US Air Fares - Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

[plutospup]

Normally we fly out of a small airport in Williamsport, PA (IPT). It's much more convenient than flying out of PHL. Normally, I can find rates of about $275 IPT-PHL-MCO. As we plan next summer's WDW vacation I'm finding at the 330 day mark rates of $558 per person!!!!!!! Yikes! When I checked seating availability they appear to be practically empty flights. Even flights from PHL-MCO appear to be $380!!! I know fuel prices have gone up, but this is ridiculous!

Do you think rates will come down? Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[bicker]

I'm not counting on airfares coming down on a permanent basis. US Airways is just barely eeking bye with the airfares where they are now. One bump in the road (like another terrorist action) could ground the merged airline for good.

You could keep an eye out for sales, but be sure to jump on them when they happen, and be sure to read the rules for the sale before you buy, as many US Airways sales now have 100% change fees. (I got hit with one of those a few months back, when my wife got sick the day before a trip to New York.)

Also, make sure you're being very flexible with your travel dates and times. I'm finding fares of $223 on US Airways from PHL to MCO next Summer.

 

[safetymom]

US Airways is actually making money these days. I wouldn't count on fares coming down much because of fuel prices, demand, fuller planes.

 

[bicker]

Not yet. US Airways lost $61 million last quarter. That's a lot less than they've lost in previous quarters, but they're still losing money. Now, what's dragging them down are the interest payments on their loans. If it weren't for that, they'd have actually made a little profit.

 

[goofyforlife]

Normally we fly out of a small airport in Williamsport, PA (IPT). It's much more convenient than flying out of PHL. Normally, I can find rates of about $275 IPT-PHL-MCO. As we plan next summer's WDW vacation I'm finding at the 330 day mark rates of $558 per person!!!!!!! Yikes! When I checked seating availability they appear to be practically empty flights. Even flights from PHL-MCO appear to be $380!!! I know fuel prices have gone up, but this is ridiculous!

Do you think rates will come down? Any thoughts or suggestions?

hi Pluto, My DH grew up outside Milton. He graduated from Milton HS. We still have some family there in town right now. Bastian's. We lived in Wmspt for 8yrs and flew out of there a few times . I remembered prices being in the $300 range but $500 yikes. Could you go over to Allentown? I here there's some decent fares there. or try Harrisburg or Wilkes-Barre. You could drive to PIT and fly SWA. You could fly 3-4 people round trip for less than the cost of one ticket.

 

[tms295]

USAirways prices overall will drop. I can't speak for your local airport rates but the average for flights from PHL are usually around 120-180. I have seen the airfare from PHL to MCO go as low as 98$ round trip plus tax and fees. Of course not at a high demand time such as christmas Tgiving etc.

Also ABE to MCO (with one layover at CLT, Pittsburgh, etc) are usually running 220-280. I got our airfare 186.20 including all tax & fees from ABE-CLT-MCO for Thanksgiving day returning following wednesday. booked in January

You may also want to price Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport that may be closer to you in Williamsport. Prices are usually in the same ballpark as ABE.

Note: Prices online are muchhh cheaper than the price quoted when you call us airways!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yes, I think this fare will come down. It's crazy to buy a ticket so far out for a destination with lots of options for travel, unless you get an amazing deal. Keep checking, you have PLENTY of time to buy these. There will certainly be a lower fare offered some time over the next year.

 

[plutospup]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions! I'll be keeping an eye on rates over the next few months. As was mentioned we're pretty flexible with our choice of regional airports, as well as dates. We'll see what happens!


Goofyforlife...nice to hear from someone who's familiar with our quiet corner of the world! Don't you just love the Williamsport airport? Never a long line. Even now, show up at the airport 30 mins prior to departure and you have time to spare!

 

[goofyforlife]

Don't you just love the Williamsport airport? Never a long line. Even now, show up at the airport 30 mins prior to departure and you have time to spare!

The only problem we've had in the past is that US scAir almost always leaves some of our luggage behind on the return trip and it never made it back on the same trip. One time it took us two days to get all of our luggage back.

This happened pretty consistently when we flew through Pitt.

 

[bicker]

I just got back from a trip on US Airways, and didn't have a single luggage misdirection. That's two trips in a row with them.

 

[safetymom]

I use US Airways quite often and haven't had luggage problems in years.

 

[cindala]

You are not alone! We are encountering the same problem with airfare prices for next summer leaving from Newark, LGA or JFK! Very frustrating because in the past our best fares were found at 330 days out.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that things improve. Otherwise I may have to actually drive again!!!

 

[goofyforlife]

the problems occur at that airport (Williamsport, PA) because you are going from a larger plane from MCO to PIT 727 or 737 to a smaller plane 16 or 32 seater for the PIT to IPT leg of the flight. I think the problem lies when the flight is full and everyone has come on with a lot of checked luggage. The smaller planes can't handle the weight of all the bags so some gets left behind.