End of year SFO-NYC, will prices go up or down?
May 22, 2021, 2:22 pm
#1
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End of year SFO-NYC, will prices go up or down?
I'm about to make a nonstop RT SFO-NYC reservation for the end of the year outside of peak days. Do you think prices might go or down compared to today?
May 22, 2021, 2:27 pm
#2
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May 22, 2021, 6:59 pm
#3
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Last year, I recall some really good Y and J deals, even closer-in. I don't see that happening this year, and would expect price to remain high and continue to go up, even as capacity increases.
I think the days of $99 (or less) one way / $198 (or less) roundtrip non-basic economy tickets are sadly behind us for transcon flights
I think the days of $99 (or less) one way / $198 (or less) roundtrip non-basic economy tickets are sadly behind us for transcon flights
May 22, 2021, 7:05 pm
#4
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May 22, 2021, 9:06 pm
#6
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It would be helpful to know what you think are "peak days" as it may not be the same as what the airlines consider them to be. AA, AS, DL, and UA all have the exact same $135.40 one-way, 21-day advance purchase fare as their cheapest fare on this route. With AA, this is actually a main cabin fare as they pulled their domestic Basic Economy fares last fall. With AS, DL, and UA, there is a $40 upcharge for main cabin. The availability of this fare and other fares is controlled by a combination of bucket availability and possibly other factors (like blackout dates and fare surcharges). While they may adjust the pricing of their fares at some point, it likely won't get much lower than that fare. AS actually blacks out the availability of that fare (it's part of the fare rules) from 12/17-12/19, 12/21-12/23, 12/26-12/29, and 1/1-1/3. DL and AA don't have blackout dates for the fare, but they do have fare surcharges on most or all of the days that AS blacks out. So that pretty much tells you what the airlines consider to be "peak days". Note that the peak demand days actually begin the weekend before Christmas. UA neither has surcharges or blackout dates and solely relies on bucket availability to control pricing.
Right now, UA has bucket availability ("O" bucket) for those $135.40 fares for flights on SFO-EWR on 12/24 and 12/25. Unless there are new fare filings, those flights are not going to get cheaper and that is probably about the best fares you will see. Return flights are more challenging and the cheapest return date on UA in late December is on 12/31 at $278.40 (also a Basic Economy fare). You could book the outbound and see if they open up lower fare buckets on return flights at some point. Or perhaps consider using another carrier for return. Since you are an AS elite, I would assume you also might consider AA/AS flights.
Right now, UA has bucket availability ("O" bucket) for those $135.40 fares for flights on SFO-EWR on 12/24 and 12/25. Unless there are new fare filings, those flights are not going to get cheaper and that is probably about the best fares you will see. Return flights are more challenging and the cheapest return date on UA in late December is on 12/31 at $278.40 (also a Basic Economy fare). You could book the outbound and see if they open up lower fare buckets on return flights at some point. Or perhaps consider using another carrier for return. Since you are an AS elite, I would assume you also might consider AA/AS flights.
Last edited by xliioper; May 23, 2021 at 8:23 am
May 23, 2021, 11:37 am
#7
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Thank you for your kind (and unified) advice. I have now purchased the economy tickets back and forth for my wife and me and looking forward to some Broadway shows.
Outside of the high priced holidays, so yes.
True. It’s just that we have some travel credits with United from early pandemic reservations that we cancelled. And we would like to use them while we still have the Club Infinite card.
"If you received your future flight credit from canceling a flight, you'll only be able to use one per purchase. If you received a future flight credit from changing to a less expensive flight, you can use multiple credits in one purchase.” So we used one credit for outgoing and one for returning.
Secondarily, I’ve been itching to get on a domestic 777-200 ever since a few years ago our connecting BOS-SFO from Europe was so packed we were each given $800 (plus lunch) to take another (smaller) flight two hours later.
We got main economy to make sure we’re sitting in a two seat section, available in rows 37, 40 and 48-51 on either side. If you were to pick such seats, where would you want to sit?
"If you received your future flight credit from canceling a flight, you'll only be able to use one per purchase. If you received a future flight credit from changing to a less expensive flight, you can use multiple credits in one purchase.” So we used one credit for outgoing and one for returning.
Secondarily, I’ve been itching to get on a domestic 777-200 ever since a few years ago our connecting BOS-SFO from Europe was so packed we were each given $800 (plus lunch) to take another (smaller) flight two hours later.
We got main economy to make sure we’re sitting in a two seat section, available in rows 37, 40 and 48-51 on either side. If you were to pick such seats, where would you want to sit?
May 23, 2021, 11:49 am
#8
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....
Secondarily, I’ve been itching to get on a domestic 777-200 ever since a few years ago our connecting BOS-SFO from Europe was so packed we were each given $800 (plus lunch) to take another (smaller) flight two hours later.
We got main economy to make sure we’re sitting in a two seat section, available in rows 37, 40 and 48-51 on either side. If you were to pick such seats, where would you want to sit?
Secondarily, I’ve been itching to get on a domestic 777-200 ever since a few years ago our connecting BOS-SFO from Europe was so packed we were each given $800 (plus lunch) to take another (smaller) flight two hours later.
We got main economy to make sure we’re sitting in a two seat section, available in rows 37, 40 and 48-51 on either side. If you were to pick such seats, where would you want to sit?
(and be careful, their are two versions where window row 37,39,40 may or may not be 2 seaters - will not know most likely config until 2 days before travel and can change after that)
However be aware those planes are UA Temporarily Grounds Boeing 777-200 (PW Power); Impacts on aircraft assignments and their return date is uncertain.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 23, 2021 at 12:36 pm Reason: row 37,39,40
May 30, 2021, 8:09 am
#10
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You can change to the same flight you were already scheduled on and receive the difference as a credit? I didn't know that was possible.
May 30, 2021, 9:36 am
#11
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Online workaround is to change to another flight and then change back. With no change fees.
Also will not work for post 31 April 2021 purchased BE tickets.
May 30, 2021, 2:36 pm
#12
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