IAH to MSP Direct = $$$$: Why?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Houston
Programs: UA: MM
Posts: 844
IAH to MSP Direct = $$$$: Why?
I have to take a quick trip to MSP leaving Houston 2/27 (anytime) and returning 2/28 (evening). Everything I can find on CO or NW is over $1,000. What gives?
I checked my corporate travel site, CO.COM, NW's website and Travelocity.
It can be done much cheeper with oddball connections, but going direct, hub to hub should not cost three times as much; or should it???
FWIW
DLM
I checked my corporate travel site, CO.COM, NW's website and Travelocity.
It can be done much cheeper with oddball connections, but going direct, hub to hub should not cost three times as much; or should it???
FWIW
DLM
#2
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 1,439
Limited competition on the route and no Sat night stay - that's they way it always has been and probably always will be. I don't think they really understand the negative load implications of such pricing, but they don't seem at all keen to change it.
Bright side: A couple of years ago, it cost even more!
Bright side: A couple of years ago, it cost even more!
#3
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: CO non-elite, Marriott Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,621
When look up IAH-MSP on Co.com for 2/27-2/28, I get $732.50 for all flights. Not cheap, but not over $1000.
On nwa.com, I get fares over $1000 for a direct flight. If I put in a destination which connects through MSP (IAH-RHI for instance), the fare drops to around $600.
On nwa.com, I get fares over $1000 for a direct flight. If I put in a destination which connects through MSP (IAH-RHI for instance), the fare drops to around $600.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: College Station, Texas
Programs: UA GOld, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 114
Failry simple analysis.... no lost cost carrier competition on the same route. Check IAH-ORD for same days and you will find vastly different fares.
Like the one guy said, it used to be even more expensive. When traveling IAH-MSP even WITH saturday night stay, the fares are usually significantly higher than other markets.
Like the one guy said, it used to be even more expensive. When traveling IAH-MSP even WITH saturday night stay, the fares are usually significantly higher than other markets.
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: new york, ny, usa
Posts: 13,536
try flying minneapolis (MSP) to/from newark (EWR). that's a real joy with no low fare competition. the fares are extreme.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
Only $302 on NW in either direction if you depart Sat. instead of Mon.
Last edited by MikeMpls; Feb 5, 2006 at 2:05 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Roanoke, VA
Programs: DL Gold Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,436
I suppose one could be deviously creative and fly a one-way ticket from Houston to Indianapolis on 2/27 on NW and accidentally miss your connection.
And then a fit of bad luck, one could fly a one-way ticket from Minneapolis to Atlanta on 2/28 on CO and once again miss that darn connection.
I wouldn't make a habit of it, but it would be a good budgetary decision.
It looks like 3:04 p.m. would be the latest MSP departure on CO for a ATL flight via IAH.
And then a fit of bad luck, one could fly a one-way ticket from Minneapolis to Atlanta on 2/28 on CO and once again miss that darn connection.
I wouldn't make a habit of it, but it would be a good budgetary decision.
It looks like 3:04 p.m. would be the latest MSP departure on CO for a ATL flight via IAH.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Tell me about it! You can fly EWR-DUB for less than you can EWR-CLE! I know the CO sycophants oft decry the 2500 mile $200 transcon poor ol' CO has to have for competitive reasons, but these same people conveniently overlook CO's gouging $500 for the 112 mile CLE-CMH flight. I figure it all averages out. So, don't waste any pity on CO.
Let's all open our eyes. CO (like every airline--and every business!) will charge as much as it can on every flight, as long as it perceives that price to maximize profits. The elite program, as well as any and all customer perks, is there for that sole purpose. CO is not your friend. It's not in business to do you or me any favors. CO is in business to maximize shareholder value. And if that's not the case, then chipmunk-cheek Lar' Baby has some splainin' to do to the shareholders.
Let's all open our eyes. CO (like every airline--and every business!) will charge as much as it can on every flight, as long as it perceives that price to maximize profits. The elite program, as well as any and all customer perks, is there for that sole purpose. CO is not your friend. It's not in business to do you or me any favors. CO is in business to maximize shareholder value. And if that's not the case, then chipmunk-cheek Lar' Baby has some splainin' to do to the shareholders.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Some place in this wonderful world (usually at 39,000 ft in seat 1C)
Programs: CO Gold Elite / NW Gold Elite
Posts: 13,747
Originally Posted by fly co to see the yanks
try flying minneapolis (MSP) to/from newark (EWR). that's a real joy with no low fare competition. the fares are extreme.
#10
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 206
I'm flying IAH MSP this weekend on CO and by the time I was ready to book, even a couple of weeks out, the price had gone up to the $600 range. Seating charts are pretty empty (Friday/Monday), too. I elected to use miles (standard coach award), which seemed a good tradeoff, even though I miss getting the EQM out of the trip.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,067
Weekend in Paris?
If your schedule can handle it, why not spend the weekend in Paris and take a sub-24-hour MSP connection on the return:
2/25: IAH-MSP-DTW-CDG
2/27: CDG-DTW-MSP
2/28: MSP-IAH
$413 all in at nwa.com
Many employers will go for it if you can demonstrate the savings, such as in this case.
LGW or AMS will be about $443 all in.
2/25: IAH-MSP-DTW-CDG
2/27: CDG-DTW-MSP
2/28: MSP-IAH
$413 all in at nwa.com
Many employers will go for it if you can demonstrate the savings, such as in this case.
LGW or AMS will be about $443 all in.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Houston
Programs: UA: MM
Posts: 844
Originally Posted by channa
If your schedule can handle it, why not spend the weekend in Paris and take a sub-24-hour MSP connection on the return:
2/25: IAH-MSP-DTW-CDG
2/27: CDG-DTW-MSP
2/28: MSP-IAH
$413 all in at nwa.com
Many employers will go for it if you can demonstrate the savings, such as in this case.
LGW or AMS will be about $443 all in.
2/25: IAH-MSP-DTW-CDG
2/27: CDG-DTW-MSP
2/28: MSP-IAH
$413 all in at nwa.com
Many employers will go for it if you can demonstrate the savings, such as in this case.
LGW or AMS will be about $443 all in.
On the other hand, I've never been to Paris.
Thanks channa!
FWIW
DLM
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: HKG
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,311
Based on what channa suggested, you can even go further:
For example, $672 all in, NW "K" class. The trip is 14,436 miles. Even though you only earn 7,218 EQM, as a Plat, you earn 32,481 Onepass miles. Not a bad MR...
For example, $672 all in, NW "K" class. The trip is 14,436 miles. Even though you only earn 7,218 EQM, as a Plat, you earn 32,481 Onepass miles. Not a bad MR...
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
Originally Posted by rkkwan
Based on what channa suggested, you can even go further:
For example, $672 all in, NW "K" class. The trip is 14,436 miles. Even though you only earn 7,218 EQM, as a Plat, you earn 32,481 Onepass miles. Not a bad MR...
For example, $672 all in, NW "K" class. The trip is 14,436 miles. Even though you only earn 7,218 EQM, as a Plat, you earn 32,481 Onepass miles. Not a bad MR...
I'm also not sure how you searched for that "K" fare. If I search for this multi-city routing on nwa.com specifying "K" or higher fare class:
- IAH-CDG on 2/25
- CDG-MSP on 2/27
- MSP-IAH on 2/28
I'm offered this "Q" fare (100% EQM) for $564 all-in:
- 2/25: NW 1156 IAH-MSP, NW 758 MSP-DTW, NW 50 DTW-CDG
- 2/27: NW 8430 (KL 1230) CDG-AMS, NW 45 AMS-MSP
- 2/28: NW 1155 MSP-IAH
Last edited by MikeMpls; Feb 5, 2006 at 9:24 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA LTPLT UA1P Hilton Dia Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,182
Originally Posted by dmunz
I have to take a quick trip to MSP leaving Houston 2/27 (anytime) and returning 2/28 (evening). Everything I can find on CO or NW is over $1,000. What gives?
I checked my corporate travel site, CO.COM, NW's website and Travelocity.
It can be done much cheeper with oddball connections, but going direct, hub to hub should not cost three times as much; or should it???
FWIW
DLM
I checked my corporate travel site, CO.COM, NW's website and Travelocity.
It can be done much cheeper with oddball connections, but going direct, hub to hub should not cost three times as much; or should it???
FWIW
DLM