Thought Delta prices were ridiculously high, so shopped around. They were the cheapest!

[Harambe]

I like to buy our tickets early, early. Like as soon as they go on sale for our dates. We've always had great luck doing this, and neither DH or I can handle the pressure of waiting to purchase because we are nervous travelers, set in our ways! We need non-stops both ways and we need early morning departure and late afternoon return flight. Period. LOL!!!

Jeeeeesh - the prices! Really wow'd, and not in a good way! But it's done, and once I buy those plane tickets, I really feel like we are going to Disney - yippee!!

 

[Tess]

I like to buy our tickets early, early. Like as soon as they go on sale for our dates. We've always had great luck doing this, and neither DH or I can handle the pressure of waiting to purchase because we are nervous travelers, set in our ways! We need non-stops both ways and we need early morning departure and late afternoon return flight. Period. LOL!!!

Jeeeeesh - the prices! Really wow'd, and not in a good way! But it's done, and once I buy those plane tickets, I really feel like we are going to Disney - yippee!!

Like you, we do the same. We have had our tickets for May booked since July. We have been looking for our usual flights for October since November and Delta hasn't budged on the prices. It seems to really be pushing those economy fares and I am not flying without choosing a seat so we are relegated to the main cabin fares. We paid $266 for the May trip and last October we were at $276. Those same flights are now $306 and the October flights have not dropped a dollar.

We have also looked at other carriers and Spirit (which would be a last resort and only if cheap) was nearly the same price. SWA no longer has direct flights out of Michigan, but even so--still higher than Delta.

I realize the airlines are losing money (after years of record profits) and the stock prices are in the dump right now, but volume sales could make up for some of those losses. The planes--based upon reviewing the seats available--are not filled nor even close. We are playing the waiting game although it doesn't make us happy.

 

[Harambe]

Like you, we do the same. We have had our tickets for May booked since July. We have been looking for our usual flights for October since November and Delta hasn't budged on the prices. It seems to really be pushing those economy fares and I am not flying without choosing a seat so we are relegated to the main cabin fares. We paid $266 for the May trip and last October we were at $276. Those same flights are now $306 and the October flights have not dropped a dollar.

We have also looked at other carriers and Spirit (which would be a last resort and only if cheap) was nearly the same price. SWA no longer has direct flights out of Michigan, but even so--still higher than Delta.

I realize the airlines are losing money (after years of record profits) and the stock prices are in the dump right now, but volume sales could make up for some of those losses. The planes--based upon reviewing the seats available--are not filled nor even close. We are playing the waiting game although it doesn't make us happy.

My sister suggested Jet Blue to us, but she only gets better prices because she has their credit card. We use our Disney card to buy the tickets, as of course that leads to a few Disney dollars throw our way.

Bad enough DH has to pay for a new passport, as both of us just renewed our diver's licenses last summer, without anyone telling us about the stupid "Real ID" thing! I have a passport to travel, but we figured he may as well get a new passport and he can use that. We refuse to give the RMV more money for new diver's licenses - LOL!

 

[sam_gordon]

We need non-stops both ways and we need early morning departure and late afternoon return flight. Period.

You know that's part of your problem, right? Being set in what you want.

The planes--based upon reviewing the seats available--are not filled nor even close.

You can't necessarily rely on seat maps to see how full the planes are. Because of the "basic economy" sales, many seats won't get "claimed" until 24 hours before departure.

 

[Harambe]

because we are nervous travelers, set in our ways! We need non-stops both ways and we need early morning departure and late afternoon return flight. Period. LOL!!!

hahaha - I think that is what I said above, no???

You know that's part of your problem, right? Being set in what you want.

 

[Tess]

You can't necessarily rely on seat maps to see how full the planes are. Because of the "basic economy" sales, many seats won't get "claimed" until 24 hours before departure.

Perhaps, but we have purchased seats for May. The current choice of seats on that flight is different than those available if you are viewing it as a "new" purchase. Leads me to believe that the purchased seat view has accounted for those sold seats (and not definitely assigned rather showing unavailble) versus the "new" purchase view which has a greater number of open options from which to select. Hope that makes sense.

 

[bgirl29]

I did notice southwest has nonstop flights on Saturdays, at least from Grand Rapids, MI

 

[Jimsig]

My sister suggested Jet Blue to us, but she only gets better prices because she has their credit card. We use our Disney card to buy the tickets, as of course that leads to a few Disney dollars throw our way.

Airline ticket prices are the same no matter if you have that airlines credit card or not. You tend to get free bags if you have certain airline branded credit cards however. For example JB has 2 credit cards, the JetBlue Credit Card and the JetBlue Plus card. If you have the Plus you get bags included. Bag fees for most airlines are in the $30-35 range.