Grumpy
08-24-2008, 07:53 AM
interesting read.
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/delta/stories/2008/08/21/holiday_airfare_predictions.html
Average airfares out of Atlanta will be up more than 20 percent for Thanksgiving and Christmas compared with last year, according to an air fare forecasting Web site.
For Thanksgiving, Atlanta fares are expected to be up 27 percent, an increase of about $86 round trip on the average fare, according to Live Search Farecast, a travel site that gives airfare predictions. For Christmas travel, Atlanta fares are expected to be 22 percent higher on average, about a $73 increase round trip.
And some travelers may need to pay even more through fees for first or second checked bags, as well as other new charges and fee increases that most major carriers put in place this year.
The fare increases and new fees come as airlines cut flights and increase prices to make up for higher fuel costs. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is cutting its domestic capacity by 13 percent and AirTran Airways, which is based in Orlando and has its hub in Atlanta, plans to cut capacity by as much as 8 percent.
Atlanta is not expected to be hit as hard by fare increases compared with other places in the country because it’s a large hub and has low-cost carrier competition from AirTran.
In fact, Farecast forecasts bigger fare increases nationally - 35 percent for Thanksgiving and 31 percent for Christmas travel compared with last year.
For those who plan to travel for the holidays and haven’t booked flights yet, “it’s not too late,” said Rick Seaney, chief executive of FareCompare.com. “There’s plenty of seats out there right now.”
But, he said, “I expect there will be some people who procrastinate and wonder why their ticket is over $1,000, if there is a ticket at all.” Those that travel on peak days such as the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward will pay a premium.
Smaller cities are being hit hardest with fare increases and flight cuts and could see fares rise as high as 40 percent, Seaney said. In big cities, he estimated ticket prices are up about 20 percent.
Aside from Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are deals for travelers, said Tom Parsons, chief executive of Bestfares.com. “I’m really surprised at all the cheap air fares that I’m seeing today.”
But that means airlines will try to raise more cash later in the year.
“The airlines’ mission right now for the holiday season is to get the most greenbacks from you,” Parsons said.
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/delta/stories/2008/08/21/holiday_airfare_predictions.html
Average airfares out of Atlanta will be up more than 20 percent for Thanksgiving and Christmas compared with last year, according to an air fare forecasting Web site.
For Thanksgiving, Atlanta fares are expected to be up 27 percent, an increase of about $86 round trip on the average fare, according to Live Search Farecast, a travel site that gives airfare predictions. For Christmas travel, Atlanta fares are expected to be 22 percent higher on average, about a $73 increase round trip.
And some travelers may need to pay even more through fees for first or second checked bags, as well as other new charges and fee increases that most major carriers put in place this year.
The fare increases and new fees come as airlines cut flights and increase prices to make up for higher fuel costs. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is cutting its domestic capacity by 13 percent and AirTran Airways, which is based in Orlando and has its hub in Atlanta, plans to cut capacity by as much as 8 percent.
Atlanta is not expected to be hit as hard by fare increases compared with other places in the country because it’s a large hub and has low-cost carrier competition from AirTran.
In fact, Farecast forecasts bigger fare increases nationally - 35 percent for Thanksgiving and 31 percent for Christmas travel compared with last year.
For those who plan to travel for the holidays and haven’t booked flights yet, “it’s not too late,” said Rick Seaney, chief executive of FareCompare.com. “There’s plenty of seats out there right now.”
But, he said, “I expect there will be some people who procrastinate and wonder why their ticket is over $1,000, if there is a ticket at all.” Those that travel on peak days such as the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward will pay a premium.
Smaller cities are being hit hardest with fare increases and flight cuts and could see fares rise as high as 40 percent, Seaney said. In big cities, he estimated ticket prices are up about 20 percent.
Aside from Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are deals for travelers, said Tom Parsons, chief executive of Bestfares.com. “I’m really surprised at all the cheap air fares that I’m seeing today.”
But that means airlines will try to raise more cash later in the year.
“The airlines’ mission right now for the holiday season is to get the most greenbacks from you,” Parsons said.