STUPID Pricing
 

I know this has been touched very briefly some time ago.

I'm planning a trip to Vegas for my birthday in early March. It's a leap year, and I'm planning to fly FLL-LAS on 2/29 (any time) and LAS-JFK on 3/4 (redeye).

2/29 is the latest date tix are available right now, and when I price it out, I find the following which makes NO sense (it's good I don't study airline economics that closely!)...

FLL-LAS with a connection in LGB, base fare = $439
FLL-LAS with a connection in either JFK, IAD, BOS = $184
FLL-LGB = $129, LGB-LAS = $119

What's wrong with the above picture!!! These are base fares, and I don't want to connect in a really out-of-the-way city such as the northeast. LGB only adds a little bit to the trip, and I am fine with that. But, why would single itin having me connect there be a whopping $191 more per person, one way, as opposed to booking those two flights on two separate confirmations!?!?!? :mad:

Any suggestions? Anyone else notice anything similar with other city pairs?

You also get more points with 2 trips. :) We see it all the time on WN

Here's my experience where the fares are cheaper if you book seperate. Sometime its cheaper to book it direct. Its a hit or miss, but here are my city pairs.


SMF to LAS via LGB
SMF to LAS via LGB
SMF to FLL via LGB
OAK to MCO via LGB
OAK to SYR via JFK
OAK to BOS via JFK
OAK to LAS via LGB

Just to make it even more weird. Sometime its cheaper to mix it up with another airline.. such as:
LGB to FLL on jetBlue, FLL to MCO on Southwest was alot cheaper than LGB to MCO via JFK and alot faster.
SMF to IAD on jetBlue than Indy from IAD to EWR was cheaper than SMF to JFK nonstop or via JFK.
Maybe you can fly to OAK, BUR, SJC, SMF, or SFO than mix it up with Southwest or Virgin America... some time you'll save money.

BTW, Vegas is a expensive place to fly to, especially on jetBlue. I would fly into another airport and use Southwest or Virgin America as a "airport shuttle" to Vegas.

Also maybe booking 6 month ish out may be the issue too because I noticed on most routes its really expensive booking really far out on jetBlue for some weird reason.

Oh to save you more money and/or to make sure you get a room. I would make a hotel room that you can cancel it because often time you may find awesome deals 1 to 3 months out thats not offered 6 months out. At this far out, I wouldn't get those "saver" rates with a you can't cancel rule. However, some time there might not be a deal because the hotel is sold out.

Going to Vegas is a gamble, even with plane ticket and hotel rooms.

Simple answer: You are looking too far out to get what you want. The fares will drop. Its not stupid pricing at all. Its simply charging a premium for someone so is desperate enough to buy an airplane ticket almost 6 months in advance. Relax :-)

Fares for your itinerary are as low as $300 on ITA. For example:

FLL-LAS, US883 2/29 8:55p (nonstop)
LAS-JFK, US58, 3/4/ 10:57p (nonstop)

TOTAL PRICE, $323.30 ALL IN

Thanks for the advice guys! It's just one of those little frusturating things that I know will work out fine in the end.

I forgot to mention that the hotel is no problem...my friend is getting a very nice property comped through a gambling friend.

Not on B6 but another bit of stupid pricing is DL NYC-DCA on 10/14/2007

The cheapest fare on any airline arriving in the morning is DL LGA/JFK(avaible from both airports)-ATL-DCA. $97 compared to $160 for the shuttle.

There will probably be cheaper fares offered in NOV/DEC for Jan/Feb travel.

Peace!