FLL-PHL: strange pricing on 4/30
Apr 7, 2007, 10:25 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
FLL-PHL: strange pricing on 4/30
I booked a PHL-FLL rt, 4/26-4/30, for $219 a month ago. USair.com is now showing my outbound Flight 955 at $49, but my return Flight 1690 is $314. I noticed that there are four other return flights on 4/30 that are priced at $49 -- even though Flight 1690 has more open seats than any of those other $49 flights. In fact, Flight 1690 is a 757 and it's only 1/3 booked at this time. If my return flight were priced at $49, I'd call to claim a credit voucher for about $100.
Does anyone understand why flights on the same day would be priced so differently when the loads don't explain the difference?
Does anyone understand why flights on the same day would be priced so differently when the loads don't explain the difference?
Apr 7, 2007, 11:19 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: High Point, NC
Programs: None
Posts: 9,171
Purely a guess, given the nature of airline pricing...
WN offers fares as low as $49 on that route (and they're sold out of those seats on the 30th. I assume that US would match that fare and may still have a one or two seats available at that price on the other flights but not yours.
Possibly at that time of the morning on a Monday, there's more business traffic that's not looking for the lowest fare.
Jim
WN offers fares as low as $49 on that route (and they're sold out of those seats on the 30th. I assume that US would match that fare and may still have a one or two seats available at that price on the other flights but not yours.
Possibly at that time of the morning on a Monday, there's more business traffic that's not looking for the lowest fare.
Jim
Apr 8, 2007, 1:00 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: AA Plat; UA Silver; Marriott Platinum;
Posts: 109
US 1690 is the first flight of the day and on Monday, in particular, it is usually fully booked. There are a lot of commuters on that flight who can book months in advance. I believe the commuters on that flight were instrumental in getting the flight to leave at early on Monday--6:15am vs 7:50am the rest of the week -- so they can get to work early. If you check Southwest today, their cheap seats are gone all day and the cheapest seat available is $164. I travel the route twice a month and find the fares all over the place.
Apr 8, 2007, 9:23 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
Jim and flywheeler,
I figured that Flight 1690 would be a popular flight, but I just found it strange that so few of the seats are booked at this time. Thanks for your replies.
I figured that Flight 1690 would be a popular flight, but I just found it strange that so few of the seats are booked at this time. Thanks for your replies.
Apr 8, 2007, 9:47 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: US CP, DL nothing
Posts: 165
I've been looking at ILM -> WAS for various dates in June and something is def messed up. Showing ~$900 base for most options to DCA and BWI. For example, price out ILM-BWI June 23- June 24 and most options are above $500. This route can easily be had for <$160 r/t most of the time. Seat maps for these segments are wide open.
I'll check it tomorrow I suppose.
I'll check it tomorrow I suppose.
Apr 9, 2007, 5:49 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
I've been looking at ILM -> WAS for various dates in June and something is def messed up. Showing ~$900 base for most options to DCA and BWI. For example, price out ILM-BWI June 23- June 24 and most options are above $500. This route can easily be had for <$160 r/t most of the time. Seat maps for these segments are wide open.
I'll check it tomorrow I suppose.
I'll check it tomorrow I suppose.
Apr 9, 2007, 6:17 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: usually DCA
Posts: 1,837
They also eliminated the early FLL-DCA flights this summer, which may increase loads on the early flight to PHL/CLT.