Continental/United Question

[njmomtoone]

Looking to purchase airfare for next April fom Newark to Tampa. The return portion of the flight just opened today, but the round trip is roughly $800.

Does anyone know if the prices are really high when the load the flights and then come down a week or so later?

 

[ThumpersWorld]

Not a big fan now that Continental is now United. That said I did notice the same thing for the first time when I checked a flight that just came out that day from Newark to St. Thomas. It was something like $900. I checked the following week and it was down to $500.

 

[lurkernj]

Former Continental groupie here too. I can't believe how expensive their fares are now that they are United. $800 is just rediculous for that flight.

I must say that I was watching for our september flights and they kept showing around $500 round trip, (which is obscene for that time of year), while other airlines were closer to $300. I see that about a month ago it dropped to $242 (now $262), but we already booked SW out of philly.

I know airfare is up in general, but they are consistently the most expensive when I've been looking lately.

 

[njmomtoone]

Thanks for your answers. We always flew Continental and bought right when they came out and got good deals. I was shocked to see the price now. I guess I will keep checking it and if it doesn't go down, there is always Jet Blue when that opens up.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ah, it looks like United, but it's actually Continental at the heart of the company! (along with knowing this from other, varied, sources....)...Met a former United flight attendant who retired instead of going under C's new management, which would have meant losing all of her long-earned perks and benefits b/c the United way was going away.

Doesn't change the fare issue, but it's good to be exact.

 

[Thumper4me]

Internally they may be running under Continental's management rules, externally they are United, their frequent flyer program was converted to the United frequent flyer program and the credit cards are now being changed to United credit cards.

Not sure what you mean about being "exact".

 

[artesian]

My flights to Turks dropped over half about 6 days after opening. Check daily and they will drop.

 

[njmomtoone]

My flights to Turks dropped over half about 6 days after opening. Check daily and they will drop.

Well, the flights did drop to $354. I am wondering if I should buy or wait?

 

[Mamiamjo]

I would book now unless you want to run the risk of it going back up again.
Our fare was also listed around $700, dropped down to $454 and then to $354, but then started going back up again.

 

[snesguy]

Have you checked other airlines or are you tied to United? Others might be cheaper.

It helps if you know the historical fares for your market. I tend to like to book early if I think the fare is reasonable and is likely to go up. But..., fares have gone up a lot in the last year and I don't see them going up much if any more by next year. In your case I might be tempted to wait. It's likely they could come down at some point before next year and I would guess it is less likely they will go up much in the next year.

 

[njmomtoone]

Have you checked other airlines or are you tied to United? Others might be cheaper.

It helps if you know the historical fares for your market. I tend to like to book early if I think the fare is reasonable and is likely to go up. But..., fares have gone up a lot in the last year and I don't see them going up much if any more by next year. In your case I might be tempted to wait. It's likely they could come down at some point before next year and I would guess it is less likely they will go up much in the next year.

They other option is Jet Blue, but not sure when they open up for April 2013 right now they are only booking through 1/6/13.

 

[njmomtoone]

I would book now unless you want to run the risk of it going back up again.
Our fare was also listed around $700, dropped down to $454 and then to $354, but then started going back up again.

It's been $354 since Sunday morning. My MIL is travelling with us and she said we should wait. I hate this airline game!

 

[njmomtoone]

Wound up booking the flights. I chagned the flight back to late Friday night instead of Saturday morning and that brought it down to $229 per person. I am super happy. All we miss is dinner out and sleeping. Would have to get up and out by 7:30 AM on Saturday anyway.

 

[disneyobessed]

April is high most likely because it's school vacation week for many Northeast schools including all of Massachusetts. We are going down April 11-20th and Im debating on booking Delta as soon as it comes out or wait until Jet Blue comes out. The prices for that week rarely drop.

 

[njmomtoone]

April is high most likely because it's school vacation week for many Northeast schools including all of Massachusetts. We are going down April 11-20th and Im debating on booking Delta as soon as it comes out or wait until Jet Blue comes out. The prices for that week rarely drop.

April is usually high because of breaks. But since since Easter is early next year, most schools have a March break. Most of schools around us in Jersey are late March.

 

[disneyobessed]

April is usually high because of breaks. But since since Easter is early next year, most schools have a March break. Most of schools around us in Jersey are late March.

Well I know all of Massachusetts have the same week off every year. ITs the third week in April and people do travel as far as NJ for better flight deals..