| Pages:
1
2 |
Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3540
Registered: 8-27-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
Need help from travel/airline people
This is driving us nuts but maybe there is nothing we can do:
A bunch of us are planning our annual bass fishing trip to El Salto Lake in Mazatlan this January. One group from Denver, one from Sacramento and one
from Phoenix. US Airways is the best as it hubs in Phoenix. The Denver group and the Sacto group leave about 6:00 am, get into PHO about 7:45am, and
then get on the same plane, along with the group from Phoenix about 9:30 and fly into Mazatlan two hours later. This is perfect, except the pricing
is completely goofy.
Sacto pays $700+ for their round trip tickets.
Phoenix group pays $500 for theirs. OK, they're not going as far.
The a**holes from Denver pay about $350 ROUND TRIP.
Believe it or not, it is cheaper for the Sacto and Phoenix group to take the redeye from their respective cities into Denver the night before, get
drunk in the airport bar and stumble onto the 6:00am flight out of Denver.
I have called US Airways a gillion times, explained that at the very least, the PHO group should not have to pay more than the Denver group as THEY
ARE ON THE SAME FRIGGING PLANE. All I get is "My, my, that is strange".
This has gotten to be such a big deal that the Denver group has offered to pay the other two groups the difference so that we all pay the same, but
this smacks of socialism and sits uneasy with the republicans in the group. And the Phoenix group wants to pay less as they are only going 66% as
far. Hard to argue there.
Anyway, does anyone know if there is someone in the pricing structure of airlines that we can talk to that will actually do something? I'd settle for
them raising Denver to Sacto prices just to keep the peace.
|
|
|
jeffg
Nomad
Posts: 175
Registered: 11-25-2004
Location: Vista, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
It's been about 15 years now, but I was in the travel industry for about 20 years. I'm surprised they said "it was strange" because it's not unusual
at all. It's not about distance, it's about competition. Denver is a more competetive market with more airlines, so the fares are lower. Same reason
it's way cheaper to fly out of LAX than San Diego usually.
One thing you might be able to do to cut the fare for the Phoenix people, is to book their return all the way to Denver if that is cheaper. Then they
can just get off in Phoenix and no-show the connecting flight. Obviously that will only work if they have carry on baggage only, otherwise the
checked bags will go all the way to Denver. It doesn't work on the outbound because once they no-show the first flight from DEN-PHX, the rest of the
itinerary gets cancelled.
From Sacramento, I think their only hope is to depart out of a cheaper city!
Good luck, and don't spend too much energy trying to get them to change the structure because they never will...
|
|
|
longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
|
|
Santiago, first I'd like to apologize in advance. I know this isn't the answer you were looking for, but it's my honest reaction when reading your
heartfelt post....
I guess the first 30 people to read this were just kinder people than I am. Now
that I got that out of my system....
Maybe Capt Mike would donate your flight & really get the other participants riled!
Have you tried asking a travel agent what's up?
edit....cross-posts
[Edited on 8-31-2010 by longlegsinlapaz]
|
|
|
karenintx
Senior Nomad
Posts: 540
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living The Dream
|
|
It is called "supply and demand". It's not only the airlines but hotels and car rental companies do the same thing with their rates when the demand
is high..has nothing to do with mileage from one point to an other.
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
jeff has it right. Airline pricing and distance traveled are not in the same universe. This has been the case since the industry was deregulated. But,
of course, no one wants to see the gummint involved. Right? That said, you can layer on top of this the immense increase in jet fuel prices that has
happened; mostly due to speculators trying to game the market. Maybe, if more folks decided to drive to their destination, it would send a message to
the airline industry. Maybe not. But, airfare prices are in no way related to distance traveled; not to mention that planes are flying with higher
payloads (more Passengers than in the past. I really feel for santiago and his buddies.
[Edited on 8-31-2010 by Bajahowodd]
|
|
|
BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13242
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
@longlegsinlapaz
you made me laugh out loud !!!!
@JeffG - ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, now I get it.
|
|
|
karenintx
Senior Nomad
Posts: 540
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living The Dream
|
|
| Quote: | But, airfare prices are in no way related to distance traveled; not to mention that planes are flying with higher payloads (more Passengers than in
the past. I really feel for santiago and his buddies.
[Edited on 8-31-2010 by Bajahowodd] |
Only because the Mojave Desert is full of "parked planes"... that is what allows fewer seats for sell and there fore airlines can use the "supply and
demand" theory.
|
|
|
Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3540
Registered: 8-27-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
It's beyond goofy. I'm sort-of in the subcontracting business; remodeling of interior stairways. Let's say I run an ad for a complete new stair
railing system at $100 per lineal foot for those in Stockton but by the way, for those in Benicia it's $250/lf. WTF????????
I know, I know, I know, Ronnie (I think) deregulated the airlines and as a result, we all pay lower fares and get to now wear flip flops and tank tops
to the airport. On my first flight in 1972 I wore a coat and tie. Now I'm lucky if I remember to zip up after going to the men's room. The sad thing
is that no one seems to notice.
|
|
|
jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: Encantada
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Santiago
Now I'm lucky if I remember to zip up after going to the men's room. The sad thing is that no one seems to notice. |
I'm not sure what to do with that line...
What I wanted to say after reading your story is that I once read a humorous tongue-in-cheek comparison of buying house paint with the same idiotic
pricing structure as the travel industry (will you be pianting today? That's really going to cost you..it's best to buy your paint at least two weeks
in advance. Will you be painting during the week or over a weekend?) The remark about socialism was hilarious. Be sure to tell us how you decided to
handle it.
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
|
|
|
oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
Member Is Offline
Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
|
|
My daughtger is a muckety-muck for one of the airlines, not US Air. Pricing and distance have nothing in common. I can fly less expensive from LA to
SF than from LA to Palm Springs. Pricing depends on the factors above plus there may be an excess of unsold seats on the PHX/ Denver route on that
day so the airline lowers the price to fill seats.
The people from Denver are getting a "sale" price on that day. No good deed goes unpunished.
|
|
|
woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
|
|
i say make the a**holes from denver pay up!
|
|
|
Mike99km
Nomad
Posts: 178
Registered: 5-23-2007
Location: San Dimas and ? in baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
Check the prices all the time, they change. It use to be buy in advance and save, now they need to fill plane so they discount closer to departure. I
just hate getting the ticket a the last week.
I'm with Woody if Denver wants to pay let them.
You live the life you settle for.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W. C. Fields.
|
|
|
oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
Member Is Offline
Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mike99km
Check the prices all the time, they change. It use to be buy in advance and save, now they need to fill plane so they discount closer to departure. I
just hate getting the ticket a the last week. |
Careful here! You are both right and wrong. Yes, the airlines will sell tickets at a discount if a certain percentage of seats are unsold. However,
once they fill the percentage quota for that flight, they will raise the price of those last few seats sky high since they have already met the quota
for that flight. Prices can change by the minute (up or down) the last few days of the flight.
I know this from experience! I bought a ticket, it was the last seat, the day before the flight and had to pay double what I could have paid the day
before when there were 20 seats left.
|
|
|
Mike99km
Nomad
Posts: 178
Registered: 5-23-2007
Location: San Dimas and ? in baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
The point is to keep checking the price as they change all the time. I heard that a flight LAX to New York had over 500 price changes from when it
went on sale to departure.
You live the life you settle for.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W. C. Fields.
|
|
|
capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sling time!
|
|
yeah, i'll do MMZT Mazatlan.
i love that place. been there a bunch.
about 5 hours from phx. can do it in one hop ar break it up with a stop 1/2 way.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
|
|
Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
Jim, Jeff is exactly right........air fares almost never have anything to do with distance of flights.
Fares change all the time, sometimes several times a day when a price war is going on.
'
Get yourself a good travel agent, he/she will know the current "specials" I used to do some pretty creative routing for my clients and saved them
bundles.
Also as Jeff said, your TA can book a phoney leg on your itinery to get the cost down, (don't try this at home) you have to be careful to cancel the
"phoney" legs after the ticket is booked and printed, If you just "no show" for a portion of the flight, the airline will cancel all down leg flights,
then you are in big trouble.
You can't do this kind of stuff online or with the airline.........Your TA is the expert.
Mean people suck!
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
Fine. But, since the airlines and the travel agents had a falling out (agents once got commissions on air travel, but now do not), you will have to
pay an additional fee to a travel agent to book you. It boils down to whether the travel agent is savvy enough to save you enough money that you come
out ahead.
|
|
|
Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
That is why you need a good one, yes it might cost you $25, but, if they are good, they can save you bunchs. They know the tricks the airlines don't
want you to know.
Mean people suck!
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
Fair enough. The next challenge is finding a competent agent. Harder than you can imagine.
|
|
|
Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
You're right, but, not impossible. Talk to friends, talk to TA's themselves, ask how many yrs. they have in the field, remember, you are hiring a
consultant, not a ticket agent. Do your homework.
Mean people suck!
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
