Jet Blue crazy increase?!

[ibela]

I purchased my outbound flight yesterday and wasn't sure about the time I wanted to leave so figured I'd book it today. I'm 2 months out. I checked in the am, return flight was $166. Then I started getting calls at work and stuff so figured I'd book during lunch. I logged on 2hrs later and the return flight is now $344. I'm hoping there's some sort of glitch or whatever because that's outrageous for a one-way ticket per person from NY!! Has anyone else had this happen to them? Please tell me it should go back down...

 

[DebbieB]

I purchased my outbound flight yesterday and wasn't sure about the time I wanted to leave so figured I'd book it today. I'm 2 months out. I checked in the am, return flight was $166. Then I started getting calls at work and stuff so figured I'd book during lunch. I logged on 2hrs later and the return flight is now $344. I'm hoping there's some sort of glitch or whatever because that's outrageous for a one-way ticket per person from NY!! Has anyone else had this happen to them? Please tell me it should go back down...

Clear your cookies

 

[ibela]

Clear your cookies

Still $344. I'm going to stop panicking and stop checking different sites. Maybe it'll be better tomorrow or Friday? I heard best days to book are Tuesdays and Fridays. The flight is less than 1/2 full so I don't get it. And it's one of about 12 flights that day.

 

[bas71873]

I was looking at flights yesterday too even though I'm waiting for spring 2015 to open up, but I was playing with some January dates and the rates were INSANE!!!! I just looked again a few minutes ago and they are back to what I normally pay. WHEW!!! Check again.

 

[ibela]

I was looking at flights yesterday too even though I'm waiting for spring 2015 to open up, but I was playing with some January dates and the rates were INSANE!!!! I just looked again a few minutes ago and they are back to what I normally pay. WHEW!!! Check again.

I just looked again, unfortunately no change. I thought the $166 was high for one-way, now I'm considering switching times and paying $225 ($60 more X 4 tickets!!). My theory is they do this to ensue panic right before a price drop. I thought everyone says the best time to buy is 5-6 weeks out and I'm currently 8 weeks. Not too picky about times (any departing time between 9am and 2pm) and not even too picky about arriving airports since we're getting a lift there and back. It's got to go down....*fingers crossed*

 

[Best Aunt]

OP, I've been watching a flight that went up $100 since yesterday.

 

[ibela]

OP, I've been watching a flight that went up $100 since yesterday.

The flight I watched went up $180!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I just looked again, unfortunately no change. I thought the $166 was high for one-way, now I'm considering switching times and paying $225 ($60 more X 4 tickets!!). My theory is they do this to ensue panic right before a price drop. I thought everyone says the best time to buy is 5-6 weeks out and I'm currently 8 weeks. Not too picky about times (any departing time between 9am and 2pm) and not even too picky about arriving airports since we're getting a lift there and back. It's got to go down....*fingers crossed*

The best time is not 5-6 weeks out; by that time, usually the low fare seats are gone.

 

[wilkeliza]

Last year we had a Jetblue flight go up 200 in a matter of minutes not hours. We called to talk to an agent and were actually told a large group had just purchased tickets thus the massive jump. Luckily they let us cancel the return flight someone else had already purchased and book the first flight out the next morning which was actually cheaper even with an extra hotel nigth.

 

[DebbieB]

For Orlando, I don't think the 5-6 weeks out rule applies, many people are vacationers and book early.

 

[anonymousegirl]

The one hard and fast rule about airfares is that they can change in a heartbeat!

I once was purchasing a round trip SFO to London online, by the time I got to the confirm payment the flights had gone up $1000! I freaked, then looked at the clock. I started the process just before midnight, and when midnight hit, I lost the 21 day advance purchase requirement. Luckily, I could move my dates by one day and get the original fare back!

 

[MAH4546]

The best time is not 5-6 weeks out; by that time, usually the low fare seats are gone.

There is no such thing as "low fare seats." Airlines adjust fares based on complicated algorithms.

The cheapest time to buy a ticket is absolutely, without a doubt, almost every time, about 5-8 weeks in advance. The exception is major holiday weekends.

 

[ItsOnlyMoney]

Eeek!
Is it possible it'll go down again or should I book now for Dec.

 

[3pletprincesses]

It's Thursday and tomorrow is 4th of July. i"m pretty sure the prices will go down net week. I find that with jetblue their prices go up as you get closer to the weekend. I tend to buy on Tuesday. if you are scare that it might go up, you can alwasy purchase and continue to check prices, if it goes down, call them and ask for a credit for the difference. the credit is good for a year

 

[Tinknalli]

Jet Blue doesn't price like most airlines. They use a system of pricing buckets. The first set number of seats on a flight sell for a set amount (the least expensive), once the seats in the bucket are sold the next bucket of seats opens with a higher price. As more seats sell the price will continue to climb. Best pricing it day one for most markets. There are some exceptions to the rule such as poorly selling flights where you will see price drops perhaps sales in some highly competitive markets. They used to have this explained in detail on their website, but I don't see it anymore. If I had to guess I doubt you will see a price drop

 

[Aliceacc]

For our trip later this month, I watched Kayak.com like a hawk. Every single day I checked, and every single day the total for our 5 tickets to MCO was $1474.

Then one day in January, I checked and it was $1220. I bought our tickets.

The next day it was back to $1474.

The moment you find a good price, you've got to buy.

ETA: I just checked again. Today's total for our flights is $1580.

Also, for what it's worth, we're leaving from LAG and returning to JFK. It wasn't so much about the price but the timing of the flights.

 

[MAH4546]

Jet Blue doesn't price like most airlines. They use a system of pricing buckets. The first set number of seats on a flight sell for a set amount (the least expensive), once the seats in the bucket are sold the next bucket of seats opens with a higher price. As more seats sell the price will continue to climb. Best pricing it day one for most markets. There are some exceptions to the rule such as poorly selling flights where you will see price drops perhaps sales in some highly competitive markets. They used to have this explained in detail on their website, but I don't see it anymore. If I had to guess I doubt you will see a price drop

That is absolutely, patently false. If jetBlue actually priced like that, it would be out of business.

The only thing jetBlue does differently is that it will not overbook. That's it.

 

[Aliceacc]

That is absolutely, patently false. If jetBlue actually priced like that, it would be out of business.

The only thing jetBlue does differently is that it will not overbook. That's it.

I know nothing about airline pricing, but I agree that the "bucket" approach wouldn't explain why I was able to purchase tickets at a lower price on Tuesday than they had been on Monday or Wednesday, 7 months before the flight.

 

[Tinknalli]

An explanation about how airfare pricing buckets work.....http://www.noobtraveler.com/how-understanding-fare-buckets-can-help-you-save/

And JetBlue actually used to have a section in their FAQS about how to get the best pricing. Their answer explained the pricing buckets and that the best fares are when they are released. This pricing matches every JetBlue flight I have ever taken out of Burlington, VT; Hartford, CT; Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, FL. I book within the first hour of release and monitor the fares daily and have as a rule seen fares only rise (rarely a $10 drop, but never back down to opening day pricing).

 

[ibela]

I ended up booking a later flight (1:42 pm instead of 9:30am) because the time was better anyway and that price stayed the same - $225. A lot but better than 344, and I had $100 credit per ticket bc of their price guarantee and I found my first flight cheaper on expedia 1hr after I booked it on their site.

My flight went up a little, the 9:30am I was looking at was still the same, but a couple other flights that day have gone down so they're definitely still fluctuating. I was told if I notice my flight goes down then they will apply a credit good for 1yr if I call, which I didn't know they do so at least that's something. Fortunately I had that credit, I'm good with 260pp round trip to Fla but think 360 is outrageous.

Thanks all for the advice, I'll definitely try and book earlier on a Tue next time!