Originally Posted by
javabytes
As 3Cforme mentioned, advance purchase also has something to do with it. Flights less than 7 days out tend to be quite expensive no matter where you look.
Did you check WN's prices for ATL-LAS outbound on 2/16 and returning on 2/20? Lowest fare is $691.70 ai. Hard to imagine a price like that is responsible for driving Delta down to the low $300 range.
As someone and others who doesn't have any status with Delta, we consumer goes for the lower fare prices.
Of course Delta is going to lower their prices or matches SWA just to keep their current customer base. And if SWA price is lower than Delta, guess which one i would take.