Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Early Christmas gift from the airlines - no advance purchase surcharges
After several years of adding additional fees and rules to our tickets, the airlines are finally giving us something back for the Holiday season. Seven of the major carriers (American Airlines, United, Delta, Northwest, US Airways, Frontier, AirTran and Midwest) announced that they would waive all advance purchase rules for tickets between today and January 4th 2010.
What this means to last minute travelers is that an $1800 ticket will be about $1500 cheaper when purchased for same day travel.
Of course, the airlines wouldn't be the the money makers we know them to be, without a bunch of restrictions on their sales:
The cheapest tickets are available on Dec. 16, 17, 25 and Jan. 1 and 4
The second cheapest level airfares are about 30% higher than the lowest fares. Travel for this level is valid on December 18, 20, 21, 24, 30 and 31.
The third cheapest level is about 55% higher than the lowest fares. Travel dates will be December 19, 22, 23, 26, 28 and 29.
December 27 and January 2 and 3 have not been included in the holiday fare sale - and those tickets could end up being substantially more expensive.
(Source: USA Today / Bestfares.com)
Bottom line is that even though the airlines appear to be the good guys, their complicated fare structure could end up costing passengers more. Travelers tend to book flights for the holiday season in advance, so removing last minute purchase rules really only benefits those that suddenly decide to go somewhere for Christmas or who run into sudden changes that require a last minute ticket purchase.
Gallery: 10 things that will mess up your vacation
Gallery: The girls of the 2010 Vivaaerobus calendar
Filed under: North America, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
miss peggy Dec 26th 2009 10:22PM
i want to watch graham norton-fresh, not some stale show on bbca :(
also, would love to catch up with coronation street, [it's been a while] & 'easties' of course
thanx 4 ur time
mike Dec 18th 2009 7:32AM
they are just trying to fill empty seats that people have not bought yet.
Betty Dec 18th 2009 7:40AM
If the airlines gave me a ticket, I would not fly. Cramped seating, lost luggage, late arrivals and departures, bad air to breathe,and herding passengers like cattle. The worst is losing vacation time. If you have a week you lose two days, arriving two hours early for flight, flight time, deboarding usually with late arrival to your destination. And if there is a layover, your first day is shot as well as your return flight day.
Security is negligent a great deal of the time. Pilots have recently been found negligent as well.
An airline pilot who flew Continental for years, was an alcoholic, drinking excessively on down time and when called in to cover for a pilot that didn't show, he went to work with blurry vision and speech, yet no one stopped him at check-in for flight. He said his one hour into the airport gave him time to sober up. What a laugh.
Of course a lot of these problems probably occur with other forms of travel. Happy traveling.
Wood eye Dec 18th 2009 8:48AM
I attempted to make reservations on Delta back in October. The very same flights that I make 5-6 times a year (Orlando-Hartford) that normally cost an average of $225 were quoted at $1,015.00!! I was able to use ff miles, but how many people just opted to stay home instead?
So..they try to rip us off and when it blows up in their faces, they come back crying! Rat B@*&$tards.
Robinson Dec 18th 2009 12:13PM
I agree with you 100%.My family is staying home this Christmas because the airline tickets for the holiday more then doubled this holiday
mrs.t May 20th 2011 11:03PM
----> My view
It is less of a hassle to take the bus.
I would like to know how the airline employees and executives would feel about dining at a restaurant where they need to pay separate additional fees for chairs, dining utensils, glasses, dinnerware, napkins, a table near the window versus the kitchen door, speaking to the waiters instead of phoning or texting in your order, and possible use of the restroom to wash hands, not to mention finally receiving their food. And when they enter, they are crammed into the tiniest booth with no wiggle or leg room, in a jammed restaurant, and are supposed to be thrilled that they receive any notice or service at all.
Forgot to mention that the customer would also have to persuade/ pay the "restaurant" to permit their whole party to sit at the same table, rather than be scattered around at tables with strangers.
My son takes the bus to college. He buys a ticket and can even speak to a human being without being charged. He is not charged for any amount of extra luggage; he takes all the food, water, and snacks he can carry. The bus leaves , almost always on time, and he is never left stranded in a strange city/airport and told very politely with a smile how very very sorry they are.
The airlines need a wake-up call. We have chosen not to fly as frequently because of all the hassle and harassment we have encountered in the past two years.
no longer frequent flier Dec 18th 2009 11:18AM
So they need to fill seats too bad!!!! Customer service used to be important to them but no more and when they are treating you like crap at the check-in or gate counter if you don't accept it with a smile they threaten you with airport security. They gave our seats away once when we clearly made the deadline time by over 5 minutes, my sister had 3 young children at home,. The reason it was so close was we were rerouted to texas (totally not in our itinerary) to get back home. Tons of people were stranded and rerouted gate agent said too bad these people were waiting a log time we should have been there earlier!!!! We shouldn't have been there at all HIS EMPLOYER REROUTED US AND CUT IT CLOSE SAYING WE WOULD MAKE OUR CONNECTION. We already were on airports over 24 hours. He said he could give our seats away even though we had seat assignments and would get security if we wanted to be mad over it. Now they want to charge you for every little thing and treat you even crappier. My experience is that the gate agents and ticket agents are on power trips and can scream SECURITY when they screw you, if you get mad. I will drive when I can and take the train when possible. I used to fly 5-6 times a year now only twixe in the last three years,
Chas Dec 18th 2009 11:45AM
Of cousre the penny pinching Domestic airlines work people like mules. Until they look or are over 100 years of age. Sure a lot of this is get even with the employee from the days they we're both under paid and over worked. I am a frequent flier and handicapped. Our domestic carriers of the geriatric set are near all insensitive to the dilema faced by handicapped travelers. Which makes me think, despite having to eat stale food with plastic forks, most of them are getting what they deserve. Just like the rest of us. The sensitive ones are the people who so lovingly push us around in our wheel chairs, At times two chairs at a time. Three cheers for them and I hope others besides myself are tipping them. They could all take a lesson from British Air, JAL, Thai Airline, Air Asia and many other carriers non U.S. based.
GB Dec 18th 2009 12:35PM
I enjoy flying and do so whenever I can. I have always been treated very well and understand the processes that must take place to insure everyones safety. I find that it's usually filers with bad attitudes that complain the most.
Jessica Dec 18th 2009 12:37PM
I hate flying. There's always some issue. I had purchased plane tickets 2 months in advance and in the meantime had a legal name change (last name went back to maiden name). I had all the paperwork to show the change but those idiots wanted me to buy another plane ticket to reflect the new name, at the new price...which was 3 times what I paid for the tickets to begin with. Meanwhile, refusing to credit back the old ticket!
philip ryan Dec 18th 2009 1:04PM
It is a pain to go to the airport, but you have to remember, at one time, airline travel was the domain of the rich only. It is difficult to want to be treated like a king and only pay $198 for your ticket. The airlines don't make that much profit out of you. They make it out of business travelers and those in first class. It is puzzling though that I can buy a transatlantic coach flight for about the same price as a ticket from tampa to pensacola.
K. R. Kollman, Capt.USMM Dec 18th 2009 2:10PM
I'd rather have my leg amputated than fly on a U.S. based carrier. Service is non-existent or nearly so on flights. There is absolutely NO ONE WITH A PULSE to speak to when wishing to purchase a ticket prior to arriving at the airport. The gate people snarl/growl/snap at their paying clients like we bastard stepchildren! I was treated better my first day of boot camp! Lost luggage is now the expected routine vs. otherwise. The planes are older, more cramped, and definitely not worthy of human cargo.
I used to fly about 30-45 times per year.
The Homeland Security people are a bad joke on their best days. Most of 'em are so physically overweight and brain power challenged that they wouldn't know a "threat" if it smacked them in the face! Mindless robots by and large whose miserable existences prior to 9-11 wouldn't have qualified them as second assistant dog catchers! But now they have "power" and are more than willing to gain whatever personal satisfaction they derive by humiliating, inconveniencing, and harassing U.S. Citizens
Haven't flown on a U.S. carrier now for 3 years and seriously doubt if I ever will again.
Robert Hulsizer Dec 18th 2009 9:09PM
I feel bad for all you people that have so many problems with the airlines. If you would just wake up and fly SOUTHWEST you would not have so many problems..