spring break airfare jumps on Delta?

[daisyx3]

We just went down and paid $632 for two seats DTW to MCO on Delta. Now I expected Delta to be more for Spring break, but I checked today and two seats are $1700! My school is off the week before Easter and I was planning on going that Sunday to Friday. Southwest is only about $990; we don't really like to have a stop but for that money we will do it.
Should I just wait a month or so and see if it goes down? I know Delta has to make more money but that is ridiculous!

 

[EACarlson]

Might have more to do with your location than anything else. DTW is a pretty captive market. I just looked and I found flights for those same days from Appleton, WI for less than $500. Chicago for less than $500 and Minneapolis was $1,200. All on Delta.

 

[kda]

In Connecticut, Delta, Jet Blue and SWA (the only airlines we fly) seem to be quite aware of the common school break schedules (not that there isn't some variety) and charge more for travel during those times. Prices seemed to consistently go UP, as seats are sold. But who knows in this COVID time --- perhaps there won't be as many people booking and fares will go down for school break times.

 

[sam_gordon]

In Connecticut, Delta, Jet Blue and SWA (the only airlines we fly) seem to be quite aware of the common school break schedules (not that there isn't some variety) and charge more for travel during those times. Prices seemed to consistently go UP, as seats are sold. But who knows in this COVID time --- perhaps there won't be as many people booking and fares will go down for school break times.

I agree there won't be as many people booking, but airlines are also blocking off seats leaving fewer available, so prices could still go up.

 

[sponica]

Delta is committed to no middle seats through at least September/October, so I wonder if their pricing algorithm is also including that beyond that point in time.
Passover also falls the week before easter so that could also be bumping up the prices.

 

[macraven]

I knew September the middle seats were blocked but did not read October would have them blocked also

I’m traveling those two months with Delta.

 

[StageTek]

Should I just wait a month or so and see if it goes down? I know Delta has to make more money but that is ridiculous!

I've been checking Delta from LAX to MCO once a week for the last 5 months for a Sept trip. Seems that 3 months out was the best prices.

March: 2 seats R/T - $720 and $876
May: $592 and $643
June: $650 and $436 (I booked)
July: $392 and $702 (I was unhappy I didn't wait)
Aug: $658 (I check on Tuesdays so tomorrow I can update)

 

[sam_gordon]

I've been checking Delta from LAX to MCO once a week for the last 5 months for a Sept trip. Seems that 3 months out was the best prices.

March: 2 seats R/T - $720 and $876
May: $592 and $643
June: $650 and $436 (I booked)
July: $392 and $702 (I was unhappy I didn't wait)
Aug: $658 (I check on Tuesdays so tomorrow I can update)

I'm curious what the second price is from. And I just want to point out that just because this one flight shows the "magic point" 3 months out doesn't mean that works for every flight. I'm not sure how valid this is b/c Covid, but a thread I created back in December... https://www.disboards.com/threads/best-time-to-book-air-heres-some-documentation.3781184/

 

[StageTek]

I'm curious what the second price is from.

I checked the prices once a week. So I have four per month. For brevity I chose to post the highest and lowest each month.

And I just want to point out that just because this one flight shows the "magic point" 3 months out doesn't mean that works for every flight.

I didn't mean to suggest that this was a "magic point" or to suggest that this would work for all flights from all airports and all airlines. I'm sorry for the confusion. I should have been more clear: I checked only one airline flying one destination for only 5 months.

Your graph is so much better than my little experiment.

 

[sam_gordon]

I checked the prices once a week. So I have four per month. For brevity I chose to post the highest and lowest each month.

Thank you

I didn't mean to suggest that this was a "magic point" or to suggest that this would work for all flights from all airports and all airlines. I'm sorry for the confusion. I should have been more clear: I checked only one airline flying one destination for only 5 months.

Your graph is so much better than my little experiment.

I figured you didn't. I just didn't want someone reading your post and thinking that's what you were suggesting.

 

[StageTek]

I figured you didn't. I just didn't want someone reading your post and thinking that's what you were suggesting.

Thank you for pointing out my mistake. I'm sorry I wasn't clear.

 

[sponica]

I knew September the middle seats were blocked but did not read October would have them blocked also

I’m traveling those two months with Delta.

The last I read was that they anticipated blocking the middle seats beyond September. So while officially it might just say until September 30, the impression I got was "don't be surprised if it lasts longer than this"