Why are airfare prices so high ?

[TheFalls]

This is the correct answer. It has nothing to do with fuel prices. Oil has been stable for years, and all airlines hedge out their fuel costs years in advance.

What happeneed is that many airlines consolidated, meaning reduced flights, less seats, and better pricing power. Flights are averaging 90% full now compared to less than 70% 5+ years ago. Also, airlines are getting smart charging for everything - food is ala carte, bags are extra, exit rows are extra, everything adds to the bottom line.

Airlines are no longer really hedging this. Southwest was the money maker a few years ago because they got lucky and hedged on the upward price swing, but since it's been stable, it's been a losing prop.
I'm pretty sure US Air dropped their hedges after the AA merger

 

[arniesarmy]

DALLAS (AP) — Profits are soaring at the biggest U.S. airlines as fuel prices drop — but don’t expect fares to fall too.
Heading into the busy holiday-travel period, the airlines expect even cheaper fuel, thanks to the nosedive in crude oil prices. The price of jet fuel, an airline’s biggest single expense, has dropped by about one-fifth since mid-June.
Airlines are also benefiting from continued strong travel demand that allows them to push fares higher. Executives report strong bookings for holiday travel and say that Ebola headlines don’t seem to be scaring away travelers.
The four largest U.S. airlines sold at least 83 percent of their seats in the third quarter. A decade ago, more than a quarter of seats went empty.

 

[thekeyman]

DALLAS (AP) — Profits are soaring at the biggest U.S. airlines as fuel prices drop — but don’t expect fares to fall too.
Heading into the busy holiday-travel period, the airlines expect even cheaper fuel, thanks to the nosedive in crude oil prices. The price of jet fuel, an airline’s biggest single expense, has dropped by about one-fifth since mid-June.
Airlines are also benefiting from continued strong travel demand that allows them to push fares higher. Executives report strong bookings for holiday travel and say that Ebola headlines don’t seem to be scaring away travelers.
The four largest U.S. airlines sold at least 83 percent of their seats in the third quarter. A decade ago, more than a quarter of seats went empty.

​great,just what i wanted to hear

 

[CoachCB]

I haven't flown since the summer....and started looking a few weeks ago. Booked for NYE to Orlando from DC. I know it's around the holiday season but it was almost twice as much as usual (usually around $200-240, paid $390). I'm also looking for Paris in late April, early May (which is off-season, it's still cold there) and the prices are around $1300. Those times of the year are usually $600-800.

 

[loomis41973]

Most routes i take seem reasonable to me. Sure beats the hell out of driving.


Living or being within driving distance of a major airport sure helps.

 

[RaoulDuke]

Just purchased two round trip tickets from CR to Chicago was $987 total. Not bad for the holidays.

 

[Hamilbet]

I fly a bunch for work. Some tips:
- Search for prices on Tues Wed and Sun
- Fly on Tues and Wed (cheapest) don't' fly Fri and Sun (most $)
- Clear your internet history and cache after every search. When you go back 2,3,4 times the same flight will go up.
- Google flights is one of the best search engines I use

 

[Hamilbet]

Airfare should be free. Overcharge the Muslims so the whites don't have to pay. Its only fair since they would be the reason a flight doesn't make it.

Horrible...But I actually laughed out loud

 

[Betallsports]

I fly a bunch for work. Some tips:
- Search for prices on Tues Wed and Sun
- Fly on Tues and Wed (cheapest) don't' fly Fri and Sun (most $)
- Clear your internet history and cache after every search. When you go back 2,3,4 times the same flight will go up.
- Google flights is one of the best search engines I use

read the other day that the search days have changed. it's Sunday, Saturday to buy tickets