Fares Increased Then "Sales" Start
Jun 8, 1999, 11:25 pm
#1
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Location: Texas, U.S.A.
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Fares Increased Then "Sales" Start
I'm sure many of you have noticed this as I have lately. From the Independent Traveler on AOL:
Updated June 8
Let's hope you all got great bargains on your Memorial Day travel plans...
A week ago, all of the major US carriers raised standard domestic leisure rates by 4%. Continental Airlines was joined by American Airlines, and later Northwest Airlines and US Airways jumped on board.
But today, the majors began offering substantial discounts for summer travelers on some flights. Started by United, most of the majors soon matched the sale. Companion fares are also available in some markets; and the best deals can be found on coast-to-coast routes, with advance-purchase tickets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
You must purchase tickets by June 18, and complete travel by the end of September. You can travel from the East Coast to Los Angeles for under $400 RT, and from Chicago to Dallas or Denver to Washington, DC for under $300.
We should welcome these most recent cuts for certain, but realize that in the wake of the fare hike, you shouldn't expect bargain basement fares -- after all, it is summertime. In addition, business travelers will still be paying steep fares, as will those not able to comply with the restrictions which apply to the sale fares.
Last week's hike marked the third fare hike on seven-, 14-, and 21-day advance purchase fares since January of this year, for a total increase of 11% on domestic leisure fares. You may recall that last year the major airlines attempt to raise fares over a dozen times, but Northwest (facing a strike) refused to jump on board. This year there have already been seven attempts to get a fare hike passed.
Updated June 8
Let's hope you all got great bargains on your Memorial Day travel plans...
A week ago, all of the major US carriers raised standard domestic leisure rates by 4%. Continental Airlines was joined by American Airlines, and later Northwest Airlines and US Airways jumped on board.
But today, the majors began offering substantial discounts for summer travelers on some flights. Started by United, most of the majors soon matched the sale. Companion fares are also available in some markets; and the best deals can be found on coast-to-coast routes, with advance-purchase tickets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
You must purchase tickets by June 18, and complete travel by the end of September. You can travel from the East Coast to Los Angeles for under $400 RT, and from Chicago to Dallas or Denver to Washington, DC for under $300.
We should welcome these most recent cuts for certain, but realize that in the wake of the fare hike, you shouldn't expect bargain basement fares -- after all, it is summertime. In addition, business travelers will still be paying steep fares, as will those not able to comply with the restrictions which apply to the sale fares.
Last week's hike marked the third fare hike on seven-, 14-, and 21-day advance purchase fares since January of this year, for a total increase of 11% on domestic leisure fares. You may recall that last year the major airlines attempt to raise fares over a dozen times, but Northwest (facing a strike) refused to jump on board. This year there have already been seven attempts to get a fare hike passed.
Jun 9, 1999, 12:55 pm
#2
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Posts: n/a
A lovely sales tactic, no doubt. Raise fares across the board, then offer a few seats on each plane as "sale fares" and see who bites. The seats being offered at the sale fares probably would have gone empty anyway. For all their wackyness, the one thing US airlines have going for them is their "inventory management."
Jun 13, 1999, 2:12 pm
#3
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There was an article in recent Businessweek about this, and it said that despite the fare hikes this year the average price paid per seat has actually gone down because of the mix of seats the airlines are offering ... they are offering more discounted fares than they had before.
Jun 13, 1999, 2:17 pm
#4
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Arlington, VA, USA
Posts: 858
The article in today's Washington Post (detailed on "The Buzz") mentions squadrons of specialists sitting at screens and following the way tickets are sold, then changing fares minute by minute to match demand. Mind-boggling!
Jun 14, 1999, 9:05 pm
#5
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Jun 18, 1999, 1:36 am
#7
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And you have to watch the farewar's fine print.
For example, SFO to DC is usually in the mid-$500's for an advance purchase ticket. The sale promised $398 (actually $415 with landing & segment fees added in). But that was only good for travel Tuesday and Wednesday. What leisure traveler wants to fly then? I wanted to go for a long weekent - Thursday or Friday out, back Monday - and the "sale" price was around $515.
For example, SFO to DC is usually in the mid-$500's for an advance purchase ticket. The sale promised $398 (actually $415 with landing & segment fees added in). But that was only good for travel Tuesday and Wednesday. What leisure traveler wants to fly then? I wanted to go for a long weekent - Thursday or Friday out, back Monday - and the "sale" price was around $515.