... in response to Tracking Air Fares, posted by Ken2 on Jun 22, 2002See my post below on air fares.June 20 American Airlines dropped the July fares down to the prices they were offering for June,basically their minimum fares.My travel agent,Barbara Garcia,(800-433-2423)suggested we wait to buy our July tickets because she expected the drop.I guess they do it most months but you never know for sure.It seems AA doesn't want to sell discount tickets too far out,why I could only guess.Barbara has a direct link,not just an internet link in to americans computer and she was watching seat avialability for us.If it looked like the seats would be gone we would have paid the higher(about $150) price.
Also,if you go to a discount broker,which she is,they discount the fares the airlines offer,basically crediting you some of their commission,so you get a better fare than if you go right to the airline.
The other factor is the airlines price their tickets by season or anticipated demand.There were bargains after 9/11 because of low demand.
I used to keep switching airlines to get the lowest fare at the time,but with American miles every 4 th trip is free so I will stick with them unless their fares get extremely high.Out of the San Francisco area they are the only airline that gets you there the same day,10 hours total.
Out of Miami the flight to Cali is direct,no stops.I like ACES service better(like first class for coach)but the flight stops in Medellin so it takes an hour or so longer.
Airline pricing is all over the place.They like to gouge the last miniute or business traveler but will offer bargains to keep the plane full.Some purposely overbook to try and keep the planes full,taking the chance of penalties if they can't seat a confirmed passenger.Try Northwest airlines out of Honolulu the day after new years.Show up at the check in about 15 miniutes before boarding.Good chance you will get paid double your fare plus a free ticket if they can't seat you.I was booked on this flight one time.They started off offering $100 plus a hotel night for your space plus a space available ticket on any airline(could take 3 days to get out).I wanted to take the first offer,my girl friend says no,I have to get back.When they bounced us without our consent we got $700 plus the ticket voucher for any airline(this was 18 years ago,$700 was more significant)My girl friend was sitting talking to a big Hawaian woman complaining about the situation.I told her how much we were getting.Her eyes lit up and she said"REALLY?Our clothes went without us,we bought swiming suits and spent 3 more days on the beach before we could get out.
Also,same extra 3 days,our car got broken in to while we were at a beach.We didn't see anthing but they caught the guys.I guess they need the victim to testify to avoid some lawyer lie story so we got flown back to testify,first class both ways,free hotel on the beach for 6 days plus $720.We were in court one hour.Their BS lawyer tried to confuse the jury.They convicted them in 20 miniutes.Also,for these guys to get out in 3 years vs.5 they had to reimburse us our losses.We got a check for several hundred dollars 3 years later,even though most of the losses had been covered by airlines or insurance.
I digress again.
Pete
