2012: Why are AA fares so expensive / non-competitive (consolidated)
Jun 13, 2012, 1:01 pm
#91
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MO
Programs: AA EXPLT
Posts: 430
I've booked two separate trips to GRU this year in coach. Both times I booked tickets at least a month in advance. They were $2,500 per seat. Unreal.
Jun 13, 2012, 1:17 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
Jun 13, 2012, 1:42 pm
#94
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,415
/Moderator
Jul 5, 2012, 10:04 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago
Programs: AAExP(3MM), HHDiamond, Priority Club Plat, Hyatt Plat, United Mileage Plus
Posts: 117
Another crazy fare which seems uncompetitive
Ugh! I get that AA wants to be profitable, but some of these fares are borderline ridiculous.
Honest question for the crowd. Are they really able to command some of these fares or are competitors undercutting them on purpose?
EX: ORD - ATL, priced today for travel 7/24-7/25. AA: $888 RT all flights. Major competitors (UA, DL, WN, etc): $280 RT. And several of these AA flights were CR7.
Is it just me and the like, or are people that loyal? I know it drove me to a competitor even though I didn't want to.
(ORD-DEN is another rant, but that's another story...)
At what point is the balance?
Honest question for the crowd. Are they really able to command some of these fares or are competitors undercutting them on purpose?
EX: ORD - ATL, priced today for travel 7/24-7/25. AA: $888 RT all flights. Major competitors (UA, DL, WN, etc): $280 RT. And several of these AA flights were CR7.
Is it just me and the like, or are people that loyal? I know it drove me to a competitor even though I didn't want to.
(ORD-DEN is another rant, but that's another story...)
At what point is the balance?
Jul 5, 2012, 11:29 pm
#96
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP/2MM, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,185
Less a rant than just puzzlement - I'm flying NRT-DEN on 8/6, and booked 1 month ago. Fares were already higher than I expected, in the $2400 r/t range (~$1500 winter and spring).
Shortly after booking, most NRT-US flights +/- a few days from then sold out in coach or had nothing lower than Y (full) available. There's good availability in business, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Y availability is an oversell. I know summer is peak season, but is it really common for Japan-US flights to sell out in coach 2 months in advance?
Shortly after booking, most NRT-US flights +/- a few days from then sold out in coach or had nothing lower than Y (full) available. There's good availability in business, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Y availability is an oversell. I know summer is peak season, but is it really common for Japan-US flights to sell out in coach 2 months in advance?
Aug 10, 2012, 10:17 am
#97
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 58
DFW-IAD RT coach is $1220 in October?
I need a short DFW-IAD RT at the end of the week (either Wed-Thurs or Thurs-Fri) in early October, and need to leave in the morning else I'll miss the meeting. The only option for direct flights I'm seeing are on AA and they're $1220 for an L fare. How is this possible?
AA has conveniently offered this alternative routing for only $600: DFW-LAX-IAD-LAX-DFW. How the hell can two transcons be cheaper than direct flights?
I'm perfectly aware of supply and demand, price discrimination, rev mgt, etc. but this makes no sense.
AA has conveniently offered this alternative routing for only $600: DFW-LAX-IAD-LAX-DFW. How the hell can two transcons be cheaper than direct flights?
I'm perfectly aware of supply and demand, price discrimination, rev mgt, etc. but this makes no sense.
Aug 10, 2012, 10:20 am
#98
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DTW
Programs: AA Exec Plt , Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 592
I need a short DFW-IAD RT at the end of the week (either Wed-Thurs or Thurs-Fri) in early October, and need to leave in the morning else I'll miss the meeting. The only option for direct flights I'm seeing are on AA and they're $1220 for an L fare. How is this possible?
AA has conveniently offered this alternative routing for only $600: DFW-LAX-IAD-LAX-DFW. How the hell can two transcons be cheaper than direct flights?
I'm perfectly aware of supply and demand, price discrimination, etc. but this makes no sense.
AA has conveniently offered this alternative routing for only $600: DFW-LAX-IAD-LAX-DFW. How the hell can two transcons be cheaper than direct flights?
I'm perfectly aware of supply and demand, price discrimination, etc. but this makes no sense.
Aug 10, 2012, 10:25 am
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
Passengers routinely paid these sorts of fares in the late 90's up until 9/11. Those who are too young or didn't travel at the time may not remember. However, $1200 from DFW-IAD r/t without a Sat night stay was very normal, as was CMH-MSP at $750 for a 90 minute flight.
Aug 10, 2012, 10:27 am
#100
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 58
After checking other days, the lack of a Sat night stay is the problem. I thought that rule had largely gone away?
Yes work is paying for it but I am sick and tired of getting gouged (for both leisure and work travel) by AA just because I live in Dallas.
The best part is, after paying $1220 for the ticket, I will have to pay another $50-100 for decent seats.
Yes work is paying for it but I am sick and tired of getting gouged (for both leisure and work travel) by AA just because I live in Dallas.
The best part is, after paying $1220 for the ticket, I will have to pay another $50-100 for decent seats.
Aug 10, 2012, 10:30 am
#101
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: East Coast
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, AA Lifetime Platinum, Delta PM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,522
Are the dallas cowboys playing the WAS Redskins or BM Raven in Oct? That may be a driver of the high fares?
Aug 10, 2012, 10:35 am
#102
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DTW
Programs: AA Exec Plt , Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 592
After checking other days, the lack of a Sat night stay is the problem. I thought that rule had largely gone away?
Yes work is paying for it but I am sick and tired of getting gouged (for both leisure and work travel) by AA just because I live in Dallas.
The best part is, after paying $1220 for the ticket, I will have to pay another $50-100 for decent seats.
Yes work is paying for it but I am sick and tired of getting gouged (for both leisure and work travel) by AA just because I live in Dallas.
The best part is, after paying $1220 for the ticket, I will have to pay another $50-100 for decent seats.
Aug 10, 2012, 10:39 am
#103
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Tulsa, OK
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,264
Can you fly into BWI and save about $200?
Aug 10, 2012, 10:43 am
#104
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 79
I travel to the DC area a couple times a month and that has been the price recently (to both DCA and IAD). One week I found it for $500 round trip. Sometimes I will fly to BWI (usually ~$800) and take the train/metro in.
Aug 10, 2012, 10:53 am
#105
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oklahoma City, OK,USA
Programs: DL Plat,AA Plat,UA 1Peon,SW(WN) Passing Grade
Posts: 902
.....looking at Southwest from DAL for Oct 9-10.....1-stops to BWI run $146-$280 advance purchase each way.....or 2-stops to IAD or DCA run $171-$313 each way advance purchase..............so there's your lower end of cost and lower end of convenience......or on SW the full-featured Business Select DAL-IAD is $509 one way (with 2 stops).....so there's your AA cost comparison----just $100 more for a non-stop!