Gosh, the airline rates are going crazy!
We had to cancel a trip that had been planned for a year - the weekend of the tragedies in September. That was certainly
understandable, and the airlines refusal to extend credit beyond 30 days also was probably necessary. So we lost our
very affordable rate.
I was thrilled when I tried to rebook, and found TWA had a $94 rate advertised through Jan. 11 (we had hoped to reschedule in
December) Of course, when we went to book (Travelocity), suddenly, right before our eyes, the rate went from $94 to over $300
on the same flight, which killed out plans right there. I've been checking periodically, and while all the airlines dropped their least
expensive rates from our area (Omaha), the rate has been changing almost daily on every air carrier - $325 to $159 to $129 to $260 for
one flight in a matter of days!
When I e-mailed the TWA site (now American) to ask why, they only messaged back that it would take more time to handle my comment, and
have refused to answer since.
While I can certainly understand the uncertainties, I wish they would at least be as stable with prices as Disney is - I know what the hotel
costs and probably about how long the price will stand, and after that, what the rack rate is. But what good is that if we can't afford to
get the family there?
Air rates have always been on a whim, with a penchant for things like overbooking, locking good rates out of some travel dates and advertising
prices that turn out to have no availability from the start. If the government is going to bail out major air carriers with taxpayer dollars, I hope they also ask
it asks for some stability and reason in pricing in return.
High-fives for you lucky folks who have managed to grab affordable air fares to squeeze in a trip. It's beginning to look more and more like our
family will not be joining you, at least not this year.
Tori
We had to cancel a trip that had been planned for a year - the weekend of the tragedies in September. That was certainly
understandable, and the airlines refusal to extend credit beyond 30 days also was probably necessary. So we lost our
very affordable rate.
I was thrilled when I tried to rebook, and found TWA had a $94 rate advertised through Jan. 11 (we had hoped to reschedule in
December) Of course, when we went to book (Travelocity), suddenly, right before our eyes, the rate went from $94 to over $300
on the same flight, which killed out plans right there. I've been checking periodically, and while all the airlines dropped their least
expensive rates from our area (Omaha), the rate has been changing almost daily on every air carrier - $325 to $159 to $129 to $260 for
one flight in a matter of days!
When I e-mailed the TWA site (now American) to ask why, they only messaged back that it would take more time to handle my comment, and
have refused to answer since.
While I can certainly understand the uncertainties, I wish they would at least be as stable with prices as Disney is - I know what the hotel
costs and probably about how long the price will stand, and after that, what the rack rate is. But what good is that if we can't afford to
get the family there?
Air rates have always been on a whim, with a penchant for things like overbooking, locking good rates out of some travel dates and advertising
prices that turn out to have no availability from the start. If the government is going to bail out major air carriers with taxpayer dollars, I hope they also ask
it asks for some stability and reason in pricing in return.
High-fives for you lucky folks who have managed to grab affordable air fares to squeeze in a trip. It's beginning to look more and more like our
family will not be joining you, at least not this year.
Tori
.
