ORD-LAS F fares Much Higher Now
Feb 15, 2017, 1:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: aa gold
Posts: 50
ORD-LAS F fares Much Higher Now
I fly ORD-LAS about 6 times a year in F. Fares have been ranging between 700-900 RT. All the sudden I look to book one in March and April and its between 1300-1400(!) I thought it was a one off but ive been checking for the past week now. So I checked United (which I dislike) and they have for the same dates RT for $608 RT!
Feb 15, 2017, 2:06 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: aa gold
Posts: 50
That's what I was thinking, Id pay a few dollars more, but over double, wow! Usually they are priced neck and neck ex ORD, at least domestically IME
Feb 15, 2017, 5:00 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,231
Sigh. When I checked not that long ago for an April weekend, AA was ~$1100 r/t (as was UA, from EWR), and DL was $1,500. Fares change. Sometimes one airline is cheaper, sometimes the other one is. Not so groundbreaking.
Feb 15, 2017, 7:23 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: aa gold
Posts: 50
I never thought it was "groundbreaking". Just some thoughts on a route with consistent pricing for a few years, to overnight all the sudden double.
Feb 15, 2017, 9:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: FNT, but DTW if I can't help it
Programs: AAdvantage Former EXP/Current PLT / Total Rewards - Diamond / Hilton HHonors - Gold
Posts: 757
I noticed this too... I flew FNT-ORD-LAS earlier this month for about $1000, then I wen to book a trip in April, and prices were almost double. DTW-PHX-LAS had much more reasonable fares. Something about the ORD-LAS flights is causing them to be much more expensive than normal.
Feb 16, 2017, 9:26 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ORD and RSW
Programs: Former long time AA EXP and CK - 4 MM; Now LTPL; Hilton Diamond; UA Platinum
Posts: 380
It's not only ORD/LAS. ORD/RSW had been between $550 and $625 RT in first for a long time (P fare), but suddenly jumped to $925-$1,200 last week and has stayed there. Meanwhile, UA is still in the low $600s nonstop and if you don't mind a stop in ATL, DL is around $450.
I thought that it was a quirk that would work itself out in a week, but maybe not. UA now gets my business until AA comes to their senses. I make this run about a dozen times a year, so the difference adds up fast. The recent destruction of C inventory has made matters much worse, so P fare costs are far more important than they used to be. I know that it is AA's plan to eliminate C opportunities to force some flyers to buy P fares to guarantee being in front, but that only works if AA's P fares are competitive. On this route, they are not so the plan backfires. I am sure there are many more routes like this.
I thought that it was a quirk that would work itself out in a week, but maybe not. UA now gets my business until AA comes to their senses. I make this run about a dozen times a year, so the difference adds up fast. The recent destruction of C inventory has made matters much worse, so P fare costs are far more important than they used to be. I know that it is AA's plan to eliminate C opportunities to force some flyers to buy P fares to guarantee being in front, but that only works if AA's P fares are competitive. On this route, they are not so the plan backfires. I am sure there are many more routes like this.
Feb 16, 2017, 12:10 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: aa gold
Posts: 50
It's not only ORD/LAS. ORD/RSW had been between $550 and $625 RT in first for a long time (P fare), but suddenly jumped to $925-$1,200 last week and has stayed there. Meanwhile, UA is still in the low $600s nonstop and if you don't mind a stop in ATL, DL is around $450.
I thought that it was a quirk that would work itself out in a week, but maybe not. UA now gets my business until AA comes to their senses. I make this run about a dozen times a year, so the difference adds up fast. The recent destruction of C inventory has made matters much worse, so P fare costs are far more important than they used to be. I know that it is AA's plan to eliminate C opportunities to force some flyers to buy P fares to guarantee being in front, but that only works if AA's P fares are competitive. On this route, they are not so the plan backfires. I am sure there are many more routes like this.
I thought that it was a quirk that would work itself out in a week, but maybe not. UA now gets my business until AA comes to their senses. I make this run about a dozen times a year, so the difference adds up fast. The recent destruction of C inventory has made matters much worse, so P fare costs are far more important than they used to be. I know that it is AA's plan to eliminate C opportunities to force some flyers to buy P fares to guarantee being in front, but that only works if AA's P fares are competitive. On this route, they are not so the plan backfires. I am sure there are many more routes like this.
Yeah that was my initial thoughts also, that with the schedule change it was just a one off. But its been over a week now so I am doubting that. Im just gonna wait it out for awhile im sure not too many folks are booking that fare at 1400, especially at over double than United.
Feb 16, 2017, 3:18 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: In the sky.
Programs: AA- EXP 3mm, Marriott Titanium(Lifetime), *wood Plat, Hertz Pres. Circle, *bucks Gold, Joan Ranger
Posts: 781
Yeah that was my initial thoughts also, that with the schedule change it was just a one off. But its been over a week now so I am doubting that. Im just gonna wait it out for awhile im sure not too many folks are booking that fare at 1400, especially at over double than United.
Feb 16, 2017, 5:49 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ORD and RSW
Programs: Former long time AA EXP and CK - 4 MM; Now LTPL; Hilton Diamond; UA Platinum
Posts: 380
Feb 17, 2017, 8:55 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 514
Agreed. I'm ORD based and have been loyal to AA for the last 4 or 5 years. I buy discounted F 90% of the time on my domestic trips. AA has increased the price while UA has stayed constant...at least on the routes I frequent (mco/tpa/sfo/lax/san/las) I booked 3 trips in the last 3 weeks and UA got all of them. UA was roughly $175 to $250 cheaper per trip, per ticket. I'm planning on doing a status match to UA and just flying AA when I can use miles. The times i did buy coach I usually used a BXP1 to upgrade, but lack of C space at booking makes that less attractive.
Feb 17, 2017, 9:13 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ORD and RSW
Programs: Former long time AA EXP and CK - 4 MM; Now LTPL; Hilton Diamond; UA Platinum
Posts: 380
Agreed. I'm ORD based and have been loyal to AA for the last 4 or 5 years. I buy discounted F 90% of the time on my domestic trips. AA has increased the price while UA has stayed constant...at least on the routes I frequent (mco/tpa/sfo/lax/san/las) I booked 3 trips in the last 3 weeks and UA got all of them. UA was roughly $175 to $250 cheaper per trip, per ticket. I'm planning on doing a status match to UA and just flying AA when I can use miles. The times i did buy coach I usually used a BXP1 to upgrade, but lack of C space at booking makes that less attractive.