The Tide Has Turned
Oct 28, 2008 | 10:02 am
#1
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The Tide Has Turned
I just saw a $240 from the west coast to Honolulu. The tide has turned. Its now a buyers market. They've been hosing their customers for 2 years with outrageous fares and new fees, and hence, load factors have diminished significantly. For 2 years they've made sure you know who the boss is, now it's time to hose back
Oct 28, 2008 | 10:04 am
#2
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Just another contributing factor: the holiday season is approaching and I hear the 'vog' has gotten bad again.
Oct 28, 2008 | 10:11 am
#3
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There was a $290 fare from the East coast to Hawaii in May. I don't think this is a major shift so much as sale fares loading up. Plus, it is just Hawaii.
Delta is selling $155 transcons from NYC to SFO/LAX now. Does that mean that the bottom is dropping out of that market? Maybe, but there are still plenty of flights that are pricing at more "normal" fares, too.
Delta is selling $155 transcons from NYC to SFO/LAX now. Does that mean that the bottom is dropping out of that market? Maybe, but there are still plenty of flights that are pricing at more "normal" fares, too.
Oct 28, 2008 | 10:32 am
#4
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Wake me when TATL and Mexico/Central America fares come down from ridiculous levels for Jan/Feb travel. I know you can't judge the load on a flight entirely by the seat map, but it's presently looking like a lot of TATL flights will be going out near-empty in January and February.
Oct 28, 2008 | 10:34 am
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The post that previously appeared in this space has been deleted. I would provide you with a reason why, but doing so would likely be against the TOS.
Last edited by uncertaintraveler; Dec 18, 2008 at 6:52 am
Oct 28, 2008 | 10:38 am
#6
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Wake me when TATL and Mexico/Central America fares come down from ridiculous levels for Jan/Feb travel. I know you can't judge the load on a flight entirely by the seat map, but it's presently looking like a lot of TATL flights will be going out near-empty in January and February.
Oct 28, 2008 | 10:41 am
#7
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I'm not looking at flights to the UK. I have a feeling there will be prices lower than $715 on the nonstop TATL flights from Houston this winter. I wouldn't be surprised to see sales for Sub-$600 all-in by December or January.
Oct 28, 2008 | 10:49 am
#8
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Yes and no. The UK APD is down to $125 for premium cabin long-haul departures. It was over $155 earlier in the year. That is a $30 savings just on exchange rate shifts in the past couple months. The Euro is similarly weakening which makes the fees slightly more tolerable. They are still a sizable chink of the fare, but the fares themselves are still way higher than they have been from past years.
Oct 28, 2008 | 11:39 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2004
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I just saw a $240 from the west coast to Honolulu. The tide has turned. Its now a buyers market. They've been hosing their customers for 2 years with outrageous fares and new fees, and hence, load factors have diminished significantly. For 2 years they've made sure you know who the boss is, now it's time to hose back
Oct 28, 2008 | 11:55 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2004
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It would be nice to see a buyer's market.
That said, I no longer have any real loyalty to Continental, other than flying them enough in the next two months to stay on course for Platinum. Not sure which carrier I'll wind up with next year--possibly CO but just as likely DL.
I felt slighted by CO using temporary surges in fuel costs as justification to restructure OnePass. Of course half the people on this board thanked them for doing so in lieu of levying fuel surcharges. So silly...
That said, I no longer have any real loyalty to Continental, other than flying them enough in the next two months to stay on course for Platinum. Not sure which carrier I'll wind up with next year--possibly CO but just as likely DL.
I felt slighted by CO using temporary surges in fuel costs as justification to restructure OnePass. Of course half the people on this board thanked them for doing so in lieu of levying fuel surcharges. So silly...
Oct 28, 2008 | 12:12 pm
#11
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Speaking of LAX-HNL, the eastbound on Thursday night and westbound Friday morning has been restore to 764, for now.
Oct 28, 2008 | 4:57 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2003
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It would be nice to see a buyer's market.
That said, I no longer have any real loyalty to Continental, other than flying them enough in the next two months to stay on course for Platinum. Not sure which carrier I'll wind up with next year--possibly CO but just as likely DL.
I felt slighted by CO using temporary surges in fuel costs as justification to restructure OnePass. Of course half the people on this board thanked them for doing so in lieu of levying fuel surcharges. So silly...
That said, I no longer have any real loyalty to Continental, other than flying them enough in the next two months to stay on course for Platinum. Not sure which carrier I'll wind up with next year--possibly CO but just as likely DL.
I felt slighted by CO using temporary surges in fuel costs as justification to restructure OnePass. Of course half the people on this board thanked them for doing so in lieu of levying fuel surcharges. So silly...
Oct 28, 2008 | 5:06 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: retired from SFO Terminal 3
Posts: 7,437
I think it's always been like this during the months of October and November and the first two weeks of December. Most people aren't vacationing to HI during these months and fare sales are needed to give people an excuse to travel.
Peak travel times to Hawaii are always during school holidays and the summer. And January for the Japanese market.
Peak travel times to Hawaii are always during school holidays and the summer. And January for the Japanese market.
Oct 28, 2008 | 10:46 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,660
If fares are predicated on the visibility at the destination, then buy your tickets tonight. Writing to you from HNL tonight and the vis was 4 miles in vog today. Tradewinds coming in tomorrow will clear it out......fares must be headed up tomorrow.....
DRW
Oct 29, 2008 | 7:36 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2006
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No way. I don't believe it.
