Will Prices drop in the Fall?????

[LL_Travelfan]

I came across this article



"Here comes an autumn surprise Prices may drop further than you can imagine this fall maybe sooner" by Christopher Elliott Travel columnist, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38308877...l-travel_tips/



An interesting prediction, but will it happen???

[kyshel]

I've seen lots of airfare sales already. Typical "select" markets, of course. Costa Rica (SJO on sale, not LIR) is one example I saw recently. Lan is running a sale right now for fall travel. Funny thing is that most sale travel ends before Thanksgiving!! (no surprise)

There are several fare specials for business class travel, too. The 50 day advance ones are not much more than some of the summer coach fares to US to Europe ($1900RT coach vs $3000RT biz) Lots of the international carriers are trying to get the upscale travelers to fly them. Supply and demand and competition.

One LCC will have to raise fares soon. Spirit Airlines pilots have ratified their contract offering--be mindful to uncheck (to opt out) their extra fees like insurance, seat selection etc.

Major airlines are reporting increased traffic last quarter and profits are returning [after a long period of losses].

[bonniejoy03]

Thanks L. Would love to see some decreases in prices but I haven't seen anything exciting yet. Some of the places we tend to travel are not big touristy trips so air isn't usually a deal. For example, now to get to Virgin Gorda or Anguilla, we need to take a few flights and some are local small airlines. Short flights on small planes add about $400 plus additional to our costs and it keeps getting worse....hate to change vacation destinations !!!

[[email protected]]

I have noticed that prices for some LL packages are higher and I am also curious as to why when it is 1st listed the price is listed pretty reasonable and then no one bids and it goes up for auction again and the price is higher - why is that?

I have been seeing some pretty good airfares to CA, SA and Mexico.

D

[LL_Travelfan]

D,
Might the price increases have something to do with the change of time frame? I have found some packages being quite reasonable for shoulder season, but then the next price on the same property shows a higher amount for a different time period when the package can be used. I have also found that at times, what used to be 4 night packages have been offered for 3 nights for about $100 less.

[LL_Travelfan]

Bonniejoy03,
Virgin Gorda has been notoriously difficult to get to with AA being the only airline that flies into Beef Island. This leaves you with no other choice than taking a ferry. Catching a plane from San Juan or Anguilla can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of getting there. But then, you know all the ins and outs of this route better than most of us. With the growth on Virgin Gorda, you would think connections would improve there as well.

[thepiranha]

Thanks for the heads up. It seems that airline prices on some routes are very reasonable, but on others they're just outrageous. I would like airfares to be based on distance traveled instead of the methods currently used by the airlines. It can be much cheaper for me to fly 3,000 miles across the entire U.S. than for me to fly to a neighboring state, and that doesn't make any sense to me.

[bonniejoy03]

Good news for Anguilla travellers...Cape Air will be adding service from San Juan direct to Anguilla beginning in mid-December. Other than Cape and AA, there is also a great local company; Rainbow Express (I think that is the name.) They also fly from San Juan and they have an excellent reputation. For Virgin Gorda, the airport remains closed so you must go through Tortola. The airport MIGHT open in November. Even if it does open, it still will need to close to do work to increase the runway!! The only good news with the difficulty getting to those to islands is that they are not big touristy type places. You really have to want to get there, to get there!!!

[[email protected]]

I find that airfares to Mexico and CA are pretty consistent. I have been seeing some really good deals to various airports in Mexico - could be due to the "violence" advisories. This will work out great for me for my trip in march! When most folks are running scared, it is good for me since the airfares are great. When I went to Mexico during the swine flu scare - the airfares were great - flew 1st class for the price of coach and mucho upgrades in country!

[kyshel]

I find that airfares to Mexico and CA are pretty consistent. I have been seeing some really good deals to various airports in Mexico - could be due to the "violence" advisories. This will work out great for me for my trip in march! When most folks are running scared, it is good for me since the airfares are great. When I went to Mexico during the swine flu scare - the airfares were great - flew 1st class for the price of coach and mucho upgrades in country!

I'd just keep an eye on things for domestic travel in Mexico, due to Mexicana's bankruptcy and the downgrading of all Mexican airlines/codeshares with US carriers. I don't think you;ll find much difference in frontline service but cancels/refunds/changes may be major issues.