Outrageous BOS-PHL fares continue
Jan 8, 2008, 6:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Boston
Programs: AA ExP, OW Emerald, B6 Mosaic; AA1MM;
Posts: 134
Outrageous BOS-PHL fares continue
We are now 3 months into the $980 NR BOS-PHL US and DL tickets. It is time to take action. Anyone know which consumer groups to contact?
As a former weekly flyer on this route, I now take the train, and even drove this week (nice not to be in a rental car for once). With Amtrak's pending strike in NJ and Manchester ($120 refundable each way) and Providence just not convenient options there has to be a solution! Please US or DL bring back the $322.81 fares. Or better yet, COME BACK AIRTRAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd happily ditch the US miles for a product I snobbily shunned before (lesson learned).
According to our internal corporate travel ladies, travel (in house) to BOS has dropped more than 50% since the fare increase.
Other ideas anyone?
As a former weekly flyer on this route, I now take the train, and even drove this week (nice not to be in a rental car for once). With Amtrak's pending strike in NJ and Manchester ($120 refundable each way) and Providence just not convenient options there has to be a solution! Please US or DL bring back the $322.81 fares. Or better yet, COME BACK AIRTRAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd happily ditch the US miles for a product I snobbily shunned before (lesson learned).
According to our internal corporate travel ladies, travel (in house) to BOS has dropped more than 50% since the fare increase.
Other ideas anyone?
Jan 8, 2008, 7:52 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA
Posts: 2,066
Yup - I had to book my nephew's flight:
01/10/08 BOS - PHL $500.00 one way. Instead booked MHT - PHL for $125.00 one way. Also looked at BOS - PHL - ABE $150.00 one way (just get off the plane in PHL and don't board the next segment).
High Fares!
01/10/08 BOS - PHL $500.00 one way. Instead booked MHT - PHL for $125.00 one way. Also looked at BOS - PHL - ABE $150.00 one way (just get off the plane in PHL and don't board the next segment).
High Fares!
Jan 8, 2008, 8:38 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,419
Higher fares and less frequent service. Unless oil prices retreat (logic says they should, but who knows) get used to it.
Jan 8, 2008, 8:41 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,005
What are you expecting a "consumer group" to do? Protest free market, supply and demand, deregulated industry? Are they defrauding you?
Jan 8, 2008, 9:08 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Programs: Air Canada Elite 35; United Gold (maybe Platinum?)
Posts: 1,073
Fly AirTran BOS-BWI, rent a car and drive the hour to Philly....
Jan 8, 2008, 10:20 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Commuting around the mid-atlantic and rust-belt on any number of RJs
Programs: TSA Random Selectee Platinum, * Gold, SPG/HH/MR mid-tier, and a tiny bag of pretzels.
Posts: 9,255
Jan 9, 2008, 2:13 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: US Dividend Miles - Gold
Posts: 112
That works, but don't check your bag because you might end up having to drive to ABE to get it.
Jan 9, 2008, 3:06 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,392
Jan 9, 2008, 3:32 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: VX unless destination indicates otherwise (damn hippieanarchistville--EUG--and PHX)
Posts: 577
Jan 9, 2008, 5:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TUS and any place close to a lav
Programs: UA 1.6MM
Posts: 5,423
There is a FREE shuttle from MHT to the Sullivan Square MBTA station and the Anderson Regional Transit Center in Woburn. The shuttle runs 24/7.
http://www.flymanchester.com/transpo...le_service.php
http://www.flymanchester.com/transpo...le_service.php
Jan 9, 2008, 5:31 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ABE or Cambridge, Mass.
Programs: AGR, CO
Posts: 223
One other note, US might not look too kindly on ditching that last segment if someone does it regularly -- the OP seemed to imply he was a commuter or something.
If you're interested in starting an Amtrak Guest Rewards account feel free to drop by the AGR forum for some tips. I guess with these fares, suddenly $280 ($475 for F) doesn't look so bad for RT business-class service on Acela Express...
Jan 9, 2008, 6:13 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
The fraud here is not the high fares. It's the mismatch of the Legacy Pricing model presented as the LCC pricing model.
The much heralded America West Management team was never an honest to God LCC, and if you study their routes pre merger you'll note they didn't go head to head with Southwest anymore than they absolutely had to. HP gouged on monopoly routes just like they do now.
The whole Business Casual/LCC message is an outright lie to consumers.
Business Casual to Tempe seems to be no necktie, no operational integrity and no moral integrity in the CEO office.
How can you ba an LCC with the highest costs in the Industry?
The much heralded America West Management team was never an honest to God LCC, and if you study their routes pre merger you'll note they didn't go head to head with Southwest anymore than they absolutely had to. HP gouged on monopoly routes just like they do now.
The whole Business Casual/LCC message is an outright lie to consumers.
Business Casual to Tempe seems to be no necktie, no operational integrity and no moral integrity in the CEO office.
How can you ba an LCC with the highest costs in the Industry?
Jan 9, 2008, 8:32 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: RDU
Posts: 818
And to make it worse, Amtrak may go on strike on Jan 30 (http://www.boston.com/news/local/art..._would_rock_t/)
Good luck trying to get from BOS to PHL via plane (for less than $1000) or train. Greyhound anyone?
Good luck trying to get from BOS to PHL via plane (for less than $1000) or train. Greyhound anyone?
Jan 9, 2008, 8:37 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Programs: US,AA
Posts: 145
And to make it worse, Amtrak may go on strike on Jan 30 (http://www.boston.com/news/local/art..._would_rock_t/)
Good luck trying to get from BOS to PHL via plane (for less than $1000) or train. Greyhound anyone?
Good luck trying to get from BOS to PHL via plane (for less than $1000) or train. Greyhound anyone?
Jan 10, 2008, 6:23 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Boston
Programs: AA ExP, OW Emerald, B6 Mosaic; AA1MM;
Posts: 134
The bus! Now there's a solution....
Driving wasn't all bad-- stopped for lunch in NYC, dinner on way home in CT tonight with family. Plus its great to have my own car for once. Back on the train next week it they don't strike! 
After further research I've learned that the one way dis the segment is a risk if it happens repeatedly and they catch on. Has anyone ever had any action taken against them? Or do they go after the travel agents? Or are they too concerned with their business casual outfits to figure it out?
The current price gouging on the route really stinks. I'm really curious to know who is looking at the numbers and making the decisions for this market. Or are they just turning a blind eye? It would be great to turn up the pressure. Too bad Delta hasn't stepped up! I'd buy 10 months worth of tickets if they had a fare sale! My US loyalty is and has been since October, caput.
Driving wasn't all bad-- stopped for lunch in NYC, dinner on way home in CT tonight with family. Plus its great to have my own car for once. Back on the train next week it they don't strike! After further research I've learned that the one way dis the segment is a risk if it happens repeatedly and they catch on. Has anyone ever had any action taken against them? Or do they go after the travel agents? Or are they too concerned with their business casual outfits to figure it out?
The current price gouging on the route really stinks. I'm really curious to know who is looking at the numbers and making the decisions for this market. Or are they just turning a blind eye? It would be great to turn up the pressure. Too bad Delta hasn't stepped up! I'd buy 10 months worth of tickets if they had a fare sale! My US loyalty is and has been since October, caput.