Why are airlines so frustrating??

[kimsdreamvacation]

We are returning to DW in Sept.(23rd-Oct.3rd) I have been watching and waiting for airline prices for those dates and we have now booked on Midwest with 2 nonstop flights for about 187.00 RT. I have also watched AirTrans for the same time and we could only get 1nonstop(departure) flight and our return flight would have had a layover and plane change, I kept looking at Southwest but they aren't booking out that far yet so any dates I checked were all in Aug. and those had 2 stops with plane changesour group has 4 kids ages,6,11,17,18 a handicapped grandmother and her elderly friend so those options were definately out.I just can't understand why these airlines are so different on their flights? They tell you to book early for the best flights and prices but yet they make you jump thru hoops to even get a decent flight or price.This is our first time flying for a vacation, we have always driven and I'm glad we have this chance to start our vacation earlier this time but Im really starting to think that we will go back to driving again,it is really way less of a hassle, and now that we purchased a conversion van it will definately be more comfortable of a ride. So I hope the airlines enjoy my money this year because I truly think it will be the last time I spend it with them.

 

[Tara]

I hope you enjoy flying - I can't imagine not being at Disney about 3 hours after leaving home!

I'm trying to figure out just what is frustrating you, though - are you asking why the different airlines have such different flight options? If so, it's largely because you live near an airport that isn't a hub, so each airline has limited direct flight options and each has very different connection points, depending on where their hub cities are. And in some cases, there are routes that just aren't efficient for some carriers, so they focus on the routes that are more efficient (and therefore make them more money) and they don't try to directly compete on these other routes.

You are right in that the system isn't designed to be customer-friendly, but I do think that it's less confusing and frustrating the more you do it. Next time you'll know that unless AirTran or Southwest have changed their routes, Midwest is the easiest way to go with that nonstop flight.

If you need any tips on traveling by air with your family, do ask here - there's a lot of common sense and knowledge to be found here!

 

[txo1474]

I can understand your frustration about the differences in the airlines and inability to book SW this far in advance. However, if I could get 187 RT from the upper midwest to MCO, Id never drive or use my airline benefits again!!!!

You got a great price with a good airline. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[seashoreCM]

Booking early to get a good fare is no longer true, except for the choicest flights on really popular dates like late on Sunday afdter Thanksgiving.

Years ago, airlines would support their "book early" advice by price matching your ticket if you saw their fares go down after you bought. Most airlines don't do that any more.

Nowadays the name of the game is to wait until it goes on sale.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, let's see. Airlines have different policies on how far in advance they release fares. The legacy airlines, such as - but not limited to - Delta, American, Continental - allow passengers to purchase tickets as much as eleven months in advance. MANY conditions then affect the ultimate flight schedules - just look at the recent complaints about Delta and AirTran, and older ones about almost every other airline. Southwest avoids this by not releasing fares until they're pretty much positive of their schedules - the next set of fares is due to be announced around March 25, I think?

While changing planes with a large group isn't 100% perfect, certainly the OP, her husband, and the children are capable of navigating from one gate to another (usually not too far apart) on their own; with advance notice, the airline/airport will gladly provide wheelchair assistance to passengers requiring it.

I'm not sure what 'hoops' need to be jumped through to find fares? There are websites like kayak.com which are travel search engines - they'll provide ALL the fares (except non-participating SWA) from all the airlines for whatever itinerary the user enters; they don't sell anything, the user simply clicks through from Kayak to the chosen service provider (which then pays Kayak for the click-through sale - at, again, NO cost to the customer).

"Decent" flight/price vary depending on the person. I will pay somewhat more for a JetBlue flight - nonstop or with a change - than for a flight on any other airline because of the value (not just the cost). While money IS important, sometimes (most times, to me) it's worth spending more money to get more value. JetBlue's pricing policy - excepting sales - IS that once a fare bucket is sold out on a given flight, the fares for that flight will only increase... even if a passenger with a lower fare cancels. This in part prevents passengers from checking the fare every three minutes and continually calling to request a credit; it also assures JetBlue of its expected revenue. I don't begrudge them the opportunity to someday turn a profit.

 

[bicker]

Whenever purchasing something, there is always some merit in looking at things from the sellers' perspective. If you prefer, you can think of it along the lines of "Know thy enemy..." The airlines' objective to best serve their overriding obligations, of course, but it is important to remember that getting us to our destination with us paying the least amount of money is absolutely no part of their obligation. On the contrary, their overriding obligations involve our safety, and the return on investment that they provide to their owners. In evaluating whether they're doing the right thing, those are the only criteria that count. That may not be how any of us choose, for ourselves, which airline we patronize, but it is absolutely the only rational way of appraising the airline with regard to whether they're doing the right thing.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I'm sorry... 8 people in a car, 2 of whom are elderly, 4 of whom are kids, for HOW many hours/days v. 2 non-stop flights for less than $200 each?

Is this a trick question is is your last name Griswold?

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm thrilled when I can get direct flights for <$200 pp.

 

[DebbieB]

Why airlines are so different on their flights? Are you asking why they don't all offer non-stops from your city? For smaller cities, there are just not enough customers to offer several non-stops daily. If you can get non-stops for $187, I would jump on it.

 

[kimsdreamvacation]

Okay maybe I wasn't as clear as I should have been,I agree that 187 RT is a good price, and yes we could navigate from 1 gate to another, and no my name is not Griswald.I went to book our tickets and Midwest wouldn't let me book all 7 at 1 time(grandmothers friend is using sky miles and will be on different airline)so I had to book my family of 5 first and when I went back in to book my mother and nephew less than 5 mins. later the price jumped 13 dollars. After trying to get it at the same price we had(the 187) my mother finally said just book it like it is I'll pay the 13 and so will my sister for her son,who is one of the kids traveling with us,but luckily it wasnt that price when I booked for the 5 of us.So these are the things that frustrate me, how can it jump 13 dollars in 5 mins, there weren't any other seats filled in that time, I looked.I went on all the other travel websites like ,Travelocity, Orbitz,Expedia and so on.Saw the exact same prices as on the airlines own sites.We are flying out of Milwaukee which is a major Hub as one op called it, so why are the flights so different? I'm not trying to bash any airlines here by any means just wanted to see if I wasn't the only one who felt this way,but I get the impression I am the only one.We can do such a long drive because we are used to it,have done it with 4 kids and DH and myself in a small suv pulling a popup, and we now own a conversion van that seats 7 with dvd player and fold down bench and reclining seats ,but it would only be 4 or 5 of us on said drive not 8.So I aplologize for rattling on about tickets and airlines think I'll just go back to keeping my opinions to myself and as they say"shut up and drive!!!!"

 

[eliza61]

We are returning to DW in Sept.(23rd-Oct.3rd) I have been watching and waiting for airline prices for those dates and we have now booked on Midwest with 2 nonstop flights for about 187.00 RT. I have also watched AirTrans for the same time and we could only get 1nonstop(departure) flight and our return flight would have had a layover and plane change, I kept looking at Southwest but they aren't booking out that far yet so any dates I checked were all in Aug. and those had 2 stops with plane changesour group has 4 kids ages,6,11,17,18 a handicapped grandmother and her elderly friend so those options were definately out.I just can't understand why these airlines are so different on their flights? They tell you to book early for the best flights and prices but yet they make you jump thru hoops to even get a decent flight or price.This is our first time flying for a vacation, we have always driven and I'm glad we have this chance to start our vacation earlier this time but Im really starting to think that we will go back to driving again,it is really way less of a hassle, and now that we purchased a conversion van it will definately be more comfortable of a ride. So I hope the airlines enjoy my money this year because I truly think it will be the last time I spend it with them.

I think it's just your frustration speaking kim,
Airlines are not trying to be difficult just to annoy it's passengers although at times it may seem that way.

First, remember airlines are trying to stay afloat in a terrible market so their job is to provide a half decent service economically.

As a general rule checking early will afford you a more discounted price but that does not mean cheap. so know you have to pick your poison and figure out what things are important to you.
You want a flight that is non stop (always my preference) you are going to pay more. So now you have a decision save money or convenience?

You wait closure to your trip the less choices you have as seats fill up.

I'm flying to Europe this summer. I'm driving to NYC instead of my area airport (philly) because it was the only place to get the fllight I wanted at a price I was comfortable with.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The price went up because you bought the last of the cheaper fares for that flight. Different airlines are based in different cities with different routes. It's impossible for every airline to cover every route.

Okay maybe I wasn't as clear as I should have been,I agree that 187 RT is a good price, and yes we could navigate from 1 gate to another, and no my name is not Griswald.I went to book our tickets and Midwest wouldn't let me book all 7 at 1 time(grandmothers friend is using sky miles and will be on different airline)so I had to book my family of 5 first and when I went back in to book my mother and nephew less than 5 mins. later the price jumped 13 dollars. After trying to get it at the same price we had(the 187) my mother finally said just book it like it is I'll pay the 13 and so will my sister for her son,who is one of the kids traveling with us,but luckily it wasnt that price when I booked for the 5 of us.So these are the things that frustrate me, how can it jump 13 dollars in 5 mins, there weren't any other seats filled in that time, I looked.I went on all the other travel websites like ,Travelocity, Orbitz,Expedia and so on.Saw the exact same prices as on the airlines own sites.We are flying out of Milwaukee which is a major Hub as one op called it, so why are the flights so different? I'm not trying to bash any airlines here by any means just wanted to see if I wasn't the only one who felt this way,but I get the impression I am the only one.We can do such a long drive because we are used to it,have done it with 4 kids and DH and myself in a small suv pulling a popup, and we now own a conversion van that seats 7 with dvd player and fold down bench and reclining seats ,but it would only be 4 or 5 of us on said drive not 8.So I aplologize for rattling on about tickets and airlines think I'll just go back to keeping my opinions to myself and as they say"shut up and drive!!!!"

 

[dudspizza]

The price went up because you bought the last of the cheaper fares for that flight. Different airlines are based in different cities with different routes. It's impossible for every airline to cover every route.

Bingo. To elaborate for OP, the airline allots so many tickets to a certain flight in each fare category (Fare bucket). When you purchased your 5 seats, you purchased the remaining tickets in that fare bucket. When you went back in, the price went up a whole $13. So you paid $200 for those last two tickets... still a good price.

Imagine how I felt. I priced tickets to Tampa but was waiting for approval from my boss. The next morning I went in and the total price had come up $125! That fare was still the cheapest and I had to buy. Nothing I could do about it. Frustrating, yes, worth getting mad about, no. I understand it can happen and that is how it goes.

Unfortunately, all seats on an airplane are not priced the same. Prices can and do change. You make the best of it and move on.

As others have said, OP, you got a good price and I am sure you worked for it. I make it a game and buy when the time is right.....

Duds

 

[Lewisc]

Is this a trick question is is your last name Griswold?

+1

Airlines display the lowest fare that's available for the number of passeners you specify. Had you tried to make a reservation for 7 passengers insted of 5 all 7 of you would have paid $13 more.