Thanksgiving 2021 Insane flight pricing

[JakeAZ]

So you can book AA through 11/28/21 right now. That’s thanksgiving weekend.
I’ve been looking at return flights from MCO to PHX, SFO and PDX on the 27th as that’s where our group will be coming from.

The flights to Orlando are reasonable. The flights home are insane.

$600 per person for coach? With connections? One way

$2500
Per person one way in first class (with a connection and 12 hours total travel time)

I thought it was an error and only full fare or flexible prices were listed. But it’s been happening for two days now.

Anyone else seeing this?

 

[sam_gordon]

So you can book AA through 11/28/21 right now. That’s thanksgiving weekend.
I’ve been looking at return flights from MCO to PHX, SFO and PDX on the 27th as that’s where our group will be coming from.

The flights to Orlando are reasonable. The flights home are insane.

$600 per person for coach? With connections? One way

$2500
Per person one way in first class (with a connection and 12 hours total travel time)

I thought it was an error and only full fare or flexible prices were listed. But it’s been happening for two days now.

Anyone else seeing this?

I think you're looking too early. Those flights were just released. In my experience, that's when flight prices are the highest. Give it a week or two at least.

You're also looking at a holiday time frame. If you look at 11/26, it's $165 on AA.

 

[JakeAZ]

I think you're looking too early. Those flights were just released. In my experience, that's when flight prices are the highest. Give it a week or two at least.

You're also looking at a holiday time frame. If you look at 11/26, it's $165 on AA.

Ya, I get that. But I’ve been following along each day as flights were released. Everything has been reasonable up until the release of the 27th and 28th. Also lots of the fares are showing “flexible” next to them. That’s usually only when you select the “flexible” box on the search page. I do not have that box checked.

I don’t mind paying a premium for that time of year.

But $2300 for a family of 4 to fly one way coach or $9800 for one way first class?

I have to think there is something wrong with their systems for those dates.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Busiest flight weekend of the year. I managed to get decent prices on Southwest in 2019, but it took a lot of stalking.

 

[JakeAZ]

Busiest flight weekend of the year. I managed to get decent prices on Southwest in 2019, but it took a lot of stalking.

Ya, I’ll do the same and am not worried in the long run.
It’s just the fares showing “flexible” leads me to believe something is up.

 

[Cheburashka]

Yeah, wow. I just checked American for the 28th (we'll be returning to our hometown on that date) and first class is in the 4-digits. We'll definitely use JetBlue to fly home, not American.

I've seen that pattern before, where the Sunday after a holiday is by far the most expensive flight option. It's because that's when everyone is going home, whereas there's a lot more variety in terms of when people arrive. American is reasonably priced for our flight in.

 

[JakeAZ]

Yeah, wow. I just checked American for the 28th (we'll be returning to our hometown on that date) and first class is in the 4-digits. We'll definitely use JetBlue to fly home, not American.

I've seen that pattern before, where the Sunday after a holiday is by far the most expensive flight option. It's because that's when everyone is going home, whereas there's a lot more variety in terms of when people arrive. American is reasonably priced for our flight in.

Yeah it’s crazy. Are you seeing “flexible” in the pricing on your screen too? I’ll probably end up using points but even those are priced really high right now.

i’m hoping once Southwest releases their schedule for the same time the competition will bring the prices down somewhat. I know they will still be high, and I’m OK with that. But this is ridiculous.

 

[EACarlson]

Ya, I get that. But I’ve been following along each day as flights were released. Everything has been reasonable up until the release of the 27th and 28th. Also lots of the fares are showing “flexible” next to them. That’s usually only when you select the “flexible” box on the search page. I do not have that box checked.

I don’t mind paying a premium for that time of year.

But $2300 for a family of 4 to fly one way coach or $9800 for one way first class?

I have to think there is something wrong with their systems for those dates.

Those are two of the five busiest flying days of the year, this far out the only people that are booking are those that know they are going and are willing to pay a premium to lock in that space now. If ticket sales are less than expected in the next couple months they will come down, they might come down when SW releases their schedule and prices for that time period, but I kind of doubt it. How many people didn't go somewhere for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas this year that will next year no matter what it costs?

 

[JakeAZ]

Those are two of the five busiest flying days of the year, this far out the only people that are booking are those that know they are going and are willing to pay a premium to lock in that space now. If ticket sales are less than expected in the next couple months they will come down, they might come down when SW releases their schedule and prices for that time period, but I kind of doubt it. How many people didn't go somewhere for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas this year that will next year no matter what it costs?

We’re in that boat of people who didn’t go anywhere in 2020 and we are very excited to get back out there. But there is no scenario, ever, that would have me paying $2500 per person for domestic FC from Orlando to Phoenix, with one stop and 12 hours total travel time (on a trip that should take 4 hours nonstop)! Haha
If AA can fill up that cabin, at that price, more power to them.

 

[_19disnA]

First class tickets are always pricey no matter when you travel. I think many of those seats are taken by frequent flyers who have accumulated so many miles they will never use them up. Thanksgiving is historically one of the busiest air travel times. The day AFTER Thanksgiving tends to be slower as most people have already arrived at their destination (or are not yet returning home). That far out you have no idea how airlines might adjust their schedules if covid issues are reduced and more people again traveling. I would wait a few months to see how things are going. Tickets prices around peak travel times tend to be higher due to demand. Once the lower priced seats are gone, you are unlikely to find a better deal by waiting longer.

 

[JakeAZ]

First class tickets are always pricey no matter when you travel. I think many of those seats are taken by frequent flyers who have accumulated so many miles they will never use them up. Thanksgiving is historically one of the busiest air travel times. The day AFTER Thanksgiving tends to be slower as most people have already arrived at their destination (or are not yet returning home). That far out you have no idea how airlines might adjust their schedules if covid issues are reduced and more people again traveling. I would wait a few months to see how things are going. Tickets prices around peak travel times tend to be higher due to demand. Once the lower priced seats are gone, you are unlikely to find a better deal by waiting longer.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, would pay $2500 for a FC seat on this route. The only domestic FC routes worth paying over $1000 are transcontinental and only if it’s in a A321T (or similar). And even then, those tickets are most likely booked and paid for by corporations for business travel. Even those of us who have accumulated a stash of miles wouldn’t burn them on a 4 hour flight, unless the price was reasonable. Especially when a connection and 8 additional hours of travel are involved.

I’d venture to say most people wouldn’t pay $600PP for the one way coach ticket. That’s 150% more than a roundtrip usually runs.

Again, I have no problem paying a premium for travel this time of year. We already are with our hotel pricing, so we get it. I’m just not ready to single handedly save the airline industry over one weekend in 2021!

 

[Cheburashka]

Yeah it’s crazy. Are you seeing “flexible” in the pricing on your screen too? I’ll probably end up using points but even those are priced really high right now.

i’m hoping once Southwest releases their schedule for the same time the competition will bring the prices down somewhat. I know they will still be high, and I’m OK with that. But this is ridiculous.

Some of the flights are flexible, some aren't. Either way, I'm not paying those prices. Lucky for us, JetBlue flies direct from our town to Orlando, so I'll just fly them. No matter what, I know their prices won't approach 4 figures for a one-way ticket.

 

[DebbieB]

They are always high to start. Plus American’s schedule will change several times.

 

[JakeAZ]

They are always high to start. Plus American’s schedule will change several times.

Normally, Id agree with you, but we locked up dirt cheap flights to FL earlier in the week (as soon as they came out). 4 nonstop flights for 40k points, total. They won’t get cheaper than that.

I know there is plenty of time for the price to change many times. It just seems their “opening offer” is meant for suckers only.

 

[Cheburashka]

They are always high to start. Plus American’s schedule will change several times.

No, I've never seen them this high before and the other just opening flights on surrounding days aren't anywhere near this high.

 

[JakeAZ]

No, I've never seen them this high before and the other just opening flights on surrounding days aren't anywhere near this high.

Exactly

 

[JakeAZ]

So I'm also looking for my sister's family SFO - MCO. American airlines is $980 for RT in coach with a stop both ways. United is $569 RT Non-stop both ways. Both regular economy.

American is just way off in their pricing. $569 on United is higher than normal pricing for that route, but reasonable for that time of year.

Dates for reference 11/19 - 11/27

 

[Cheburashka]

What does "flexible" mean with American Airlines? I see some relatively decently priced first-class Thanksgiving week tickets with that designation. I have them on hold but want to understand what I'm buying before paying.

 

[JakeAZ]

What does "flexible" mean with American Airlines? I see some relatively decently priced first-class Thanksgiving week tickets with that designation. I have them on hold but want to understand what I'm buying before paying.

It's really weird how they put that on some fares, but not others. The way I've read their new policies, pretty much all their fares are "flexible" now. You can cancel X number of days before your flight with no penalty. X depends on your status with AA.

By adding "flexible" to some fares, they just make their policies harder to follow.

 

[Cheburashka]

It's really weird how they put that on some fares, but not others. The way I've read their new policies, pretty much all their fares are "flexible" now. You can cancel X number of days before your flight with no penalty. X depends on your status with AA.

By adding "flexible" to some fares, they just make their policies harder to follow.

Flexible doesn't mean refundable, though, right?