Why is flying to Dallas so dang $$$???

[pat fan]

Just priced some air from Hartford to Dallas, and I am in serious sticker shock! I guess it really is no joke that all things are bigger in Texas, and that includes the airfare!

 

[disprincessatheart]

I just flew to Dallas myself. Make sure you're checking both Dallas airports (love field and dallas fort worth). Definitely try American and southwest as both have hubs in Dallas (one at each airport). I got round trip tickets direct from Raleigh to Dallas for about $300 on American. I had to wait for a sale and do mid week flights, but it worked for me. Good luck!

 

[pat fan]

thanks!

 

[beansmom]

coz, like Hawaii, everybody wants to go there

would flying out of boston save you $$ or even providence?

 

[Planogirl]

Flying out of Dallas is expensive too. I feel your pain.

 

[RachelsMommie]

I live in the Dallas area, so I understand your frustration.

Part of the reason it is so darn expensive to fly in and out of Dallas is because of something called the Wright Amendment, which is set to expire in 2014. When DFW airport was built, the Wright Amendment stated that any airline that flew in and out of Dallas Love Field (DAL) had to make one stop if it flew more than one state away (further than the states bordering Texas). This stupid agreement was made so that DFW airport had a chance to "survive" and get its business up and running, but it limited competition in our area. Southwest stayed at DAL and has made a great business, you just have to make a stop if you are going outside that one-state border. Same rule applies coming into DAL. There are lots of airlines going in and out of DFW, though, so not sure why they are so expensive, unless DFW is an expensive airport in terms of fees.

It expires in 2014...makes me wonder if prices will go down then.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Both my DD's live in the DFW area, so I know how you feel! All I can say is keep an eye on the discount airfare websites and check them a couple of times a day for deals. Syracuse to DFW fare has been at least $385 for quite a while, but last week it dropped to $217 for about 8 hours! We jumped on that one!

 

[Arielle22]

I feel your pain. I just booked a business trip from Boston to Houston and it was over $800. It is a last minute trip next week but I am glad I don't have to pay for it.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Yes, we pay too much. We don't have enough low cost carrier competition.

Our problem is that American Airlines purchased our best low cost air carrier which was Air Tran. With Air Tran out of the picture we have little choice left at DFW and only Southwest out of Love field. No competition = higher charges.

 

[pat fan]

would flying out of boston save you $$ or even providence?

I checked Boston, and it saves like $100, but the flight times were 6:00 a.m. so we'd have to get a hotel the night before, so there go the savings.

Part of the reason it is so darn expensive to fly in and out of Dallas is because of something called the Wright Amendment, which is set to expire in 2014. When DFW airport was built, the Wright Amendment stated that any airline that flew in and out of Dallas Love Field (DAL) had to make one stop if it flew more than one state away (further than the states bordering Texas). This stupid agreement was made so that DFW airport had a chance to "survive" and get its business up and running, but it limited competition in our area. Southwest stayed at DAL and has made a great business, you just have to make a stop if you are going outside that one-state border. Same rule applies coming into DAL. There are lots of airlines going in and out of DFW, though, so not sure why they are so expensive, unless DFW is an expensive airport in terms of fees.

That is strange.....

For what it's worth, I checked Amtrak too, and that was worse than flying! Besides the fact that it took 3 days! I thought the train was supposed to be cheaper, and no matter where I check Amtrak for, it's always more $$ than flying!

 

[Aristocath]

The Wright Amendment has little to do with high airfare anymore. Most of it has to do with the grip American Airlines has on this market. I would try Jet Blue out of Boston. I fly to NYC about three times a year and this summer I'm having a horrible time finding airfare close to what I normally pay. We are flying to San Francisco this summer and I paid $250 round trip on Virgin and New York is looking like $400 or more.