Can someone please explain this to me?

jectac · Post by **jectac** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:17 am

If I fly from PIT through PHL to STT, airfare is $493. If I fly from PHL straight to STT, airfare is $793. This is for the SAME flight from PHL to STT. Why the increase? I would love to know how that works!!

Thanks!!!!

Tracy

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:58 am

Same thing happened to me. If I fly from LAX to San Diego to EWR to STT, it's only $478. If I fly from San Diego to EWR to STT ON THE SAME FLIGHT, it's over $700! Go figure! I don't get it!

onthelake · Post by **onthelake** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:06 pm

jectac
You must be talking about USAIR! We have the same questions???

I ended up using FF miles and paying for only one ticket this year, because the prices are soooooo much higher than last year.

Good luck with your planning.

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:48 pm

Last year when I booked my flight, it was cheaper to fly BNA to ATL to STT than it was to fly direct from ATL to STT. Wouldn't you think that would cost more, because you have to take me further? Well, no.

This year, I am driving from Nashville to Atlanta because the cheapest flight I could find here that would work was $900, and I found one from ATL to STT for $410. (When I looked the other day there is now an even better flight for $368 from ATL.)

And the airlines wonder why they can't make money...

MrB · Post by **MrB** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:59 pm

jectac wrote:I would love to know how that works!!

Thanks!!!!

Tracy

Me too....i'd drive to pitt and then fly down...add 5 hrs travel time, but save about $200

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:25 pm

MrB wrote:Me too....i'd drive to pitt and then fly down...add 5 hrs travel time, but save about $200

But would you really save anything? If you factor in the cost of gas for a 5 hr. drive (each way?), long-term parking for a week at the airport, and possibly a hotel room for one night either going or coming back, maybe in the long run, it would cost the same to stay in your own city and get a shuttle to the airport.

mahojim · Post by **mahojim** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:32 pm

We're just outside of Philly,yet this fall we're taking a direct flight from Newark (about an hour or two away in the opposite direction;ie-further flight-) and it's about half the cost.
Strange-o.
Smiles-
MJ

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:02 pm

Unless you fly Southwest, flying from Nashville can be expensive. And if you wait too long, Southwest can be expensive too. For my brother's wedding, it was $250 cheaper to fly from Chattanooga. Even with airport parking (much cheaper at smaller airports) and gas, it was cheaper. Just like it will be to fly from Atlanta instead of Nashville in November. I really weigh whether it's cheaper or not before I do it. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. Just like sometimes it's cheaper to drive home to see my family, and other times it's cheaper to fly.

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:24 pm

It’s the same deal from Chicago...it is usually much cheaper to fly ORD–ATL–STT than it is to fly just ATL–STT when the ATL-STT flight is the exact same...it makes no sense!

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:25 pm

I suppose it's all supply and demand, competition, and what the market will bear. But it seems so senseless, like saying "if you buy the shirt and the pants it's $100, but if you just buy the shirt it's $200."

I wonder what would happen if you bought the cheaper connecting tickets and just showed up for the 2nd, direct flight? I'm sure the airline has a way to screw with you if you try to do that. For $300/ticket it's worth calling the airline and asking them about it.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:32 pm

chicagoans wrote:I wonder what would happen if you bought the cheaper connecting tickets and just showed up for the 2nd, direct flight? I'm sure the airline has a way to screw with you if you try to do that. For $300/ticket it's worth calling the airline and asking them about it.

It does not work. If you don't show up for the first leg of the flight the airline cancels your entire itinerary. I have no idea why the pricing works the way it does. It's very confusing.

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:03 pm

Yeah, the airline has your credit card number on file, and they will use it if they need to. Just like roundtrips are usually cheaper than one-way (I don't know why, so don't ask). If you don't show up for the return segment, they charge your card the difference. Or at least that's what I think they said once at the airport.

MrB · Post by **MrB** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:02 pm

California Girl wrote:
MrB wrote:Me too....i'd drive to pitt and then fly down...add 5 hrs travel time, but save about $200
But would you really save anything? If you factor in the cost of gas for a 5 hr. drive (each way?), long-term parking for a week at the airport, and possibly a hotel room for one night either going or coming back, maybe in the long run, it would cost the same to stay in your own city and get a shuttle to the airport.

Round trip, with gas, long term parking, and airport shuttle would cost around $160.00.....still, I don;t think I'd be up for the drive just to save $140

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:15 pm

MrB wrote:Round trip, with gas, long term parking, and airport shuttle would cost around $160.00.....still, I don;t think I'd be up for the drive just to save $140

Uh, wouldn't that be only $40?

Cid · Post by **Cid** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:20 pm

We drove from Vermont to Boston (about 3 hours). It was about$600 cheaper. We stayed overnight for $160 and that included parking for the week. Parking alone was going to be $110, so it was a good deal. I think we got the deal from the Park, Sleep, Fly website. It pays to look at all the available options. I also reccomend using Yapta.com to make sure you get the best rate on your flight.

Peace,

Cid

usvi-on-line