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How the hell are Southwest and JetBlue "low cost" airlines?!

M

Martin

Lifer
So I am looking for the absolute cheapest way to get to SF from Toronto in two weeks.
Jetblue wants 445 from buffalo to SF
southwest wants 500 from buffalo to SF.
Expedia has Toronto to SF for 580 and Buffalo to SF for 307. In Fact, earlier today I saw a Toronto to SF ticket for $400 but couldn't book it in time.


Being Canadian, I've never flown with them in the US, but I've read they're supposed to be at the forefront of the low cost revolution. Am I missing something?

Edit: Some of you didn't see the post below - got a ticket through Orbitz for $370, Toronto to SF. That's a decent price and its not even with a 'low cost' carrier.
 
Originally posted by: Martin
So I am looking for the absolute cheapest way to get to SF from Toronto in two weeks.
Jetblue wants 445 from buffalo to SF
southwest wants 500 from buffalo to SF.
Expedia has Toronto to SF for 580 and Buffalo to SF for 307. In Fact, earlier today I saw a Toronto to SF ticket for $400 but couldn't book it in time.


Being Canadian, I've never flown with them in the US, but I've read they're supposed to be at the forefront of the low cost revolution. Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

I believe that they are "low cost" airlines, but you have to book well in advance to reap the savings, 2 weeks might not be enough. Someone please correct me if I am mistaken.
 
Thank God for Virgin America. Bought tickets from DC to SF this coming June for $300 after coupon code. I just hope they don't go bankrupt before then!
 
I can't believe these are normal prices.

A few months back I flew from Toronto to Madrid for $740 - I bought the ticket Wednesday morning and the flight was on Thursday afternoon. These people want $500 for Buffalo to SF? This is madness!
 
$99 one way if you want to fly on tues or wed, sf to buf. Some special deal they have, only good for a couple more days. Wife and I might jump on that.

 
Originally posted by: Martin
I can't believe these are normal prices.

A few months back I flew from Toronto to Madrid for $740 - I bought the ticket Wednesday morning and the flight was on Thursday afternoon. These people want $500 for Buffalo to SF? This is madness!
Click to expand...

A few months ago jet fuel wasn't at 4 bucks a gallon.
 
Ok, you guys have a weird definition of "low cost". I just booked a flight through Orbitz - Toronto to SF (one stop goin there, direct return) for $370 after all taxes and charges. That's a decent price.
 
Low cost describes the way the airline operates, not necessarily their ticket prices. Low cost carriers typically lease their aircraft, outsource their maintenance, use primarily online booking with steep penalties for phone reservations, offer minimum premium services, etc.

Also, tickets are going to be expensive from Buffalo because its a smaller market with limited competition.
 
Originally posted by: Pepsei
is it really $4 a gal for jet fuel?

price monitor

can someone translate that into commons?
Click to expand...

This says jet fuel currently costs 322cents/gal ($3.22/gal) or $135.2/brl. The index of 369.7 means the price is up 3.697x since year 2000 (when it was $0.87/gal).

Based on all of this, IATA estimates a yearly avg price of $120.0/brl for the year 2008, a cost impact of +$58 billion over the year 2007 expenditure.

Airlines do hedge a portion of their yearly fuel costs, so they are paying slightly less than this price, but the rising fuel costs really are squeezing them.
 
SW is probably about to get screwed on their pricing. I talked to some of my pilot friends the other night and they said the massive supply of fuel SW had hedged on a number of years ago finally ran out. Be ready to see some heftier price increases % wise for SW relative to the others. Either that or they get to enjoy the wonders of bankruptcy that a lot of the other low fare airlines have faced.
 
You're complaining about the prices and you're only booking 2 weeks in advance? I don't think so. Pretty much with ANY airline you need to book well in advance to get savings.
 
I use a "real" low cost airline: Allegiant. I can usually fly to Florida for $39 one way. Every so often they offer flights to FL for $12 one way. And these are NICE, NEW planes as well. I fly from TN to FL and back maybe every two months or so.
 
Originally posted by: Xanis
You're complaining about the prices and you're only booking 2 weeks in advance? I don't think so. Pretty much with ANY airline you need to book well in advance to get savings.
Click to expand...

Common misconception. In fact booking further out than 21 days often means you pay more. Depends on the airline, route, etc., but usually booking late is not a problem.

2 weeks out is actually the ideal time to book, if there was one.
 
Originally posted by: Pale Rider
I use a "real" low cost airline: Allegiant. I can usually fly to Florida for $39 one way. Every so often they offer flights to FL for $12 one way. And these are NICE, NEW planes as well. I fly from TN to FL and back maybe every two months or so.
Click to expand...

Allegiant flies old MD80s
 
Originally posted by: poncherelli2
Originally posted by: Pale Rider
I use a "real" low cost airline: Allegiant. I can usually fly to Florida for $39 one way. Every so often they offer flights to FL for $12 one way. And these are NICE, NEW planes as well. I fly from TN to FL and back maybe every two months or so.
Click to expand...

Allegiant flies old MD80s
Click to expand...

All the Allegiant planes I have flown on have looked new inside and out and have been spotless.

The last Delta plane I flew on smelled like an old shoe, the outside paint was peeling and the inside looked like my grandmother's house.
 
Originally posted by: Martin
Ok, you guys have a weird definition of "low cost". I just booked a flight through Orbitz - Toronto to SF (one stop goin there, direct return) for $370 after all taxes and charges. That's a decent price.
Click to expand...

Judging an airline's average price based on one specific itinerary is pretty short sighted. I'm sure that I could find a computer accessory that's actually priced less at Best Buy or another retail store vs. Newegg. That doesn't mean that Newegg won't be cheaper on average for computer parts.
 
Originally posted by: Pale Rider
Originally posted by: poncherelli2
Originally posted by: Pale Rider
I use a "real" low cost airline: Allegiant. I can usually fly to Florida for $39 one way. Every so often they offer flights to FL for $12 one way. And these are NICE, NEW planes as well. I fly from TN to FL and back maybe every two months or so.
Click to expand...

Allegiant flies old MD80s
Click to expand...

All the Allegiant planes I have flown on have looked new inside and out and have been spotless.

The last Delta plane I flew on smelled like an old shoe, the outside paint was peeling and the inside looked like my grandmother's house.
Click to expand...

The delta plane was probably an MD80 then. Either way, I wouldn't count on those <$50 fares too much longer, especially for an airline with an a completed age, less efficient fleet.
 
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