DCA-MSP Pricing question
 

I know this is a newbie question, but I'm very curious about pricing. I need to run up to MSP on a day trip, and want to take NW152 up and NW170 back. According to ExpertFlyer, there are plenty of seats all over the plane, but NWA says the only fare code is B. Do they plan to release these seats at some point, or will NWA try to keep them in the B class bucket?

The airlines reserve so many seats for O&D pax and some for connecting pax, so it's entirely possible that all the cheap O&D seats are gone. MSP-DCA tends to have a lot of Minny flyers on it, in my experience. They may release more seats to O&D in the future, you never know.

Did you search other sites for the same flights, such as orbitz or expedia? Occasionally they will be holding seats as well.

Sat night stay
 

A lot of the lower (cheaper) fare classes require a Saturday night stay, and thus your itinerary wouldn't be eligible.

Fares are very variable on this route. I beleive NW flys the only non-stop route and there is very little comeptition. A few years ago, the cheapest flight was always $700. Earlier this year I was able to to it for $350.

O&D is part of the issue as well. There is pretty heavy traffic out of DC on Thursday and friday (congressional delgations head home) and retrning Sunday and Monday.

How about trying this trip from IAD instead? I find it less expensive and with more availability versus DCA. Of course, there is the added hassle of getting to IAD that may not make this all that attractive.

JTMSP:
Ultimately, flying from IAD is what I did. I live all of 10 minutes from DCA (15 with traffic), and I prefer to fly out of there because they always use a 319 or 320 instead of the CRJ. As it turns out, even with the trip to Dulles, I will still arrive at the same time as if I flew via another carrier and their connecting flight. Luckily I'll be flying a 320 both ways, but I'll have to go Coach Choice since I don't do middle seats.

Sigh. Just a few more R/T for SE.

Thanks to all for the primer on pricing.