Thanksgiving gouge?
Sep 25, 2008, 11:20 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlanta
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Thanksgiving gouge?
Can't believe the prices I'm seeing on DL out of SEA for the entire week leading up to Thanksgiving.
I find it hard to believe that every available discount fare has been purchased, leaving lowest possible fares of $700+
I find it hard to believe that every available discount fare has been purchased, leaving lowest possible fares of $700+
Sep 25, 2008, 11:28 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
Well... it IS Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel days of the year.
I had to pay over $800 p/p to get from MLB-MCI. F was cheaper than Y because they were only offering Y fares.
I had to pay over $800 p/p to get from MLB-MCI. F was cheaper than Y because they were only offering Y fares.
Sep 25, 2008, 11:35 am
#3
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Location: Atlanta
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My only complaint is that there are U, T, and even some L available, yet those buckets start at the upper $600 range.
Looked at airports in a 200 sq. mile radius of Cincinnati and none are reasonable.
Looked at airports in a 200 sq. mile radius of Cincinnati and none are reasonable.
Sep 25, 2008, 11:44 am
#4
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Delta has been doing this at peak demand times for several years. Welcome to "Pricing Chicken"! It's a fun game. 
For this year I booked a Thanksgiving award ticket a couple months ago that I will cancel if a cheap alternative (not limited to NW/DL) comes up. Last year we used bump vouchers to offset the costs of Thanksgiving & Christmas travel.
For this year I booked a Thanksgiving award ticket a couple months ago that I will cancel if a cheap alternative (not limited to NW/DL) comes up. Last year we used bump vouchers to offset the costs of Thanksgiving & Christmas travel.
Sep 25, 2008, 11:48 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Price the competition. DL probably thinks, rightfully or wrongfully, that they can sell seats at those prices. Either they are right and will make a killing or they will put those seats on sale in November.
You can protest by taking your business elsewhere.
You can protest by taking your business elsewhere.
Sep 25, 2008, 12:04 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ATL
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Posts: 998
Delta has been doing this at peak demand times for several years. Welcome to "Pricing Chicken"! It's a fun game.
For this year I booked a Thanksgiving award ticket a couple months ago that I will cancel if a cheap alternative (not limited to NW/DL) comes up. Last year we used bump vouchers to offset the costs of Thanksgiving & Christmas travel.
For this year I booked a Thanksgiving award ticket a couple months ago that I will cancel if a cheap alternative (not limited to NW/DL) comes up. Last year we used bump vouchers to offset the costs of Thanksgiving & Christmas travel.
Even with the mileage devaluation? I got a thanksgiving award SAN-PHL (wed-sun) that even if the price drops to $150 RT, I will still burn the miles, the last thing I need now is 25,000 more worthless miles.
Do you think thanksgiving flights will be full this year? Prices I see are astronomical with most $650-900 TC and have been that way since 331 days out.
Sep 25, 2008, 12:12 pm
#7
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I booked DFW to MCO and it was just over $400 thats coach but wanted to buy rather than worry about not having a vacation
Sep 25, 2008, 12:18 pm
#8
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Look at partner options...
I paid 660 flying out of FLL the late afternoon before TG on CO in coach (B class, so upgrade looks great), then back to FLL on the 1st of Dec in A class on DL.
I paid 660 flying out of FLL the late afternoon before TG on CO in coach (B class, so upgrade looks great), then back to FLL on the 1st of Dec in A class on DL.
Sep 25, 2008, 12:27 pm
#9
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Its business - whether we like it or not they obviously think they can sell those seats at that price. It is thanksgiving after all, its not like its a light travel time.
Sep 25, 2008, 7:50 pm
#10
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I've booked BWI-MCO in A, $304 all-in for Nov. 26-30. Whicka-whicka-whhhaaaattt!!
Sep 25, 2008, 7:55 pm
#11
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I paid $515 for MSP-BOS (all U/L fares). Sadly, the normal fare for BOS-MSP is in the $475 range, so it's not too much of a markup (good ol' blo-fares in this market). The good news is that I make Platinum on the first flight of this trip.
Sep 25, 2008, 8:07 pm
#12
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My ticket was alot more than any of yours, but then I will be in PEK for thanksgiving as part of a RTW.
It is not price gouging by DL or any other airline, it is called supply and demand. The prices have been unreasonably low for many years due to an excess of supply, and now the market is conming into more of an equilibrium where the price and costs are more closely related (in the aggragate).
It is not price gouging by DL or any other airline, it is called supply and demand. The prices have been unreasonably low for many years due to an excess of supply, and now the market is conming into more of an equilibrium where the price and costs are more closely related (in the aggragate).
Sep 25, 2008, 8:13 pm
#13
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Sep 25, 2008, 8:13 pm
#14
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Sep 25, 2008, 8:15 pm
#15
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Depends. A lot of elites that are business travellers are off that week, but there's still a decent bit of elites traveling simply due to the fact that they're flying home to see family. It's an easier upgrade, but definitely not guaranteed for Silvers (I've seen some long lists out of ATL on the Wednesday and especially on Sunday).