Just had to post about USAir prices in Feb.

[treloarf]

Sorry but I am a dedicated USAir flyer (mostly because all my neighbors are employed by them, or are as of right now) and USAir is a big employer here in Pgh.

But when I check airfares for Feb to Orlando, it was terrible the prices they are asking - over $300.

But Orbitz allows you to see seat availability - the planes are EMPTY!!!!!

What is up with this - granted the other airlines you have to change planes but I can get a flight for $157 on Delta/Airtran.

 

[MartDM]

I chose Delta a few years ago due to their price being less than USAirways - I've regretting it since & vowed never to fly them again.

First the cancelled my direct flight & booked me on a redeye. It took 2 weeks of fighting to get them to finally move us to a flight with reasonable times & 1 stop. When we flew with them, we ended up being significantly delayed on both flights going & both flights coming back due to Delta overbooking the flights so dramatically. Multiple times we sat in the terminal or on the tarmac for extended periods of time (talking a minimum of an hour and more in some cases) while they begged for volunteers. On top of all their poor organization, we were flat out lied to by the gate agent about the status of our final leg which ended up being a three hour late night delay (in an airport where all shops were closed - couldn't even get a cup of coffee nor did Delta offer us a drink).

The moral of my long story is that a lower price doesn't always mean the same level of service and that can put a real crimp in your vacation. USAirways might be a bit pricier, but they've always been reliable and taken care of us when there's been any weather or planning issues.

 

[jcemom]

I've also always gone with USAir, however this trip we're flying AirTran. I got AirTran for $155 compared to USAir's $300+...multiplied by four tickets equals a LOT of money!

I've read mainly good reviews of AirTran and so am going to give them a try. I would have gone with USAir had the rates been competitive, not necessarily the cheapest mind you, but at least competitive.

 

[DebbieB]

USAir tends to be more expensive for Saturday and Sunday flights. I looked up a Thursday to Friday PIT/MCO flights in November for work, it was $191.

Unless you are flying out of Philadelphia or Charlotte, I wouldn't be so sure about USAir not changing flights. They have been slashing flights left and right in cities other than those 2. That was one of the reasons I chose AirTran for December. The other reason was price. For USAir, I could get flights with bad times for $175 on or pay $301 for the flights I wanted. AirTran was $135 for flights close to the times I want.

 

[treloarf]

It looks like Airtran is even expensive for Sat/Sunday flights. Do you think flights will come done?

 

[CarolA]

The Orbitz seat thing is NOT a good indicator of the number of seats sold. Not everyone books a seat and those maps are not always right anyway.

Feb from the NE looks to be very expensive. If you find something you can live with I would book it soon.

Delta, USAir, AirTran.... you pay you money and you take your chances. Any of them could have a bad day. Right now USAir is having lots of bad press so maybe they will try harder but over on Flyertalk.com I keep reading about RUDE employees. (I have never understood how driving away customers helps a union keep jobs, but....)

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by treloarf
It looks like Airtran is even expensive for Sat/Sunday flights. Do you think flights will come done?

Sale prices are not good on Sundays for AirTran. My $135 flights are Sat (Dec 4) to Fri (Dec 10). I've found USAir to be high for Sunday returns. Good thing to know for future planning, do not plan to fly on Sunday.

 

[treloarf]

I found a flight on USair leaving Friday afternoon & returning Sunday early for $215 - should I take it? For the 4 of us that would be $860 which is more than I'm use to paying.

Comments - I'm still thinking about waiting for 1 more week.

 

[DebbieB]

If the flights are the times you want and nonstop, I would go for it.

 

[Tinkim]

The ticket prices must be hit or miss this year. We usually fly SW out of NH. This year I started looking on Travelocity and using the fare watcher. I found US Air to be the least expensive and had the best flight times, i.e. fly out early and fly home later in the day. They were $200 per person. I found SW to be very expensive this time and was disappointed when they opened up the Feb schedule. All the good flights were gone and I would have gotten late arrival/early departure with them for $300+ per person. I did find the US Air price about 3 weeks ago though and haven't found anything better since so it could be that I got lucky and the prices are just going up unfortunately with the rising price of fuel? I say if you see a good price book it now because I'm not sure they are going to get any better. Good luck.

 

[mickeymouse4953]

I would also book with those prices.The only thing you have to worry about is that US AIR is on shaky ground right now. Just keep your fingers crossed that your flight won't change or be dropped because of further cuts with US AIR.

 

[SB in KY]

2 comments for the original poster....if you don't like the prices wait a week....they will change....

second do not put any stock in seat maps if your flight is more than 90 days out because all they will show you until that time is seats booked on Orbitz (or whatever agent you are viewing)....airlines do not validate seat assignments until 90 days prior (and some 60 days prior)....so if you think you have reserved a seat 6 months before your flight you really haven't....at the 90 day mark the various booking agencies submit their requests...but if more than one of them have booked the same seats someone will get bumped to an "unassigned" seat.

So there could be 1/2 of the seats soled on your flight (unlikely, but possible) and you would have no way to see it on Orbitz (or any other booking service) until 90 days before the flight date.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I wouldn't book a flight on USAirways right now out of Pittsburgh, especially for Feb. I realize they are a big employer here, but they have made their mind up and reduced Pittsburgh down to a focus city and if you talk to some of the USAir employees alot of them will say, they think they are going to close up shop here eventually. I just wouldn't want to book a flight and then it be cancelled, then you have to scramble around looking for new flights. Airtran just had flights to MCO for $140.00 r/t. Thats a far cry from $215.00.

 

[treloarf]

AirTran is over $300 right no when I check - also about USAir. Do you think things could happen so quick - considering this is end of Oct. - Feb. is only 3 months away.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I pm'd you.

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by DebbieB
Sale prices are not good on Sundays for AirTran.

I just booked by AirTran flights with a $155 sale they had last week...Sunday, February 6 through Sunday, February 13th!

I've only seen Saturday the 5th drop below $215 once in the past couple of months. That was my original date but I changed it because I couldn't get a sale price.