MikeMpls

Back-to-back fares are safest if you book them on a 3rd party site, e.g. Travelocity or Expedia. Then if you misconnect, the airline that delivered you late becomes responsible for getting you to your destination.


NW was every bit as greedy as DL. This is not DL per se. What can be so frustrating about DL's pricing practices is that one often is unable to do any long-term planning or purchasing at reasonable prices.

In our attempts to reach STL cheaply for about 1.5 years when NW was in total gouge mode (culminating in $560 fares) I did a lot of bookings thru Travelocity and also some back to back tickets on NW & UA thru ORD.

You can cut your expenses significantly if you're resourceful & persistent. There is no reason to reward DL/NW for gouging you.

DTownBrian

The short story is that you need to have a minimum 3 night stay to get a discounted airfare into NYC (LGA, JFK & EWR) with these new fare rules. Anything less than that you get hit with H & M fares. It used to be that I'd do a single night and day trips to save on the hotel costs. Now I'll stay in a hotel by the airport to save on airfare and fly out the next morning.

longtime lurker

If you're trying to get NW miles, that will only work until CO leaves SkyTeam next month. You're likely much better off buying a OW DTW-LGA (even if it's a connection on Southwest or a non-stop on Spirit once, to keep costs down if necessary), and then Thurs-Tues LGA-DTW RTs on NW. A OW connection on SW (or possibly, US) can cost as little as $85.20. A OW on Spirit goes for as little as $94.

That's perfectly legal - and there's nothing NW can do about it as long as you fly every NW segment. Buy another OW when your NYC engagement ends to get back home.

idayvuelta

I often fly this route and have also been surprised by the increases. What I don't understand is these flights do not appear to be particularly full - what gives?

jay23

I just booked my self back to back on NW / CO. Total cost for 2 pair of tickets is less then $400 compared to around $1800 NW wanted. Since I got both metal's i am ok with flying either carrier for now.

Since NW stooped the 6 AM flight from DTW to LGA, the 7.20 AM is always sold out and in a over sold situation. Same goes to the Thursday night flight from LGA, its a zoo.

MikeMpls

Welcome to Rev. Mgmt. @ Delta. They don't care. Quite possibly they don't understand either, but they are all about counting the beans.

MikeMpls

Congrats on adapting! Now you're only paying twice as much.

I know the feeling.

jay23

Oh and the hotel prices in NY all went up in September since its US Open and next week UN.

I was paying around $250 for W and now its $450. Time to go back to Fourpoints.

idayvuelta

Well, I guess that's my question. Delta can try and get as many beans as they can - no quarrel there. If they're making more money with $300 fares to detroit than so be it... I just am anecdotally seeing emptier planes and higher fares... can't imagine that's more profitable.

MikeMpls

They catch the suckers early on, then lower prices to fill the plane. If you want to fly Delta without being taken to the cleaners, you have to learn to be patient & want for the fares to drop. (& always have a backup strategy if you have to make the trip)