Did I Blow It - did not purchase & fares are increasing - will they decrease?......
#1
Original Poster

Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Tucson AZ
Posts: 124
Did I Blow It - did not purchase & fares are increasing - will they decrease?......
Have been watching the fares for multi city/open jaw International for a January 2017 trip
Outbound TUS (flexible) 2 SJO
Return PTY 2 TUS
When I first started looking, about 2 months ago, fares were $600. They have steadily gone upwards.... Sigh. Today, restricted tix $750
The outbound is pretty cheap; it's the return from Panama that is the challenge
We aren't leaving for 5 1/2 months.
What are the chances (ha!) the rates will go down again?
Thanks for your feedback
Outbound TUS (flexible) 2 SJO
Return PTY 2 TUS
When I first started looking, about 2 months ago, fares were $600. They have steadily gone upwards.... Sigh. Today, restricted tix $750

The outbound is pretty cheap; it's the return from Panama that is the challenge
We aren't leaving for 5 1/2 months.
What are the chances (ha!) the rates will go down again?
Thanks for your feedback
#3
Moderator: United Airlines




Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 73,142
There is no universal answer to this.
There are a few sites that will do future fare estimates -- like Kayak, Skyscanner, AirfareWatchDog, Farecompare, ....
A lot depends to future sales: if seats don't selling as the airline would like, then fares may drop; if sales are doing good, prices may raise further.
Basic supply and demand (well a bit more than "basic" but similiar).
There are a few sites that will do future fare estimates -- like Kayak, Skyscanner, AirfareWatchDog, Farecompare, ....
A lot depends to future sales: if seats don't selling as the airline would like, then fares may drop; if sales are doing good, prices may raise further.
Basic supply and demand (well a bit more than "basic" but similiar).
#4
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Are you trying to return to the USA around MLK Day weekend? That's a heavy travel period most years.
#5
Original Poster

Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Tucson AZ
Posts: 124
There is no universal answer to this.
There are a few sites that will do future fare estimates -- like Kayak, Skyscanner, AirfareWatchDog, Farecompare, ....
A lot depends to future sales: if seats don't selling as the airline would like, then fares may drop; if sales are doing good, prices may raise further.
Basic supply and demand (well a bit more than "basic" but similiar).
There are a few sites that will do future fare estimates -- like Kayak, Skyscanner, AirfareWatchDog, Farecompare, ....
A lot depends to future sales: if seats don't selling as the airline would like, then fares may drop; if sales are doing good, prices may raise further.
Basic supply and demand (well a bit more than "basic" but similiar).
Last edited by service1010; Aug 4, 2016 at 12:58 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member -- please use multi-quote
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Posts: 62,343
So the first question to ask here is whether the fare has increased for your return due to inventory being sold as opposed to a general increase in the fare on that route. If the former, the fare is likely to keep rising as inventory continues to go down. If the latter, there's a reasonable chance the fare will come back down
#7
Original Poster

Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Tucson AZ
Posts: 124
I am returning the Sunday after though
So the first question to ask here is whether the fare has increased for your return due to inventory being sold as opposed to a general increase in the fare on that route. If the former, the fare is likely to keep rising as inventory continues to go down. If the latter, there's a reasonable chance the fare will come back down
That certainly would suggest that I (sob) buy now
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 4, 2016 at 1:15 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member -- please use multi-quote
#8
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Would it be cheaper to do a simple TUS-SJO round-trip, and purchasing a separate PTY-SJO one-way positioning flight?
I'm also shocked there is enough demand for four SJO-IAH flights. 2am, 7am, 1:30pm, 3pm.
I'm also shocked there is enough demand for four SJO-IAH flights. 2am, 7am, 1:30pm, 3pm.
#9
Moderator: United Airlines




Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
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I typically book known schedule trips 6-8 weeks out for domestic and 3-4 months out for TATL/TPAC.
The question for you is the risk of $X of price increase worth the chance of $X price decease. I prefer to avoid higher prices versus the chances of a lower price. I prefer a known situation to an unknown.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 4, 2016 at 1:17 pm Reason: grammar
#10
Original Poster

Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Tucson AZ
Posts: 124
If the fare is acceptable, I book.
I typically book known schedule trips 6-8 weeks out for domestic and 3-4 months out for TATL/TPAC.
The questions for you is the risk of $X of price increase worth the chance of $X price decease. I prefer to avoid higher prices versus the chances of a lower price. I prefer a know situation to an unknown.
I typically book known schedule trips 6-8 weeks out for domestic and 3-4 months out for TATL/TPAC.
The questions for you is the risk of $X of price increase worth the chance of $X price decease. I prefer to avoid higher prices versus the chances of a lower price. I prefer a know situation to an unknown.
Amazing that the 1 1/2 hour flight from Panama to San Jose is almost $300 (right now)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 4, 2016 at 1:16 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member -- please use multi-quote

