Airlines gone crazy!!!

[Gumbolette 58]

I was so frustrated looking at airfare for my husband's ticket this Christmas.

OH hell, the airlines double their Airfare for peak seasons like this...

What can we expect. The amount starts ar $2,000...as early as now :bonk: what if it's already December. They should have at least consider lowering their rates since this is the time that people may wanted to fly for their loveones.

We'll probably start considering this amount, or might as well just go home when the ogreness of the airlines is over.

[vbtbmrt 2]

yes your right last yr i was looking to go see my wife at christmas started at 1200 then went to 2400 then week before christmas it went to 4800 i waited till april when she had interview then it was 895

[Neonred 3,562]

I see you are learning the principle of supply and demand.

[Peter&Jaime 1]

It's best to book very early for Christmas. I booked my tickets to Peru for Christmas over one month ago. Since then the prices have doubled. Sorry this doesn't help you. If you really want to go I suggest you check different times and dates. For example if you fly Christmas eve or Christmas day and return on New Years Eve or New Years day flights will typically be cheaper. Yes it sucks to fly on those days but it would get you there during the holiday season. Good luck.

[frali 2]

More costs incurred due to incompetence of USCIS.

[Gumbolette 58]

Yes, I tried dates to fit our likes, but frustration just comes up again and again.

After Christmas, we don't know when are we going to see each other again.

I tried to look for the prices starting September, it was just $800 up to $1200 after taxes, now.. it's double.

[Ling Ling 22]

This has a lot to do with.

1. Price of oil

2. Speculators continuing to drive the price up

3. Businesses use more video conferencing

4. An economy where nobody can afford to travel.

#3 is one people don't talk about a lot. But businesses are saving a lot of money by doing video conferencing.

The first class and business class tickets were paying a big chunk of the flights (relative to the space they take up) and now most people in

1st and Biz are there on upgrade certificates or miles.

The last few flights I was on to/from Europe, the flights were only half full.

Last year, a flight to London was on average about $500 r/t from Chicago, and maybe $700 at the most.

Today you're looking at $1200 and up...MAYBE $900 if you can find a sale.

Chicago to Cleveland last year r/t was $98...this year, $298

Chicago to Tokyo last year r/t was $800...this year, $1400

It's going back to the '40s and '50s when only the wealthy could afford to fly.

Yeah, it sucks...but I don't see an end in sight. It's not like we could just...not fly.

SUCKS BIG TIME

[ninjarocket 1]

yeah, I always got stiffed with bigger than usual fares around xmas time.... it's just that many people want to fly that time, so you have to outbid the other passengers while the airlines rake in the profits..... nothing you can do except pay or change your travel dates

This has a lot to do with.

1. Price of oil

2. Speculators continuing to drive the price up

3. Businesses use more video conferencing

4. An economy where nobody can afford to travel.

#3 is one people don't talk about a lot. But businesses are saving a lot of money by doing video conferencing.

The first class and business class tickets were paying a big chunk of the flights (relative to the space they take up) and now most people in

1st and Biz are there on upgrade certificates or miles.

The last few flights I was on to/from Europe, the flights were only half full.

Last year, a flight to London was on average about $500 r/t from Chicago, and maybe $700 at the most.

Today you're looking at $1200 and up...MAYBE $900 if you can find a sale.

Chicago to Cleveland last year r/t was $98...this year, $298

Chicago to Tokyo last year r/t was $800...this year, $1400

It's going back to the '40s and '50s when only the wealthy could afford to fly.

Yeah, it sucks...but I don't see an end in sight. It's not like we could just...not fly.

SUCKS BIG TIME

[jimcat 1]

My husband booked his ticket for December as early as July and he got it at so cheap a price! for only 1,100--ROUND TRIP!!

You really have to book waaaay ahead of time to get really cheap tickets...

[nimche 8]

It's going back to the '40s and '50s when only the wealthy could afford to fly.SUCKS BIG TIME

I am going to download my own plane so I can travel for free

I have looked at this anytime that there is presidential election going on and everything is a chaos and people think its end of the world and guess what? Airlines will take a full advantage of this situation + I have heard due to the bad economy here we get less tourist now or even immigrants...

[Phillip2 3]

Well the airlines have never changed. They have always been expensive during holidays. It seems they are more prone to hike things up at Christmas every year. This will be my third trip to China and my second during Christmas. I bought mine over a month ago and it was almost 2,000.00. Since then the price keeps going up. It was that way last year to. When I went during the summer I only paid 1500.00 so as I see it it is price Gouching and the government is fine as long as they don't have to bailout the airlines any more

[alienlovechild 75]

I'm not sure where you're flying from or if you have the time but I looked at Continental Airlines from Atlanta to Manila for $1,710/person. The dates for departing and returning were DEC 11 to JAN 10.

[Imua 0]

I am scared what fares will be to Nepal when I am ready to buy Govi's ticket(and mine since I am going to bring him back - I am trying my best with all the visa fees etc. to save up $4K for 2 r/t tickets by February or when Govi gets his visa, planning on flying over around May 25 and coming back with Govi after July 4. I pray it won't be more than $2K p/p - this year it was $1600, last year $1400, and that is during low season for Nepal.

[mhal2008 1]

Try to have frequent flyer mileage membership. I've been a member of Northwest Airlines frequent flyer program since 2003 and I saved a lot of money. I'm planning to see my husnabd this Nov and may airfare is only $836 (tax included) + 20,000 miles... if you're a member, 1roundtrip from Manila to Phil will give you at least 20,000 miles at regular fare. But you cannot book a flight using mileage during peak season like holidays...

[msnoob 3]

Definitely a matter of supply and demand. The airlines can and will increase the fare because there are so many people who desire to fly.

Try to book a hotel in Times Square on New Year's Eve... it's well over $500 per night. And that's for the rinky dink ones :-)

You could sell a Nintendo Wii on Christmas Eve for double what you paid for it.

Does anyone remember the Tickle Me Elmo things? Those sold for a ridiculous amount because people could not find them...

... oh, my point.... airline tickets will always be more expensive during the holidays. This does not make airlines evil... it makes it a business. They are in it to make money and they must take advantage of these peaks to get them through the valleys when people fly less.

I know this doesn't help your individual situation, but maybe you could look for tickets during the airlines "off season" for your region. And having membership miles as mentioned, is a very good idea.

Good Luck!