What is up with airfare????

[tinkerbell211]

I booked 2 seats on Delta out of Raleigh NC (RDU) for $166.00 incl tax and fees round trip 2/25 &3/1 last night. Booked thru priceline. These have been $200 plus for over a month, so I went for it. First time booking online.
How'd I do?
Also, my 6yr DD will be w/ me (for her 1st flight). I listed window seat pref. on my info, but forgot to list anything on hers. Do you think there will be any problem having her sit w/ me?
Hven/t posted anything since we returned from WDW last June. It's great to be back!!!

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by tinkerbell211
I booked 2 seats on Delta out of Raleigh NC (RDU) for $166.00 incl tax and fees round trip 2/25 &3/1 last night. Booked thru priceline. These have been $200 plus for over a month, so I went for it. First time booking online.
How'd I do?
Also, my 6yr DD will be w/ me (for her 1st flight). I listed window seat pref. on my info, but forgot to list anything on hers. Do you think there will be any problem having her sit w/ me?
Hven/t posted anything since we returned from WDW last June. It's great to be back!!!

For the dates you posted SW is $159.20 (RDU-MCO). If you need to change your flight you only have to pay the difference in the fare. With PL your stuck.

I think you made a mistake.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by Eeyore1954
Gee... you think so? Thanks for sharing your opinion. Now I'll share mine...

What I find unnecessary are whine-filled posts complaining that the airlines actually expect people to PAY for the service they provide. Imagine the nerve of these companies -- they actually want to (GASP!) make money!

As one who has an investment in some airlines, I think it is high time they started pricing fares to make a profit and stay out of bankruptcy court. People need to wake up and realize that if you want to fly, it's going to cost some $$. Do some research and you can still find bargains around. But above all, save for that vacation.

Or if you don't want to pay for the convenience of flying, drive. Makes it easier for me to snag that seat for my next vacation.

Now that I know we're on the same page, one final opinion:

I find posts such as yours unnecessary. Nobody asked for your opinion. People are simply comiserating that fares are higher right now. Take your concerns to a shareholder's discussion forum, or to the debate board.

And with that, I shall unsubscribe so as to prevent myself from causing this thread to be locked.

 

[justhat]

I too understand that airlines need to make a profit to stay in buisness, however, what I don't understand are the arbitrary price increases. Like another poster said, they even vary throughout the day! Also, how is it that a flight from Boston to Orlando costs less than a flight from New Orleans to Orlando or Newark to Orlando??? Both Newark and New Orleans are closer to Orlando, so they need less gas and the flight takes less time, allowing the pilot to do more routes, especially in the case from New Orleans, where the flight is only about an hour. They must be making some profit on those Newark and New Orleans flights, unless for some reason the arilines are willing to take a loss on Boston flights.

 

[Lewisc]

Airline pricing is not a mystery. Airlines can't cover their costs with the $100 R/T airfare specials that were run last year.

1) Low cost airlines (Jet Blue, SWA, Song) can fly with lower fares than the older airlines.

2) Older airlines have to either reduce their fares in markets where they compete with the lower cost airlines or get out of the market. Markets without lower cost airlines will tend to have higher fares.

3) Airlines discount a certain number of seats on each flight. More popular times and days have fewer discounted seats available. The discounted seats that are available sell out quicker. As the discounted seat sell out the remaining seats are higher priced.

4) Airlines have reduced their schedule. It makes more sense to cancel flights so that the reamining flight can be priced at profitable levels.

NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE, the airlines can't be profitable at some of the lower fares that were offered in the last few years.

5) Finally as more people have internet access more and more customers are competing for the lower priced seats. The discounted seats sell out faster as people are posting the sale information as fast as it's announced.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by SnackyStacky
Now that I know we're on the same page, one final opinion:

I find posts such as yours unnecessary. Nobody asked for your opinion. People are simply comiserating that fares are higher right now. Take your concerns to a shareholder's discussion forum, or to the debate board.

And with that, I shall unsubscribe so as to prevent myself from causing this thread to be locked.

What makes you think we are on the same page, let alone in the same book.

I read this thread through several times ... I couldn't find anywhere where someone directly asked for your opinion either, yet you felt free to share it. As did I.

You may not care for my opinion ... so be it. Doesn't mean I don't have as much right as you to share it.

People can commiserate all they want about higher fares. But they need to face reality -- higher fares are here to stay. I suppose everyone would love the alternative -- practically every airline in bankruptcy or out of business?

 

[curlyjbs]

OK.....everybody just kiss and make up!!

These boards help ALOT of people save time, money, aggrevation, and frustration while they plan what may be the ONLY trip their family can afford to take this year! Not everyone can afford multiple trips, first class air, deluxe accomodations etc. So lets just keep it friendly and remember that whatever deals, advise or "constructive critisism" we all may have to offer:

In the end we are all helping each other.

well, you know what I mean.

Off my soapbox -

curly

 

[tinkerbell211]

lewisc
I did check on sw, but they only had midday flights. I wanted evening to be able to get in 1 last day of school. I failed to mention that. Thanks for sharing that though.
Any ideas re: the 2nd part of my question. Will I have any prob sitting w/ my 6yr old, although I didn't make a seat pref. for her?

In regards to all of the bickering on this thread.... isn't there a debate forum on this site? PLEASE!!!

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by tinkerbell211
lewisc
I did check on sw, but they only had midday flights. I wanted evening to be able to get in 1 last day of school. I failed to mention that. Thanks for sharing that though.
Any ideas re: the 2nd part of my question. Will I have any prob sitting w/ my 6yr old, although I didn't make a seat pref. for her?

In regards to all of the bickering on this thread.... isn't there a debate forum on this site? PLEASE!!!

Did you bid with PL or book through their affiliate lowestfare.com?You said you booked through PL. No way you could have been guaranteed an afternoon flight if you bid through PL.

I'd call the airline and make sure you have seat assignment next to each other.

I think the "bickering" is really some people not realizing that some of the post 9-11 fare sales were not regular fares but temporary reductions made before the schedules could be adjusted.

 

[Prince Eric1]

Wow! If others out there are anything like me, I didn't fly until the last 2-3 years. My kids got old enough to go to Disney and Universal so we started flying and it will be our forth time this year. In this time fares have been very low and we have been fortunate. Not having flown previously, I for one was not used to higher prices and always got the $100-$150/person flights, and am not used to seeing them at $200 so consistently. I do not think that people or a poster asking about if airfare will drop again is whining, it seemed like a legit question that I also had. I really don't see the need for some people to call others whiners for asking a question or for putting them down. Apparently these people do save their money for their vacations, forgive them if they don't have as much as others saved. If the airlines need to raise the prices to turn a profit, so be it, but lets not put someone down just for asking if the fares are going to go down.

 

[MrsG]

Just read in our local paper that Jet Blue is going to begin flying 5 flights a day from LaGuardia in the spring. They didn't say to where, but I would bet Orlando was one of them. Hope this happens as it will definitely force a price war.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I just wish I could find $200 fares! The cheapest I am getting is $232 out of Toledo and $265 out of Detroit. I can get $170 from Transmeridian but that goes to Sanford and only has one flight a day. But heck, it will save me $300 or more.
The highest I am willing to pay a regular airline is $195--the best I ever did was $138 but that was right after 9/11 for a Dec. 01 flight.
Song doesn't fly out of Detroit or Toledo--I am still looking for another low cost airline that does. I'll keep looking, but I booked for my summer trips at the end of Jan. in 00, 01 and 02 and never had to pay over $195.
Robin M.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Rock'n Robin
I just wish I could find $200 fares! The cheapest I am getting is $232 out of Toledo and $265 out of Detroit. I can get $170 from Transmeridian but that goes to Sanford and only has one flight a day. But heck, it will save me $300 or more.
The highest I am willing to pay a regular airline is $195--the best I ever did was $138 but that was right after 9/11 for a Dec. 01 flight.
Song doesn't fly out of Detroit or Toledo--I am still looking for another low cost airline that does. I'll keep looking, but I booked for my summer trips at the end of Jan. in 00, 01 and 02 and never had to pay over $195.
Robin M.

SW flies Detroit-Orlando (not sure if it's non-stop) and you should be able to get flights for around $200 R/T.

 

[jgates]

In my situation with just me and DD, I will have to bit the bullet and take what they offer, but it is already going to cost me about $80 more than it would have a few weeks ago. That is about 6 counter service meals or 2 (maybe more) REALLY nice sit-down meals for the two of us. It can affect your vacation significantly!

 

[maciec]

I don't think that it is whinning either when people are looking for lower airfares and asking questions as to why the fares are so high. I feel the same way....BUMMED! It's a very expensive trip to go to WDW as it is and I am looking for ways to save $$$$. I think all of you guys are very lucky to be getting the fares that you are right now. The lowest fare that I can get out of Salisbury is $274 plus taxes. We only have 1 carrier (USAIR) that flies out of our little airport. The next closest airport is almost 3 hours away from our home. Taking into consideration long-term parking, travel time, and hassle of hauling ourselves, children (3 and 4 months), and luggage it really doesn't pay to drive all the way to Philly, DC, or BWI.

We have thought about driving but 18 hours is a long trip for such little children let alone myself, and dh.

I can only hope that our fares go down to what I have paid before $236. I doubt it though. Thank GOD for my travelocity rewards.

Melissa

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by Lewisc
SW flies Detroit-Orlando (not sure if it's non-stop) and you should be able to get flights for around $200 R/T.

SWA does fly out of DTW, but there are NO non-stops. Stops are either in Chicago, St. Louis or Nashville. Some of those flights are connections and you do not have to get off the plane, others require a change in planes.

SWA really does have some good deals out of DTW!


pin

 

[luvmarypoppins]

All I know is that these airlines in the ny metro area are really sticking it to us during spring break. I guess they know they can get whatever the market can bear. I have checked jet blue, delta, american, song and southwest. So far I think we will go with southwest since they have the best times and no connections but it is still $326 each times the 5 of us. Ouch!!!! Anyone have any better luck.

 

[anabelle]

Rock n Robin,
when are you flying out? Spirit has flights $185 round trip in early June, out of DTW

 

[Rock'n Robin]

We are flying out July 2, which may be part of the problem with the holiday. Our cruise leaves July 3 and we return (ship and plane) July 10.
I did check SWA last night but they are not booking past June 11 on the website. I will check spirit later!
We really like flying out of Toledo, though, it is a lot easier--we have to figure if the savings for 5 is worth the car up to the airport--plus I am also checking for my parents and my sister's family.
Robin M.

 

[cindala]

I too have been having a problem finding airfares for this summer's trip that are priced at what I am use to getting.

I always book our air in August or September for the following July, and have always received the best fare for those flights when I book early. For flying from LaGuardia to Orlando I paid $182 in 2003, $167 in 2001 (understandable with 9/11), $179 in 2000, $211 in 1999 and so on. Generally, the fares were always in the $180-$200 range, and very good considering we fly on the July 4th weekends most of the time.

This year is certainly different! In August when I checked our usual flights they were $215, so I didn't buy because I felt that was too high so early on. Big mistake, I just should have purchased them. I just watched them go higher and higher up to $255.

We have specific dates to fly, and can only move it by a day earlier if we had to. That didn't help any with the fares. We also like to fly very early in the morning to get there, not at night.

After tons of research, I finally bought our tickets on Song for $235 RT, direct, non stop, the exact times we want. LaGuardia to MCO, and then back to Newark. (Go figure! Cheaper to fly back into Newark!)

For the same dates, JetBlue was $305 (some discount airline!), Continental; $485 (yeah, sure I'll pay that!), Southeast had nothing open on our dates, USAIR; nothing direct, SouthWest; I would have to fly out of Islip and they are not showing anything further out than June 11, USA3000 had nothing for our dates, Spirit; $205 but not the best times, plus older planes, American; $200 from/to JFK and 8am flight back home (no way!) and finally Delta/Song; LGA-MCO and back $245, LGA-MCO-JFK $224,or LGA-MCO-EWR $235. Newark is definitely less of a hassle than JFK, so to us it was worth the extra $10 for the convenience, plus car service is $20 cheaper from Newark than JFK.

After all that, guess what I am saying is that with all the fuel surcharges, security fees etc., if you can get something around $200-$225, go for it. If you have really specific dates and times to fly like us, jump on it.

The more flexible you are with your dates and times to fly, and especially if you don't mind connections you still might get something cheaper, but airfares are higher this year, so just do your research and know your market.