What happened to American Airlines? UPDATE PAGE 4

[4407mark]

I checked on airfare last week for our trip in mid-December and airfare was $297 and today it's $866! We're staying over a Sat. night and we're certainly more than 21 days out. Did I miss the news that AA had re-done all of their planes in gold leaf and rich corinthian leather?

Any ideas?

 

[lilboo]

Did I miss the news that AA had re-done all of their planes in gold leaf and rich corinthian leather?

Thanks for the giggle.

I don't have an answer ....so here's a BUMP for ya at least. I've seen some big fare jumps for the same flights from week to week but never anything like that.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I'm guessing it has to do with the price of gasoline lately. I had heard that the airlines were going to pass on the additional costs to the passengers, but that's ridiculous!

 

[missypie]

When you see a good fare, book it! I booked a flight to Paris last July, 9 months out...$547. 7 months out is was about $700. 5 months out it was about $900. A couple of weeks before the flight it was $2400.

 

[Aristocath]

I thought I was losing my mind! I am checking for May 28 through June 2 and it had been at $302. I was going to buy when it dropped below $300 and now it is running anywhere from $882 to $1172, depending on flight times. Then I checked for May 29th instead and it was down to $255! So I guess we'll fly out on Saturday morning instead of Friday morning!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I think Southwest has a Florida sale on now through June. Pretty good fares too.

 

[leahannpen]

Maybe you accidentally put in the wrong dates? Maybe there was a glitch...check again...I'm showing lower fares right now...maybe even cheaper than what you originally had... Good luck!

p.s. if you find a good fare, grab it, don't wait. they change all the time!

 

[4407mark]

Thanks for the info - I did enter the right dates although I may try and cary out departure date by a day and see if that makes a difference. I did check Southwest but they are only booking through mid-June now. Sounds like they might be our best opportunity unless American gets rid of the gold leaf

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I see your in StL. You may want to wait until Southwest has booking dates out to Dec. Sometimes American will match the Southwest price. While the sale is only into June, they are booking flights into Aug. Since we no longer have a hub here prices are going to be higher. I prefer American but will fly Southwest for a better fare.

 

[4407mark]

Hi DisneyCrazyMom! You're right - since American pulled their hub, it has been more difficult to get direct flights. We did fly SWA last fall and had a great trip so I don't mind waiting to see - they do have direct flights to and from MCO and the times fit our schedule last fall. I'll keep my fingers crossed!!!!

 

[wendyl]

Just so you know

Delta raised their prices too. Flights for JUne were $277 a month ago and now they are $335.

Not as big a jump as AA, but who knows how much more they will climb.

 

[shortbun]

When you see a good price, book it then or often you lose
it. Airlines have fares all based on inventory available and
occassionaly have incentive prices but those expire very
quickly. Some sales are as short as 24 hours. You don't say
in your post where you are going. If it's Orlando, I'd venture
to guess that other airlines have good fares still. Try CO
thru Houston or Delta via Atlanta. As others have recommended,
SW will advance their dates offered fairly soon, they may know the exact date. You could call them and ask so you don't miss it.

 

[chell]

According to what I was told, Wednesday is the best day to check airfares. Something about when they release deals and such. Good luck in getting a great rate.

 

[Planogirl]

Airlines are weird. I tried to book flights to Virginia for Spring break but it was much less expensive to fly to Europe at that time. And that was on all of the airlines! Even odder, American was one of the highest and Dallas is their hub.

Good luck getting a decent rate. Southwest is better overall anyway.

 

[Sleepy]

I wondered the same about Alitalia. I was waiting for a *spring deal* on the 28th of March when the *winter deal * expired. Wow, a ticket that was $744 on the 28th was $1,300 the next day and has not come down since. Sad thing is if I buy a ticket from Delta, I can get it for $940 and I will be using the SAME plane!!!!! Why in the world is it cheaper to buy it through Delta if it is an Alitalia plane? Why did the rates go up $600 from one day to the next ...never to come back down? My flight is not until the end of May.

 

[4407mark]

Well...if you can believe this, I checked the airfare again tonight from home and got it for $293.50 per person. A few bucks less than last week and a heck of a lot better than the $866 I got earlier today. Orbitz is still showing the $866 fare for AA. I don't know what happened - DW wanted me to wait and see what SWA came up with but according to their agent, December won't open up until mid- to late July and I just didn't want to wait until the height of the summer travel season to chance it. Just don't let the prices drop lower than now or DW said it's coming out of my mad money for the trip!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

4407mark, I am glad you found a good fare. I think anything under $300 is good from here. If the fare goes down AA will give you vouchers for the difference.

 

[4407mark]

Thanks for the info Disneycrazymom - I am going to keep an eye on the fare!

 

[jipsy]

Just wondering how there can be an update on Page 4 when this thread only has 2 pages.

 

[dzneprincess]

That threw me for a loop too! LOL