Airfare is wonky right now
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 10:18 am
OK, I know airfare is always wonky, but this one is really out there.
Mrs. Spiff and I are planning to go watch an Alabama football game in October (COVID permitting). We decided which flights to take down to Birmingham and back to maximize the time there (early Friday out, midday Sunday back in case of a night game), using American Airlines.
Now, I know BHM isn't a cheap place to fly into and out of. It only has the three major airlines plus Southwest, and they don't have the window open that far out (not that it would matter -- currently they don't have connections that are good between here and there.
Anyway, when we decided on which flights, the cost (refundable rate) was about $700 RT for both of us. I figured I'd do what I usually do -- figure that's a baseline rate and see what happens, jump if the rate drops.
Two days later, on Tuesday, it'd jumped up to $800.
I decided that, as long as I was getting a refundable ticket anyway, to go ahead and get it; if it dropped a lot, I'd get the refund and buy new tickets.
Today, (two more days later), it jumped up another$400. That was the price for first class tickets four days ago.
Before you think this is an American thing, similar things have happened with Delta and United.
I've been getting targeted ads on Facebook from Southwest Airlines for flying in and out of BHM. Two weeks ago, it was $150 per person one-way. It's been jumping up ever since. This morning, that same trip was advertised at $232 per person one-way.
I'm not sure if it's because of airlines' concerns about fuel prices, or if they view that traffic will get up to speed once COVID diminishes, but this sure is weird.
Mrs. Spiff and I are planning to go watch an Alabama football game in October (COVID permitting). We decided which flights to take down to Birmingham and back to maximize the time there (early Friday out, midday Sunday back in case of a night game), using American Airlines.
Now, I know BHM isn't a cheap place to fly into and out of. It only has the three major airlines plus Southwest, and they don't have the window open that far out (not that it would matter -- currently they don't have connections that are good between here and there.
Anyway, when we decided on which flights, the cost (refundable rate) was about $700 RT for both of us. I figured I'd do what I usually do -- figure that's a baseline rate and see what happens, jump if the rate drops.
Two days later, on Tuesday, it'd jumped up to $800.
I decided that, as long as I was getting a refundable ticket anyway, to go ahead and get it; if it dropped a lot, I'd get the refund and buy new tickets.
Today, (two more days later), it jumped up another$400. That was the price for first class tickets four days ago.
Before you think this is an American thing, similar things have happened with Delta and United.
I've been getting targeted ads on Facebook from Southwest Airlines for flying in and out of BHM. Two weeks ago, it was $150 per person one-way. It's been jumping up ever since. This morning, that same trip was advertised at $232 per person one-way.
I'm not sure if it's because of airlines' concerns about fuel prices, or if they view that traffic will get up to speed once COVID diminishes, but this sure is weird.