What is with HIGH AIR prices?!

[lorivegas]

I have been trying for MONTHS to get from chicago to orlando.... prices for 2 of us are$1000 and up ! Yes, JUST FOR AIRFARE!! Southwest and airtran... the cheapest ones on the market! I understand , ( well, really i dont know why even gas prices have gone sky high), that the fuel costs have gone up??? but why is it that I can go to Vegas, which is alot farther than orlando... for ALOt cheaper! this doesnt even make sense to me... ?? What the heck is going on !!?? The only thing i can rationalize, is the ole' supply and demand... we all WANT to get away... so they will just raise the prices. What a darn joke! Guess getting to see the mouse isnt THAT important this year... Just had to vent... its just so frustrating.

 

[PuppyPrincess]

I booked with AirTran the day they released their schedule from Phila to Orlando. Got my right away. I keep checking website to make sure I got a deal and they didn't go cheaper. I'm always after a good deal. Anyway, my return flight alone right now, one way, one person, is over what I paid for two of us, RT. Just thought I'd share. Seems they are all high!

 

[MomsGoneGoofy]

I hear you

We are having the same problem with our plans for a November trip to Disney.

Definitely supply and demand. Going to Orlando from New Jersey during Jersey week. Been checking since the dates opened up with United. The fares were so much higher than the last 2 years that we decided to wait to see if maybe Jet Blue would be better when they came out. Nope.
I can fly (United, the same dates) to Hawaii for less There are still seats available on the flights to Orlando, but, we are not paying those prices.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

When are you going? That has a lot to do with it as well, but I think you're dead on. It's a supply/demand thing as well. I live in the Metro Detroit Area and Delta has a hub at DTW. They used to have a ton of non-stop flights to MCO daily, now it's 5 throughout the day with the last one leaving at 7:45 at night. We used to get great airfare, but haven't seen anything cheaper than $270 pp in a long time and upwards of $500 if traveling at peak times is also common.

stinks....

 

[DebbieB]

I have been trying for MONTHS to get from chicago to orlando.... prices for 2 of us are$1000 and up ! Yes, JUST FOR AIRFARE!! Southwest and airtran... the cheapest ones on the market! I understand , ( well, really i dont know why even gas prices have gone sky high), that the fuel costs have gone up??? but why is it that I can go to Vegas, which is alot farther than orlando... for ALOt cheaper! this doesnt even make sense to me... ?? What the heck is going on !!?? The only thing i can rationalize, is the ole' supply and demand... we all WANT to get away... so they will just raise the prices. What a darn joke! Guess getting to see the mouse isnt THAT important this year... Just had to vent... its just so frustrating.

With all the airline mergers, there is not as much competition so they can get away with raising the prices. It's all supply and demand.

 

[robinb]

With all the airline mergers, there is not as much competition so they can get away with raising the prices. It's all supply and demand.

Yup. I was just about to say the same thing.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The short answer to why airlines now charge more to Orlando is "because they can."

Airlines have reduced their excess seat capacity, even in markets that did not lose competition due to mergers. They can now charge more.

I used to able to get roundtrips from ORD to MCO for under $200 at all times of the year except for the busiest holiday periods. Most airlines were hemorrhaging red ink on their financial reports, but we could buy cheap roundtrips.

Now, I'm thrilled to find an ORD-MCO roundtrip for under $300, and I've resigned myself to pay $400 or more, especially if I don't want flights that leave at the crack of dawn or arrive late at night.

 

[ain0004]

This is why we jumped on the Tampa band wagon. We are still not that far from Disney and rent a car anyway. We will be driving for our 2014 trip due to insane airline prices.

 

[Greysword]

Ok, I'll bite. When are your dates and starting airports, so I can check the pricing for that time on non-WN carriers?

<sigh> This complaint happens frequently, but it is important to understand the pricing metrics involved, since the airlines are actually operating a very thin margins.

First, I explained the metrics involved here last month.

Second, be aware that prices today are much much less expensive than they were in the 1990s and earlier (adjusted for inflation)! You'd likely pay $500 per person in the 1970s and 1980s for the same flight, but the dollar was worth more.

What has changed are American expectations. The "low-cost" airlines, especially WN (Southwest), roared through like a tornado in the 2000s slashing prices below sustainable levels in an effort to gain market share. Now that they have market share, the prices are up to the same levels as legacy airlines, and higher in many cases. If the traveling public are expecting the fares they had 10 years ago (10 years!) then it is an unrealistic expectation, since the dollar is worth less now that in 2006 and earlier, and we're about to see inflation kicking in.

Not to disparage the OP, but it is critical that expectations be reset to match the reality of today, instead of the small pricing window that was the 2000s. That decade is gone, and pricing is normalized now. Combined with razor-thin margins for the airlines, we are actually in better shape than we should be!

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I realize Green Bay is about 4 hours away but you might get some good flights on Allegiant. Keep in mind Allegiant flies in to Sanford airport. They don't fly every day but I have seen good prices.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I realize Green Bay is about 4 hours away but you might get some good flights on Allegiant. Keep in mind Allegiant flies in to Sanford airport. They don't fly every day but I have seen good prices.

If the OP is willing to fly into Orlando-Sanford on Allegiant, there are two airports that are much closer to Chicago than Appleton-Green Bay (Wisconsin).

Allegiant flies to Orlando-Sanford from Chicago-Gary (Indiana) and Chicago-Rockford (Illinois). [UPDATE: Allegiant Air is pulling out of Gary.]

Disney's Magical Express only serves Orlando International Airport. Towncar service from Orlando-Sanford is expensive. For passengers who would rent a car anyway, Orlando-Sanford is not so bad.

Allegiant has very limited schedules. Anyone considering Allegiant should search this board for the good and the bad about Allegiant.

 

[frisbeego]

I know that a lot depends on the actual days, but I got my non-stop SW flights in early October from Chicago to MCO at well below $500 pp. If you're willing to have a layover, then the prices are even cheaper.

Of course, if you're willing to fly Spirit, you can get an even better deal. Less than $200 pp.

 

[quirty30]

I have been trying for MONTHS to get from chicago to orlando.... prices for 2 of us are$1000 and up ! Yes, JUST FOR AIRFARE!! Southwest and airtran... the cheapest ones on the market! I understand , ( well, really i dont know why even gas prices have gone sky high), that the fuel costs have gone up??? but why is it that I can go to Vegas, which is alot farther than orlando... for ALOt cheaper! this doesnt even make sense to me... ?? What the heck is going on !!?? The only thing i can rationalize, is the ole' supply and demand... we all WANT to get away... so they will just raise the prices. What a darn joke! Guess getting to see the mouse isnt THAT important this year... Just had to vent... its just so frustrating.

I hear you. I have been trying to buy tickets for our August trip ORD/MCO for several months now and the price is stuck at $344 per person RT. The most I've ever paid in the last 4 years is $267, and that was over spring break in 2010. All the other trips were less than $225 per person. I'm wondering if $344 is going to be as good as it gets. And for the record, Bing Travel is worthless - 2 days ago it told me "80% certain fares will decrease $50 or more." Today it's 80% certain they will go up as much....go figure. Oh and I tried pricing Allegiant...no return trips the day we want to come back. Not to mention Gary and Rockford are both appx 1 hour away and any savings would be lost on baggage fees and car rental as we always use DME and don't get a car.

 

[lorivegas]

I beleive that allegiant air is almost kaput. Such a shame. Yes, we tried flights that were early, late, stop, no stops, etc. ect.... it has been stuck at $274 -$345 EACH WAY ! I KNOW times are changing but, gee whiz... in 6 months.. the price has doubled almost each way ! And how do you explain the person that said they could fly to Hawaii, CHEAPER ??? Or las Vegas?? Perhaps we all will change the " DEMAND " portion of the "supply and demand" issue.. it is a reality... PEOPLE CANT AFFORD TO GO NOW... I mean Disney is expensive enough... let alone paying SO much for airfare! and then on top of it.. trying to pay for an ENTIRE FAMILY.... forget it ! ( i dont know about most of you.... but I scrimp and save to go to the magic happy place... and then I really BARELY can afford it... )... NOw its just out of the question.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I beleive that allegiant air is almost kaput.

Actually, Allegiant Air is doing well.

The Wall Street Journal had an article on June 4, 2013, titled, "Allegiant Air: The Tardy, Gas-Guzzling, Most Profitable Airline in America
Allegiant's Airplanes Guzzle Gas and Are Often Tardy; But Its Strategy Is Working."

According to the graphic page of the online version of the article:

As U.S. airlines retreat from many small cities in the U.S., Allegiant has begun to fill the void. The 16-year-old carrier has achieved the industry's lowest costs, fullest planes and highest margins by flying where its competitors don't. Allegiant specializes in carrying travelers from 75 small U.S. cities to 14 warm-weather hot spots.​

But that doesn't mean it's a great airline. According to the article:

Allegiant also had the worst on-time rating of any U.S. carrier in 2012, with more than 30% of its flights late, according to FlightStats.com, which tracks airline data.​

If you're a WSJ subscriber (or if you're lucky), you can read the full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324423904578525310460541592.html

 

[Goofey Drool]

I flew out of Boston to Orlando during April school vacation in 1994 for $239. Last year we flew out of Boston to Orlando during April school vacation for $269. I guess we cant expect deals all the time and prices from 20 years ago. You will hear people post deals they got on here all the time... how they are flying down for $150 bucks etc. If you have a flexible schedule and the planets line up in your favor great. That being said I believe we will be driving this year.

 

[JessM]

I managed to snag a SW flight out of my home airport for 240 for my Dec trip, sadly I was thrilled! I remember not so long ago finding fare for 125 rondtrip! But that was from an airport 2 hours away, factor in the drive and parking costs I'm still not doing too bad.

Keep checking!

 

[epsmith921]

OP when are you going? Southwest is having a sale that got our flights out of Michigan down to $97 pp each way. I'm seeing $166 pp each way out of midway for them starting in July and down to as low as $143 pp each way in sept and October. Some decent prices to be had even in November and December. Of course this assumes you are able to fly out of midway instead of ohare. I am admittedly not a big fan of midway what with the short runway and the area, but if it's possible for you to go there, maybe that could work for you?

 

[Greysword]

<original answer redacted>

You know what? Nevermind my answer. I give up on this.

Once the OP gives us her dates, we can get her the proper pricing. However, I think she just wants to scream at someone instead of solve her expense problem.

 

[shyjade]

Have you looked into flying out of Milwaukee? I booked 2 roundtrip tickets (nonstop flights) on AirTran (booked via Southwest, so no luggage fees) for $600 total in October.

Might be worth the 90 minute drive north.