What happened to "cheap last minute fares?"
Sep 6, 2000 | 7:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: South Florida
Programs: Delta Silver Medallion, Starwood Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 222
What happened to "cheap last minute fares?"
(In the voice of Andy Rooney)...(cough)..Ever notice that lately, the last minute airfares for weekend travel on our favorite airlines are not so cheap? I mean give me a break...now they are at best a ticket price that can be had with a 14 0r 21 day notice. Not too long ago you could buy a r/t from NY-BWI on USAirways for $79. Now: $119. JFK-LAX on Delta, Old $199, new $249. The only thing that I can see clearly is the cost of jet fuel rising. Otherwise this looks to me as a case of crowded planes getting even more packed and the effects of priceline, hotwire.com and others filling seats. Frankly, I am disappointed. What do you think?
Sep 6, 2000 | 8:53 pm
#2
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Join Date: Apr 1999
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I think it might depend on the carrier, and how busy the flights are on a particular weekend. For instance, Continental currenly has a CO.O.L Special fare of $69 round-trip between Newark and Tampa. I've NEVER seen a NY-FL fare that low before!!!!
Sep 6, 2000 | 9:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: AS-100K, AA-Plat 7 Mil, UA-Plat 2 Mil, BA - Silv., KLM/AF- Plat, Bonvoy-Plat.
Posts: 824
I just got a fare from Bestfares on United from DFW-LGA for $99 + tax....and that is roundtrip. Plus I even upgraded to First. The agent couldn't believe it when I called to upgrade 
Sep 7, 2000 | 9:20 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 300
The last minute special fares are out there, however, the airlines are making them more difficult for the general public to find. The airlines are using e-fares, web specials and targeted marketing for many of these fares. After the low fares are found the available seats at those fares are limited to certain days, flights and low seat availability, making booking at those fares sometimes difficult.
I have found the recent low fares, in most cases, are aimed by the majors to cities that are hubs of their competitors or to city pairs also flown by Southwest.
I have found the recent low fares, in most cases, are aimed by the majors to cities that are hubs of their competitors or to city pairs also flown by Southwest.
Sep 7, 2000 | 9:32 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,122
The airlines are using more and more consolidators and Priceline to dump any last minute seats they have. This hides from most people how cheap they are willing to let them go for.
Sep 7, 2000 | 2:53 pm
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Westminster, CO
Programs: United Silver, Delta Silver, Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold
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I used Hotwire.com for the first time today for a last minute trip RDU-DEN-RDU this weekend. Most all fares were $1200 and up for a last minute buy. Priceline wouldn't budge for anything less than $300. Hotwire presented me with a $207 fare, all taxes and fees included. Incredible! You don't know which carrier or exact flight times until you buy, but it is guaranteed to be on one of these: American Airlines, America West Airlines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines or US Airways. I wound up on UA. You don't get FF files or FF perks, but for a $1000 savings, I don't mind.
Sep 7, 2000 | 3:01 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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This has been the heaviest travel season in the history of the airlines. They have all been flying at capacity throughout the summer, and there has been little available for weekend websale on the most desirable routes. This will now start to change, and more seats will come onto the weekend market. But fares -- other than on specific routes where competition forces "fire sale" competition -- will likely be higher than last year because oil is at $35+ a barrel, and this is one of the major cost elements of air travel. Fuel surcharges are bound to rise again this fall. But cheap seats are out there.
Sep 7, 2000 | 4:25 pm
#9
Company Representative - Air Canada
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 24,224
I think some better deals will start to come out as kids are back to school and leisure travel starts to come down until christmas... very noticable on AC and CP this weekend, they have YYZ - YVR for about $170USD, LAX - YYZ for about 230USD.
Sep 7, 2000 | 6:19 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Michigan
Programs: Delta Diamond, AA Exec Plat, UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 625
I would agree with Why2K, the fares are out
there, they just take some effort to find.
Imagine if you weren't on the NET? It would be near impossible.
I just got a 4000 mile "mileage run" for $267
using NW via Cincinnati, Memphis, Nashville.
In order to find it, I had to go through the
promotions list on NWA's web site, play with the fares for about 40 minutes and finally hit the right combo.
I've used lastminutetickets.com too.
Keep the faith, the fares are still there.
there, they just take some effort to find.
Imagine if you weren't on the NET? It would be near impossible.
I just got a 4000 mile "mileage run" for $267
using NW via Cincinnati, Memphis, Nashville.
In order to find it, I had to go through the
promotions list on NWA's web site, play with the fares for about 40 minutes and finally hit the right combo.
I've used lastminutetickets.com too.
Keep the faith, the fares are still there.