US Air (or any airline) -- why does this happen?

[LtlTee]

I've been watching flights out of Philadelphia for our May trip. I last checked prices online maybe 6 days ago. They had the exact flight times I wanted for $196.00, which I was very happy with. I should have just ordered my tickets then...
I just checked online and the round trip price is now $629! What makes the prices jump like this? I actually ran my dates through three times because I was sure I was doing something wrong. Is this an indication that that flight(s) are close to being sold out?
I love trip planning except for finding airfare. I find it the most stressful part of my vacation.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Sounds like they only have first class seats available.

When I find air fare, at a price and times that I'm happy with, I book it. I have been able to book air for around $150-160, from Philly/AC to MCO, non-stop, the last few times we flew. Anything around those prices, I jump on. I already have our flights booked for our December trip. I paid $153 out of AC to MCO.

 

[lsteadman]

Friday!!!!!

 

[LtlTee]

I wanted to book it at $196 when I saw it last week. We have friends going with us and they asked me if I could book their tickets when I do ours. I was just waiting for my friend to give me the money -- I should have just thrown it on my card and waited for her to pay me later!!
This was kind of a last minute trip, so I'm just now getting around to the airfare. Even Spirit out of AC is higher at $265, but I guess that beats $629, huh?

 

[LtlTee]

Friday!!!!!

I never knew this!!! Is there a particular day that is better?

I had heard that between midnight Wednesday and early morning Thursday the prices drop dramatically and usually go back up Thursday, or something like that... (or on the eve of a full moon when the planets align, or something )
I hate this.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

The same thing happened to us. Check the seats on the plane. We waited to long and then the seats were full so the only remaining tickets went up by $300 ...we are waiting for the summer instead of April!

 

[DebbieB]

I went through that last year with USAir. They only allocate so many seats per price class. However, they sometimes reallocate seats back to the lower classes. I was looking for May flights for 3 people. It was running around $700 each. They were coach class, not first class. First class usually runs over $1,000. Then one night it dropped to $251! I grabbed them and when I checked again it was back up to $700. Keep checking.

 

[apagano]

Had the same issue planning my March trip. I watched it go from $79 each way up to $200, then back down to $79 before I was able to snag a reservation. I was also waiting on a friend to make up his mind. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the fluctuations. Sometimes the price changes WHILE you are trying to make a reservation. I usually try to book the flights as soon as I find a fare I think is reasonable.

 

[seashoreCM]

they asked me if I could book their tickets when I do ours. I was just waiting for my friend to give me the money -- I should have just thrown it on my card and waited for her to pay me later!!

Not good. More trouble than it is worth. Always get the money up front. In the case of airplane tickets your friend should be able to give you the maximum she wants to pay.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[zurgswife]

Southwest out of Philly is only $176 in Mid May (just guessing by your countdown)

 

[zurgswife]

AirTran out of Philly also has some direct flights for $176 Mid may

 

[LtlTee]

Southwest out of Philly is only $176 in Mid May (just guessing by your countdown)

I had checked Airtran and Southwest -- they had some flights that were okay, but I really liked the USAir flights. We like an early flight out (6 or 7 AM) and around an 8 PM flight home. We've done this the past 4 or 5 times we've gone, so I guess I'm spoiled. I don't think I'm going to have the luxury of being so picky now though.

 

[4formickey]

tueday and wednesday the the price go down. This is around thesame time that the emails go out also. Please pay close attention to mid week every thing go down at that time .Gas is always cheaper midweek and up for the weekend,home loans rate are lower during this time frame also. If you can check back wednesday morning the rates may have change.Rccl even run specials on tuesday for their ships. Hump day is cheap day

 

[Savin4Disney]

I called Midwest Express about 2 weeks ago.. Milwaukee to Orlando (direct) Leave Milw at 7:25 am... Leave Orlando coming home 7:50 pm. 212.40 Did not have the money to book. Called Monday-Thursday (yep I called every day) 217.40. I held them on Thursday and bought on Friday. I am assuming if you hold and the price goes up. You get the hold price.

Thanks for the hint not to buy on Friday. I will use that for my next trip.

And called today Saturday and same tickets.. $227.40.

My budget said no more than 250 each for tickets. So I came in 68.00 cheaper.

But I figure I saved more since we are using Magical Express for the to and from airport.

Going to sit and make up my budget for the trip so I know where I am.

 

[LtlTee]

I went through that last year with USAir. They only allocate so many seats per price class. However, they sometimes reallocate seats back to the lower classes. I was looking for May flights for 3 people. It was running around $700 each. They were coach class, not first class. First class usually runs over $1,000. Then one night it dropped to $251! I grabbed them and when I checked again it was back up to $700. Keep checking.

I guess this is what happened. One week later the exact flights I wanted (that were $196 and then had gone up to $629) went back down to $216. I grabbed them, and boy am I relieved!

 

[beccasmom]

SW has a 7:00 am flight out of Philly, but probably not a late evening one (I hate to fly with connections, so I came back on the 3:00 pm flight). The airlines sure don't make it easy for us!

 

[Cindie-rella]

I'm sure glad I booked my flight back when I did. We leave on April 24th & return on May 4th. I got N/S out of Philly on USair for $176 r/t. I thought that if I waited I might get one of those $99 R/T specials. Whew! Sure glad I didn't wait. At that time (back in Oct.) I was having a hard time finding the flight times I wanted with Non-stop. When I found this flight w/USair it leaves Philly at 7:30 a.m. and on the return we leave MCO at 7:30 p.m. They were exactly what I was looking for. However when I booked I was told these tickets were non-returnable/refundable. After I booked I found out about the bankruptcy trouble w/ USair. (just my luck!) BUT... I was told that if they "did" go under another airline would fly us. So I 'm not worried about that. Just glad I got the flight when I did.