Airline tickets someone want to explain this to me

[Jims5543]

I made a mistake last night. I booked a flight from Asheville NC to West Palm Beach on the 12th of Apri instead of the 5th as intended. It was a honest mistake.

I called Delta and explained my situation. They cancelled my ticket.

The flight initally cost me $360. No problem.

Now I check the website and it costs $500. The last time I flew this exact flight from Asheville to Atlanta there were 4 people on the plane.

I would imagine as the flight got closer they would AT LEAST kkep the price the same in order to fill seats.

I vented on the ticket lady on the phone and she gave it right back. Told me she was doing me a favor cancelling the ticket and I should be gratefull.

I pointed out they are going out of business and the last time I took this flight I was one of 5 people.

It would seem in their best interest to fill a few more seats.


Why is the rate jacked so high as the flight approaches?

[Dantilla]

Airline rates are determined by the Magic-8 Ball. You never know what the price will be in a few seconds.

[Joeaksa]

Dantilla is correct. There is no rhyme nor reason. Look through Expedia or Travelocity, then look for discount fares on the internet. Lastly look for "last minute" fares.

It seems that the earlier you book the better up until a point. Then the later you wait, if the plane is empty they then discount them. If you are going on a little traveled route you are at their mercy.

Southwest Airlines is your friend if they are near...

[masraum]

I've found that pretty much without fail when the flight is less than 7 days out you automatically pay a premium.

I've actually experimented with this on several occasions looking up flights on different dates just to see when the magic number was, the answer, 1 week. So, if you had scheduled wrong the other way, the 5th instead of the 12th, you'd have gotten a big discount, but since you made the mistake and needed a flight in less than a week you were automatically screwed.

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro


Why is the rate jacked so high as the flight approaches?

Business travellers. Companies are willing to pay the extra for last minute travellers to go so the airlines price accordingly. That's why if you have a last minute death you can get the special bereavement fare.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by VaSteve
Business travellers. Companies are willing to pay the extra for last minute travellers to go so the airlines price accordingly. That's why if you have a last minute death you can get the special bereavement fare.

Bingo! I used to work with a company who had things change by the hour. They would call up and get tickets for everyone at the last minute.

The airlines love this as they can charge as needed because the companies need to move their people around and have no choice on the price within reason.

[Jims5543]

I flew this flight in the past and it had 5 people on it. Sounds to me it would be better to keep the price sane.

I am trying to get my Porsche up to my house in NC for when I arrive a week later with the family for spring break.

$500? I am now looking into a car transport. Even if they charge $600 it will be cheaper.

$500 is a cutoff point where its not worth it to me.

[Jims5543]

I was really looking foward to this road trip too. This bums me out.

[madmmac]

Check Amtrak....probably less than $175.00 one way. Very relaxing compared to flying and you will get to see some different scenery.

[Joeaksa]

Or ride a bus. The drive sounds nice...

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by madmmac
Check Amtrak...... you will get to see some different scenery.

Ack! You can say that again. I rode Amtrack from San Diego to Santa Barbara. Trip took nearly 6 hours shared with loads of bums, crack heads, and poor families with 20 kids all under the age of 10. As a bonus we killed a person on the tracks in LA and hit a pickup truck in La Conchita.

Our company works with a customer who likes to schedule last minute meetings. It was not uncommen for us to pay $2100 for a RT ticket to Washington Dulles or National. Our company now 'encourages' travellers to book flights using cheaper airports. BWI goes for a high of $800 and a low of $250. As already stated book your ticket 8 days or more in advance or get ready to pay double. Waiting to the last minute for a savings means hanging at the airport till 30 minutes before departure - not really an option for business travellers.

[Jims5543]

Wait!! Did you say you can stand in the airport 30 minutes before departure for a discount?

I know for a fact this flight is an AMPTY flight.

Has anyone done this? How much of a discount is there? This adds a whole new angle of excitement to the trip. Not knowing if you can get back.

[Jims5543]

Just got a quote to ship the car. $650.

Thats $50 more than if I drove it up.

I decided the car can stay in Florida for 6 more weeks until we head up during summer break. I will trailer it up then.

I was being like a kid with this car wanting it up there and trying to do anything to get it there so I can play on the mountain roads.

Bottom line is Delta lost a passanger. Last time this happened to me with Delta I paid 2x for the same ticket plus a $50 fee.

I complained about that to their customer service and got no response. It would have been cheaper to not show up for my reserved seat and just buy another ticket. I though I was doing the right thing by calling and canceling.

[Superman]

Why do airlines do this? Simple. Because they can. Isn't capitalism wonderful? Pretending that "competition" is at work in the airline industry and assuming it will result in the most efficient distribution of resources. Wages from pilots to baggage handlers are falling hard but travellers, interests are still nicely protected by "free market forces" and "competition."

I have some land in Florida for sale to those folks who buy into this crap and believe airlines should continue to be deregulated.

[Jamie79SC]

Why do airlines do this? Simple. Because they can. Isn't capitalism wonderful? Pretending that "competition" is at work in the airline industry and assuming it will result in the most efficient distribution of resources. Wages from pilots to baggage handlers are falling hard but travellers, interests are still nicely protected by "free market forces" and "competition."

Super,

Where are you coming from?

I fly almost every week and usually book my own tickets. Airline pricing is actually pretty sensible all around (except that I feel that several heavily traveled routes are actually UNDER priced – if the flight is always booked, chances are they could have charged a little more for that route).

What looks like crazy pricing makes a little more sense if you think about it:

The reason nearly last minute tickets are expensive is obvious - If your schedule were flexible, you would have purchased the ticket at the 21 day mark or would have bought the ticket at the last minute on which ever flight a cheap seat was available. Since you are not flexible, you are bidding against the other inflexible flyers who are willing to pay the premium. Yes, the airlines charge a premium because they can; that IS the essence of capitalism.

Very last minute tickets are cheap (when you can get them) because the seat was going to be empty anyway.

Long advance tickets are expensive largely because the airline doesn't know for sure what the market for their seats is going to be that far out, (or the cost of fuel, or if their main competitor is going to fold, etc…) and don't want to take the risk of undercharging for that ticket. If you don’t want to take the risk that the tickets will increase even more six months out, go ahead and buy the ticket, otherwise wait until closer to the 21 day advanced purchase deadline.

I sure don't see any airlines getting fat gouging flyers in my daily travels or on the pages of the WSJ.

The larger picture isn't too pretty. In my opinion, the reason airline staff (and investors) of the old line carriers are taking it in the shorts is:

1) Lingering over capacity (Too many airlines and too much older equipment chasing a limited number of warm backsides)

2) Competition with newer airlines with more efficient equipment, no pension obligations, and employees who are willing to make less in wages and benefits than some of old line employees.

I'm not heartless. I have close friends who have watched their United pensions get slashed. There is going to be a lot of painful displacement before that industry gets in balance (if it ever will)

Don’t forget, according to Warren Buffet, over the entire history of air travel, the industry taken as a whole has not made one thin dime.

[Jims5543]

Maybe you missed this part. I have flown this route before and it is EMPTY. 5 seats are taken on the 1st leg and 1/2 the seats are taken on the final leg.

$500 one way?? I can ship my car doorstep to doorstep for $650.

I decided to leave the car in Florida until I can trailer it up.

Delta lost a sale to price gouging.

Now they have ANOTHER empty seat.

[rattlsnak]

Before I go to deep into this,.. Give me the flight numbers and i can tell you EXACTLY how many tickets are sold on it so far.

[Jamie79SC]

$365 on Orbitz right now. Go for it!

Leave
Wed, Apr 12 Delta Air Lines 4699
operated by Atlantic Southeast
Depart: 6:00am
Arrive: 7:13am Asheville/Hendersonville, NC (AVL)
Atlanta, GA (ATL)

1 stop Economy 1hr 13min ATR72 Turboprop View seats

Change planes. Time between flights: 1hr 52min

Delta Air Lines 546
Depart: 9:05am
Arrive: 10:44am Atlanta, GA (ATL)
West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)

Economy 1hr 39min Boeing Douglas MD-88 View

$365 on Orbitz right now. Go for it!

[Jamie79SC]

I'll bet the agent on the phone quoted round trip - that's around $500.

[LeeH]

Small market = little competition = high price. Large market = more competition = lower price.

Many times it pays to drive to an airport with more traffic. In your case driving to Charlotte, Knoxville, or even Atlanta could result in a cheaper fare.