that you have to pay for seat assignment.