NW vs DL one way fares -- what a difference!
Nov 12, 2008, 3:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: MKE
Programs: DL Platinum; Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,119
NW vs DL one way fares -- what a difference!
Just checked a one way fare from MKE-ROA later this month. Delta was a very respectable $118 (9 choices); the cheapest NW fare (including some of the same flights listed DL) was $592 (1) or $775 and up! WOW.
Nov 12, 2008, 3:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: TPA-MKE-PHX
Programs: Ex DL-DM. MM. TWA-Aviator Plat. HHonors-DVIP, MR-Gold. Nat-Emerald. Avis Chairmn.
Posts: 1,925
Appears the DL flights have a lot more seats available then than NW flights.
Nov 12, 2008, 3:20 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
They also assume that most travelers end up returning to where they started. The high fares also price you out of picking and choosing between different airlines to get the lowest price on each. For example, it might cost you $250 to fly out on NW and $200 to fly back, while another airline might cost $240 to fly out and $240 to fly back. By preventing you from just buying the cheaper fare on NW, NW gets you to fly both directions on NW.
You WILL occasionally see discounted one-way fares on NW, but usually only inside 7 days and on flights that are undersold. Otherwise one-way fares just are not in the pricing model.
Nov 12, 2008, 3:26 pm
#4
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
it's focus city pricing....put very simply NWA has more options (and more NS options too) than any other airline out of MKE (same for IND)
Nov 12, 2008, 3:35 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Right here
Posts: 2,940
As a former NW Elite and current DL Medallion, I believe DL's OW pricing is much more common and systemic that some posters here believe. In my experience, NW's OW fares were typically significantly higher than 50% of RT fare, whereas on DL I've found plenty of OW fares that are in the ballpark of 50% RT.
Nov 12, 2008, 4:45 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,889
Nov 12, 2008, 5:02 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: PBI-FLL
Programs: DL FO, US SP, SPG G, HH S, PC PLT
Posts: 256
pbi-lax costs
Doing a MR for FO for 09. Priced both routes and NW was $224 and DL was $746 8 days out last week. Six Segments 3 DL & 3 NW.
Nov 12, 2008, 8:20 pm
#8
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
Trust me I know
Nov 12, 2008, 8:34 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
Programs: DL DM 3 MM AA PLAT HH Lifetime Diamond Marriott Plat AMB lifetime titanium Hertz PC
Posts: 6,187
I have found that in every market out of BNA. They do nto have one way fares other then to the DTW area. Other then that a one way is B or Y. I use to buy the Delta code share on NWA for 150 to anywhere in FLA and NWA was 400.
Nov 12, 2008, 8:52 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SLC
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 211
I think it's totally hit or miss.
I unexpectedly need to get to GSO this wknd.
Yesterday, I looked on On DL.com as I normally do when I want to fly somewhere, and it was $550 for SLC-DEN-ATL-GSO (multistop, red-eye). Thanks but no thanks.
I then went to NWA.com and booked a last minute roundtrip SLC-DTW-GSO for $300 leaving 11/15
... and the icing on the cake - I'm already upgraded
I unexpectedly need to get to GSO this wknd.
Yesterday, I looked on On DL.com as I normally do when I want to fly somewhere, and it was $550 for SLC-DEN-ATL-GSO (multistop, red-eye). Thanks but no thanks.
I then went to NWA.com and booked a last minute roundtrip SLC-DTW-GSO for $300 leaving 11/15
... and the icing on the cake - I'm already upgraded