Kacee

Because UA has a lock on IAH.

FlyingHoustonian

AA's fares are high also. I was flying this flight every weekend myself for a couple of months late last year, and even advance were high.

Now, I presume because Frontier is back, there are some cheap options with a connection, but they are 8-9 hour days with 3+ hours in Chicago or Dulles.

I put some family on flights from BWI and EWR to IAH in First for less than the PHL flights (thanks AMTRAK) in coach. I get the business aspect to certain airline pricing mechanisms and all, I just find PHL IAH curious. There is a fairly large medical connection between the two cities, but nothing else it would seem to drive up fares. But in the end I am paying so UA and AA wins LOL

hans

Circumstances mean I've had to book 1-way tickets DEN-KOA. I got to Hawaii at the end of March for $500; returning the week of April 9, prices are $1200+ for 1 stop and 2 stops are required to get under $500. I do this a lot and don't recall seeing such a big swing in 1-way prices before. Am I missing something obvious?

transportprof

Yes, you are:

Demand > Supply @:-)

Coskigirl

That's the week of Easter break so guessing it's high season pricing.

hans

I understand supply and demand and various breaks but other airlines are all $500-600. Only United is $1200 for that time period.

aacharya

Maybe book the 2 stop and SDC to a better connection?

Coskigirl

Google flights shows options for 1 stop under $500 on April 11 although they are very long layovers.

mduell

United has a different opinion of the market.

geckoflyer

Nonstop versus connection during what appears to be a period that UA has already sold the "cheap" seats and/or thinks they can fill the plane with higher fares.

Kacee

UA is likely sold out in the lower fare classes. Or it's a pricing error.

jjmoore

Certain origin spots and destination spots are priced very high right now for spring break. They often coordinate with the week schools and universities are on break. For instance, I am on a 1-way ticket this weekend from GRR-DEN on Saturday... $650.... because next week is spring break for many in MI. Everyone is getting out on Saturday. @transportprof - you are correct. Demand >> supply. High prices, and only a few seats left out of GRR this weekend. UA is making a killing, and could probably charge more if they chose and still fill up. The only cheaper option for me was in the $450 range to fly WN through BWI or MDW with long connections. No thanks.

Don't think there is a pricing error. Those usually are corrected. I have seen high fares for this weekend out of GRR for the last month... no change (only higher as they fill up the M buckets and charge for B and Y outright). Every single GRR-ORD is F0 Y0.... only 1 seat via IAD, none via EWR, 2 via IAH, and maybe 6 via DEN on the morning flight.... everything else, 0. I'm scared to see how much it will cost me to travel here next year during this time based on their success in filling up seats at current fare prices.

Kacee

Yes, they are usually fixed eventually. But that doesn't mean OP didn't see one before it was fixed. I was just identifying the two most likely explanations, given that other carriers are charging much lower fares.

hans

That's what it is....looks like all Economy seats are sold on multiple flights with zero or one connection. A seat maps shows perhaps 1/3 of the seats available; they must be selling all those at Enhanced.

gusd

I'm looking at booking a trip to Tokyo (either NRT or HND) for the week before Thanksgiving returning the Monday before Thanksgiving, Only H and above is available for $2,000+? First I thought that this is because of Thanksgiving, but looking on Google Flights, the prices are the same for the entire months of September, October, November, December. Is this normal? Or is it too early? I won't be able to book until July 1 anyway for reimbursement purposes, but I am wondering if this will stay or go down.