OT Delta airline has gone CRAZY!!!

[Esmerelda]

Hi,
You might want to check out NWA...the Bestfares search engine shows RT on NWA from Boston to Orlando good thru 02/12/07 for $168.00 pp. I did not check this out on NWA website though...I didn't have enough time this morning.

best of luck to you,
Esmerelda

 

[disneynutt1225]

The OP is traveling in December; Jet Blue's fares only exist through September 6 at this point.

Ah, for some reason when I read July I completely disregarded the other date in the post.

 

[mommyrom]

Going to WDW and DCL in early December...Have been looking at flights for some time and growing impatient on SWA release of pricing for Dec.... I booked through NWA out of Providence for a total of $880 for 5 tickets! We will have connections in Atlanta, but I think our only option for true non-stop service out of Hartford or Providence would have been SWA, as Delta is out of control for their non-stop flights pricing!

Anyway, I booked our reservations earlier this week very late at night and then checked the pricing again the next morning and found the prices had gone to over $1,400 for the exact same flights! I am so glad I jumped on the prices I found!

Better yet, NWA does not assign seats until 90 days out. However, our flights are operated by Delta and the NWA agent I spoke to told me to call Delta to get seats assigned now, as we have three young children. (I did not want to run the risk of NWA assigning us on an exit row or separated about the plane...Reservations online did not allow me to note "children" on fares...Reservation summary had me getting five "adult" fares.). I did get Delta on the phone and sure enough, I have assigned seats in place.

So, if anyone is looking for a similar deal, keep checking NWA's website and you may get lucky!

 

[Lewisc]

For whatever reason Delta is only currently showing fully refundable fares for some of their flights. My guess is they are anticipating making major schedule changes.

The point we're missing is the airlines used to be able to make money by charging business travelers these kind of fares. Now that business travelers aren't paying those fares the leisure fares we pay have to go up.

 

[TDC Nala]

Now that business travelers aren't paying those fares the leisure fares we pay have to go up.

Yes, they do. But how many leisure travelers are going to pay the higher fares? How many will take to their cars (and pay high gas prices) instead, or find vacation destinations closer to home? How is raising the fares going to keep the airlines in business, unless they ALL raise their fares across the board to the same amounts?

 

[Lewisc]

Yes, they do. But how many leisure travelers are going to pay the higher fares? How many will take to their cars (and pay high gas prices) instead, or find vacation destinations closer to home? How is raising the fares going to keep the airlines in business, unless they ALL raise their fares across the board to the same amounts?

I won't go to WDW if I have to pay $1,000 R/T. My last few trips I was able to get R/T airfare of under $150. I'm sure many of us would pay at least $200 R/T before we'd consider other options.

Both SW and Jet Blue are raising their fares. I'm sure the other airlines will follow. Airlines are also trying to change the rules so they can add surcharges to the fares they promote.

 

[goofy4tink]

I won't go to WDW if I have to pay $1,000 R/T. My last few trips I was able to get R/T airfare of under $150. I'm sure many of us would pay at least $200 R/T before we'd consider other options.

Both SW and Jet Blue are raising their fares. I'm sure the other airlines will follow. Airlines are also trying to change the rules so they can add surcharges to the fares they promote.

Absolutely!! I don't think we're ever going to see all those $130 r/t, direct flights again!! Not with fuel costs being what they are. I used to be happy if I got a fare of $250!!! Now, the seems outrageous since I've been getting those $150 and below fares!!! If it gets to over $250-300, then we'll be driving to Florida...but it will have to go that high.

 

[TDC Nala]

I go to WDW when I can and sometimes that determines on when I can get a flight that I can afford. I've just recently booked two for $127 rt each. I'm taking one this weekend and one in September. If I can't find them for below $150 (including everything, even the surcharges) I will cut out a few trips. It takes too long to drive to Florida for a weekend jaunt. With everything I'm reading, I'm sort of surprised to be seeing $127 flights now.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

I don't know alot about air fare pricing, but with the gas pricing the closer to summer it gets the higher our gas goes, didn't know if this was similar or not.
Also out of my curiousity I checked the prices to the plane tickets we have with delta. We bought them for 178 in November, and the same flight is 227 now. That was from IND to ATl then to MCo. We couldn't afford the ns flights.

 

[bicker]

Now that business travelers aren't paying those fares the leisure fares we pay have to go up.

Yes, they do.

We don't. Our company won't send us anywhere if they had to pay $500-$1000 or more for it. My last business flights were $180 roundtrip.

But how many leisure travelers are going to pay the higher fares? How many will take to their cars (and pay high gas prices) instead, or find vacation destinations closer to home?

No question that there is some serious pressures on the industry from both directions. Flying each seat at a loss isn't an answer, though. So if the choice is between selling each seat at a loss and selling no seats at all, most investors would choose to sell no seats at all. How that translates into reality is fewer flights, flights to and from fewer cities, and no service for many smaller cities.

 

[SeaSpray]

Yes, Delta's prices are crazy right now. Fortunately I grabbed the tickets for our May trip when they were $187, round trip, non-stop.

I have to book the tickets for our August Disney cruise trip now though and the prices are too high; starting at about $350+. So, I checked other airlines and I see that American Airlines has decent times, round trip, non-stop for $227 per person. Should I grab these NOW, or wait a little to see if Delta comes down, or if AA comes down?? Please advise. Thanks!

 

[angel's momma]

Here, Delta actually dropped slightly this weekend.

The NWA flight I was considering for May, however, went from $213 to $1,120!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

I just got an email from Song/Delta this is what it said:


"A quick but important note from Song about your upcoming flight

As you may have heard, Song is becoming part of Delta on May 1. And since your upcoming flight is scheduled after that date, we thought it was important for you to know you may not be on a Song plane. Soon, you'll be getting an e-mail from Delta with your new flight numbers, times and any other info you might need.

So where are all the Song planes going?

They're joining the Delta fleet and flying to new destinations (although you'll still be able to fly to your favorite Song destinations on Delta, too). Every Song plane will be getting decked out with a First Class section, leading the transformation of all Delta planes with state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment, leather seats and unparalleled service inspired by Song."


So it looks like they are going to decide on the fleet real soon, which hopefully will get the non-refundable fares back on track. If you look in Nov, Dec and Jan the non-stops are all $1027 but the connecting planes -which are the schedules they aren't changing are priced okay. Just wait a little longer-- we are all waiting with you!!