kreaton

The route from DTW to SEA used to be reasonably priced (under $700 RT). Lately, it seems 2 weeks or less is over $1200 and longer is still over $800. I am getting competitive fares from SWA and others for under $500.

Question...Which city can I fly through to get a much lower rate?

SeaBridge

Matrix airfare search is your friend.

xliioper

I see $684 fares with 2 week advance purchase and 4 day (3 night) min stay. If you are doing a 3 day (2 night) stay, you need to look at 3 week advance purchase to get in the $800 range. If you can fit in a Sat night stay, round-trip fares are as low as $377 with 3 week advance purchase. See below --

4 day (3 night) min stay
http://www.google.com/flights/#searc...YTEAM;s=0;mc=p

3 day (2 night) min stay
http://www.google.com/flights/#searc...YTEAM;s=0;mc=p

Basically, I'm making the assumption that you are trying to book 3 day trips or less and that's what's really hurting you. If you fly out FNT and connect instead of the nonstop out of DTW, you can get down to $664 for 2 week advance purchase and $438 on 3 week advance purchase for those 3 day trips. If you fly WN out of DTW, you are going to have to connect as well, so DL out of FNT likely won't be any worse. Since it has flights to DTW, MSP, and ATL, there are a decent number of routing options.

http://www.google.com/flights/#searc...YTEAM;s=1;mc=p