Anyone Paying LESS to Fly This Year?

[tiki23]

Airfare is killing me!

Is anyone paying less - or even the same - as they paid last year? From Seattle most of the prices I'm seeing are close to double, if not more, than what we paid last year. The only deals I'm seeing are last minute, flying on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

I'm playing the waiting-and-praying game that prices will come down before I have to book for our December trip.

I've reconciled myself to waiting to book until at least SW releases their December fares - but dang the waiting is making me !!!

 

[bavaria]

I fly almost weekly, over 100,000 miles/year, internationally and within the US. Most of my flights are LESS than in 2006, and equal to or less than in 1996.

Airlines cannot continue to offer these underpriced fares and make a profit. At some point there will be an adjustment and/or more airlines will disappear

 

[tiki23]

I fly almost weekly, over 100,000 miles/year, internationally and within the US. Most of my flights are LESS than in 2006, and equal to or less than in 1996.

That's encouraging.

Airlines cannot continue to offer these underpriced fares and make a profit. At some point there will be an adjustment and/or more airlines will disappear

I understand the economics - but that doesn't mean I like it.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Airfare is killing me!

I'm playing the waiting-and-praying game that prices will come down before I have to book for our December trip.

I've reconciled myself to waiting to book until at least SW releases their December fares - but dang the waiting is making me !!!

Amen!!! I am having the same anxiety and my trip isn't until March 2008! There's got go be an easier way!!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We're paying less! Last year we paid $79 each way per person and this year we're paying $49 each way per person. That was an easy $300 to make! We're flying Southwest out of Philadelphia.

 

[xnascar2x]

The following was on CNN Money yesterday:

Airlines Pile on Fess
http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/30/pf/airline_fees.moneymag/index.htm

 

[firsttimer03]

Not to brag or anything but I booked flights out of Nashville to MCO roundtrip for 3 people for $351!!!!
My DH and I planned on driving down unless we found a crazy deal from SW and was happy to pay that instead of driving for 12-13 hours one way.
Now, we did have to shorten our vacation by 1 day but it was worth it.
Just keep an eagle's eye on the Ding fares and the emails they send out.
Good luck to you all!

 

[OzFan]

Add me to the list of paying less. We paid $79 way last year with GROUP fare. This year I'm at $59 each way and NO GROUP fare. We were at the mercy of our groups travel plans last year, we wanted to stay longer but couldn't, due to the fact that the other family wanted to come home early. When Southwest opened their fares thru Nov. AirtranAirways dropped their prices. SW is at 129.00 each way!

For my family of 5 we are flying from Chicago for a total of: $694.00
Much better than last year!

 

[clkelley]

We are paying less for our quickie trip in May.

We were planning on driving, but $25 one-way Dings! popped up for our exact travel dates, so we grabbed em!!

However, I'm not sure it is exactly cheaper because when driving we were going to stay at hotels on the road on the way down and back on hotel points. Now those two nights will be at All-Stars.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I was driving down too, but since the 25 dollar dings, we are four, and flying for 277!! But since I am having to rent a car (doing universal offsite), I probably didn't save anything except my sanity! Ha

 

[CarolA]

I fly almost weekly, over 100,000 miles/year, internationally and within the US. Most of my flights are LESS than in 2006, and equal to or less than in 1996.

Airlines cannot continue to offer these underpriced fares and make a profit. At some point there will be an adjustment and/or more airlines will disappear

I agree. THe price of gas, the cost of labor etc keeps going up but we want $50 airfare. (And then we whine when they change our flights, move our seats or otherwise don't provide the "service" we aren't paying for LOL!)

The economic model is broken. You cannot run a business selling for less then cost and stay open!

 

[ducklite]

DH has been finding LOTS of cheap-o fares PHL/EWR to MCO. Of course he's willing to take 6:30 am flights home from MCO (I HATE when he does that cause "I" have to take him to the airport--the extra $30 for the 9:10 flight is worth three more hours of sleep!) and flights that don't land into MCO until almost midnight. Basically a lot of flights that the average tourist with a couple rug-rats in tow doesnt' want to deal with.

But he's been getting them for a little over $100, and even with $60-100 in parking fees, it's still cheaper than the round trip drive once you factor in tolls, gas, and wear-n-tear, not to mention his time.

Anne

 

[bavaria]

a quick check on Travelocity.com shows lowest fares SEA-MCO are $203, from various airlines. In 1994 on that route I paid $198.

In 2006 dollars, $198 is $266. That represents a DECREASE of about 25%, I believe

 

[bscs]

We already booked our Feb 2008 flight
It was a great deal.
We usually pay $300-$350
this time we are driving 2 extra hours south but got the tickets for $239!
Check around at all the airports it makes a big difference sometimes.
And book early when possible we booked the day the prices came out.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

It's costing us less then 1/3 to fly down this year compared to what we paid last year and that includes the cost of the hotel the night before and the extra gas to make the 2 hr drive across the border - this year I found flights from BUF and Rochester, NY for $150USD per person taxes in (and I'm sure I could have done better but I was excited to be able to book that cheap!!) last year we paid about $440CAN. PER PERSON taxes in from Toronto. Sad part is that the taxes for the Toronto flight were more expensive then the actual flight!!

 

[minnieandmickey]

Airfare is killing me!

Is anyone paying less - or even the same - as they paid last year? From Seattle most of the prices I'm seeing are close to double, if not more, than what we paid last year. The only deals I'm seeing are last minute, flying on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

I'm playing the waiting-and-praying game that prices will come down before I have to book for our December trip.

I've reconciled myself to waiting to book until at least SW releases their December fares - but dang the waiting is making me !!!

Another west coaster who is frustrated with air fare. I have been looking for 6 mo. for our Oct/Nov trip. I was anxiously waiting for SW to extend the calendar, and of course they extended to 1 day before we leave . But then even checking leaving one day early it is still 179.00 ea way. And I am still having problems finding anything under 350, I have to admit I am a little picky, I don't want to arrive after 8pm and leave before 12 pm. I paid 250 last year, with that same criteria. Have yet to even see a ding from here to MCO, and I have 4 different cities set.

 

[rsmithx]

We fly at least once from the west coast SEA/PDX to various destinations and are pretty familiar with the way the fares work. I assume you are savvy with the internet. If you haven't checked out www.kayak.com I recommend this. I never book thru the links though, I just check the fares, then go to the airlines website (typically the same or cheaper as airlines are trying to get their web fares the lowest out there)

Typically you will see better fares 6 months and closer to your dates. If you are headed out in December you will probably find something better in about a month or so. That's how the sales work, they aren't going to start putting their seats on sale for a flight that far out as they are currently working to fill the flights leaving sooner than that.

Of course, you can continue to look, but don't get too frustrated. Yes gas prices are high, and you will probably expect to pay a bit more. Try looking at Portland airport if you are fairly close. We live between SEA and PDX, so it works well for us. The majority of our flights leave from PDX because they are cheaper even though PDX is smaller.

Something else to consider- Alaska flies a nonstop flight from SEA, and though it costs more...it should, it's nonstop. The times are good too. For September dates the flight is about 406, best price is on their website. Sounds like it's more than you are looking for, but you may want to consider it if you're going to be paying over 350 anyway.

West Coasters get hit the hardest with flight fares. Consider our gas prices, also the highest in the country.

Sales for winter travel tend to be best around September/October I think, but don't feel you have to wait this long. Anything in the 200's is a GREAT deal right now IMHO (Including 299) Anything in the 300's is expected, and if you're paying in the 400's it better be a nice flight.

 

[pbharris4]

$29.rt per person. Sw had a great 2 yr anniv. deal for Dulles to Orlando. Last year we paid $79/pp r/t. If we drove and gas goes over$3.00 we'd be paying more.

 

[Esmerelda]

I purchased airfare for my hubby and I for June about 2 weeks ago. My rule of thumb has always been no more than 2 months out because they tend to have bigger airfare the closer to your travel time. I know some folks would not agree with that statement but for the last 8 years for us...this has been the case.

I snagged RT from Indy to Orlando on American for $145 each person. I thought that was pretty good. I check Bestfares daily and have airfare email watches out on Travelocity so that helps me also.

best of luck to the OP,
Esmerelda