Depart/Return Same Day
Feb 8, 2010 | 5:33 pm
#1
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Depart/Return Same Day
On most airlines, except Southwest for sure, if you depart and return the same day the fare can be several hundred dollars higher. Many compannies
are cutting back on business travel especially with on-line meetings and
conferences avalaible so you would think the airlines would make it more economical to do same day depart and return.
Even on say a Saturday maybe you want to go the NYC for just the day and return at night. The fare here is still several hundred dollars higher,
despite the fact returning Saturday evening is a light travel period but you can get the lower fare coming back Sunday night which is a prime time to
travel.
are cutting back on business travel especially with on-line meetings and
conferences avalaible so you would think the airlines would make it more economical to do same day depart and return.
Even on say a Saturday maybe you want to go the NYC for just the day and return at night. The fare here is still several hundred dollars higher,
despite the fact returning Saturday evening is a light travel period but you can get the lower fare coming back Sunday night which is a prime time to
travel.
Feb 8, 2010 | 6:29 pm
#2
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This used to be uniformly true, but some airlines are offering the lowest fares for same-day travel. For example, on United, a same day RT SFO->BOS for late winter/early Spring is currently $198 + taxes -- the same fare as for a multi-day stay, depending on availability. Of course, the airline fare array is incredibly complex and variable and different markets may exact a "penalty" for same-day returns. Also, the earlier one purchases, the greater the chance of avoiding a higher fare for same-day travel.
Feb 8, 2010 | 6:34 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
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On most airlines, except Southwest for sure, if you depart and return the same day the fare can be several hundred dollars higher. Many compannies
are cutting back on business travel especially with on-line meetings and
conferences avalaible so you would think the airlines would make it more economical to do same day depart and return.
Even on say a Saturday maybe you want to go the NYC for just the day and return at night. The fare here is still several hundred dollars higher,
despite the fact returning Saturday evening is a light travel period but you can get the lower fare coming back Sunday night which is a prime time to
travel.
are cutting back on business travel especially with on-line meetings and
conferences avalaible so you would think the airlines would make it more economical to do same day depart and return.
Even on say a Saturday maybe you want to go the NYC for just the day and return at night. The fare here is still several hundred dollars higher,
despite the fact returning Saturday evening is a light travel period but you can get the lower fare coming back Sunday night which is a prime time to
travel.
Feb 8, 2010 | 8:37 pm
#4
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Those days are long gone, there are many same day fares that are the same as the Saturday night fares, etc. You can often leave New York to LA or San Francicso and come back the same day for $200 (recently even less)
Keep an eye on the Mileage Run forum, tons of one day teals in there.
Tuesday and Wednesday fares are sometimes even less then the weekend fares.
Keep an eye on the Mileage Run forum, tons of one day teals in there.
Tuesday and Wednesday fares are sometimes even less then the weekend fares.
Feb 9, 2010 | 1:22 am
#5
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I agree, usually same day fare valid on tuesday and wednesday can be the cheapest, that is what we usually do The MRs. It is not about whatever days has the lightest loads. It is mostly about different fare rules allow, some are only specifiically good on midweek, some are weekends, it also specify how many days you can travel, like the efares only good on depart friday or saturday at certain time of the day, and return monday or tuesday.
Feb 9, 2010 | 9:57 am
#6
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Location: Vancouver, Canada
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I find what is key is buying far enough in advance. For example, I recently flew YVR <==> PDX in the same day. What made the fare cheaper was buying it three weeks in advance.
Feb 9, 2010 | 10:14 am
#7
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Yet another post from you (OP) that is full of factual inaccuracies. 
The fare rules depend on the carrier and route in question. There are plenty of routes that price as one-way trips (i.e. no minimum stay requirements). There are plenty that have a 3-day/Saturday night minimum (CO loves these). There are plenty that are a straight Saturday night minimum.
Just buying in advance won't necessarily "solve" the problem. There are simply some routes/fares that don't price that way.
The fare rules depend on the carrier and route in question. There are plenty of routes that price as one-way trips (i.e. no minimum stay requirements). There are plenty that have a 3-day/Saturday night minimum (CO loves these). There are plenty that are a straight Saturday night minimum.
Just buying in advance won't necessarily "solve" the problem. There are simply some routes/fares that don't price that way.
Feb 9, 2010 | 3:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Wenatchee, WA
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This seems to be an overly broad statement that is not necessarily true. On AS most tickets are priced as one-ways, there is no cost "penalty" for departing and returning the same day.