help me understand air fare

[sweetdana]

So I was set to book a June trip with a family member's time share they were not using.. YEAH.. I was calling it a very low cost trip (still need to rent a car (as off site, and pay for the 200$ in transfer fees.. and air. (i assumes normal dtw-mco 150 a ticket and I had a 200$ voucher for 1 person too)) I go and look for A few diff weeks in June and July .. and

Over 300$ I think the 328 ish.. and I called my DH up, nearly in tears.. we cannot go. it will be almost 900$ for just air making our low cost trip.. thinking it would be about 900$ total.. well not that for just air .. (this was Tue.)


I loaded some app on my phone.. Low and behold now it has come for 100$ cheaper@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!


I now sold myself on not going and was fine with it by Wed.. now I don't know if I will do it or not.. I am so confused..


So my question is.. why would an airline do this.. ? 10 - 20 -30$ I get but 100$ in 4 days is not supply/demand or cost of gas.. it is just price gorging isn't it? What benefit do they get? sell me on who would pay 330$ for a round trip ticket in July, and why would prices vary 100$?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

It just the way they do business. I have a trip booked next week and looked last night at adding a day. As I looked at the fares they were the same as what I booked. But as I processed the change SWA lowered the price by $30 I could not believe it. Looked again this morning and the price of my flight to go down has also dropped $26. Now I have a $56 credit. That is what I love about SWA that fact I can switch my flights and I don't have to pay the change fee's!!!

They bank of folk paying the higher fares and then drop them to get others to buy as well.

 

[sweetdana]

It just the way they do business. I have a trip booked next week and looked last night at adding a day. As I looked at the fares they were the same as what I booked. But as I processed the change SWA lowered the price by $30 I could not believe it. Looked again this morning and the price of my flight to go down has also dropped $26. Now I have a $56 credit. That is what I love about SWA that fact I can switch my flights and I don't have to pay the change fee's!!!

They bank of folk paying the higher fares and then drop them to get others to buy as well.

SW only had 1 direct flight from DTW - MCO, and Delta or Air tran is always cheaper.. .. so I have never flew them to MCO (BOS and CHI I think). I might try do SW if it is close for the reason above.. as I still think 228$ is too much money .. but I am not toying with the idea of just booking the time share .. and I guess if all else fails.. DRIVE

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would never drive. That is 40 hours of time spent in a car. Gas plus hotel costs could make flying just as better. Please the wear and tear on your vehicle. The risk of having an accident or your car breaking down and then being at the mercy of a mechanic you know nothing about. Ans then additional delays while you wait for repairs.

 

[SaraJayne]

SW only had 1 direct flight from DTW - MCO, and Delta or Air tran is always cheaper.. .. so I have never flew them to MCO (BOS and CHI I think). I might try do SW if it is close for the reason above.. as I still think 228$ is too much money .. but I am not toying with the idea of just booking the time share .. and I guess if all else fails.. DRIVE

If you think $228 is too much for a round trip in airfare, driving would be your only other option from MI.

That price is a great price for roundtrip.

 

[Srbright]

So I was set to book a June trip with a family member's time share they were not using.. YEAH.. I was calling it a very low cost trip (still need to rent a car (as off site, and pay for the 200$ in transfer fees.. and air. (i assumes normal dtw-mco 150 a ticket and I had a 200$ voucher for 1 person too)) I go and look for A few diff weeks in June and July .. and

Over 300$ I think the 328 ish.. and I called my DH up, nearly in tears.. we cannot go. it will be almost 900$ for just air making our low cost trip.. thinking it would be about 900$ total.. well not that for just air .. (this was Tue.)

I loaded some app on my phone.. Low and behold now it has come for 100$ cheaper@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

I now sold myself on not going and was fine with it by Wed.. now I don't know if I will do it or not.. I am so confused..

So my question is.. why would an airline do this.. ? 10 - 20 -30$ I get but 100$ in 4 days is not supply/demand or cost of gas.. it is just price gorging isn't it? What benefit do they get? sell me on who would pay 330$ for a round trip ticket in July, and why would prices vary 100$?

We fly out of DTW and I haven't found an airfare less than $350 RT and I've been looking for 6 weeks. The time frame us different, we are going in September.

We can fly out of Flint for $270 RT. We went last September and paid $240 RT. Even after I booked I never found a ticket for less than that except for Delta. They did a "Basic Economy" which was nonrefundable, non-changeable and with no seat assignment and the fare on yhat was $210.

When are you seeing fares for $150 RT because I haven't seen that in 3-4 years. I don't count Spirit's fares because you have to pay $25 to CARRY ON a bag and $25-$30 to check bags.

Stacy

 

[Srbright]

As added information, $228 RT is $114 each way which is decent.

Stacy

 

[sweetdana]

I have gone DTW to MCO prolly a doz + times over the last 4 yrs ish and never paid over 200$.. I guess I am paying it or skipping it.. I think 200$ is my breaking point. (ish)

I also don't count spirit.. with there as so many extra fees they have to be 100$ cheaper to be worth it..

 

[j-me]

Here is a few tips from one michgander to another
We have flown 3 times with Spirit Air 2 times from DTW and one coming up out of O'hare.
We join their $9 club.. cause it does save you $$$
If you travel on a Tues or Wed it is always cheaper.
We have always have good luck with them, clean, prompt, on time.
For an example.. we are flying round trip for 4 .. paying for 2 bags both ways .. for $650!
We have gotten them as low as $320 rt for all 4 of us..

 

[sweetdana]

As added information, $228 RT is $114 each way which is decent.

Stacy

I guess you are right..

that doesn't sound bad putting it that way!

 

[mommypenguin29]

I agree $228 round trip is not bad at all these days!

 

[angierae]

$228 is not bad at all. We paid over $350 a ticket last year DTW-MCO for Spring Break (We flew out 8 days before Easter and flew home Easter Monday.) It was ridiculous, but DH was dead set against driving (and then didn't end up going - I would have happily drove if it was just me and the teenagers.)

 

[Srbright]

Also remember that as of September or so of last year the airlines fares have to include all the tax and fees. So what would have been a $89 fare one way last year at this time would have been $120 after taxes.

Stacy

 

[MinnieForMe]

I'd book it at $114 each way with all fees/taxes included.

 

[Sandi]

When are you seeing fares for $150 RT because I haven't seen that in 3-4 years. I don't count Spirit's fares because you have to pay $25 to CARRY ON a bag and $25-$30 to check bags.

Stacy

That has been my experience, too.

I have gone DTW to MCO prolly a doz + times over the last 4 yrs ish and never paid over 200$.. I guess I am paying it or skipping it.. I think 200$ is my breaking point. (ish)

I also don't count spirit.. with there as so many extra fees they have to be 100$ cheaper to be worth it..

It has been a LONG time since we've paid $200 or less for DTW to MCO flights. I do that flight (or LAN to MCO) about 3 times a year. I'll do one flight during peak season -- Spring break this year is crazy expensive -- and then once in the summer and usually once in the autumn. Summer has been in the $300-$400 range the past few years.

I don't drive because I refuse to give up that much vacation time getting there and back.

 

[joeyandangiesmom]

I would never drive. That is 40 hours of time spent in a car. Gas plus hotel costs could make flying just as better. Please the wear and tear on your vehicle. The risk of having an accident or your car breaking down and then being at the mercy of a mechanic you know nothing about. Ans then additional delays while you wait for repairs.

We have spent WAYYYYY too many trips at the mercy of the airlines.....just last Thanksgiving Day as we were waiting to fly to LAX to go to DL we were delayed over 3 hours waiting for the paperwork and a flat tire to be changed. That resulted in changed flights, almost didn't make it until the next day...yadda yadda.....we have spent too many overnights extra waiting to fly back to Cleveland/Akron...we now drive. MORE control over where and when we go....what we can pack....overnight is only about 50 bucks....drive the 16 hours striaght home...and LOVE it!

Get your car checked BEFORE you go!