Airfares go up with regional jet service?
Nov 4, 1999 | 5:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 363
Airfares go up with regional jet service?
I haven't done a systematic search yet. However, here's my impression. RJ's raise fares because of several possible reasons, 1) they take the place of larger jets resulting in higher load factors, 2) they take the place of more economical turboprops (My guess is that a Dash8-400 is cheaper to operate on a short segment than a EMB-145). When I book on a route served only by RJ's, it seems to be more expensive.
Nov 4, 1999 | 8:40 pm
#2
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, ex-BD Gold, SPG Gold, HH Gold
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It is also possible that customers are willing to pay more for RJ service than prop service, rather than the service itself being more costly. This is particularly likely when only one airline offers RJ service on a route while its competitors offer prop.
Nov 4, 1999 | 9:03 pm
#3
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 1,697
Can you give some examples where you assert that RJs raise fares? Personally, I don't think the type of aircraft has anything whatsoever to do with airfares. Airfares are determined by competition (specifically whether or not there is low fare competition) on the route.
Nov 7, 1999 | 12:09 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 363
To Sheryl, above, the airlines have all the data! Come to think of it, the full fare tickets are no more expensive on RJ flights. It's the availability of discount seats that suffers. I think that's the new philosophy of the airlines. They want a full plane, even if it means turning away cheaper fares.