AIRFARE ROBBERY

[Huntforever]

I get the feeling Delta is trying to run off hunters once again

 

[Shaw]

Typically, Airlines allows you to book 270 days out. I personally have found better deals 180-270 days out.

 

[etsonaut]

Typically, Airlines allows you to book 270 days out. I personally have found better deals 180-270 days out.
View attachment 767164

6 months ago when I booked ATL to JNB for June Delta One was $9500 and Premium Select was $6500. Since then Delta One has been waffling between $13,600 and $22,000. I’ve been tracking the price thinking I might upgrade. The trip is in 12 days. There’s no danger of a paid upgrade.

 

[Ericedwinbates]

Just purchased for August and cheapest I could get was almost 3k for cattle class on United, more than doubled.

 

[coreydb]

United is similar.

 

[Philip Glass]

I started early, set Google flight alerts, and got me and my group Premium Select for $3500 for this August. If you are checking June last minute with the Arab shut down this year then yes it will be eye popping. Plan ahead, decide your budget, get all paperwork in to your travel agent now, set Google flight alerts when the flights open up and let us know how it goes!

 

[Shaw]

I started early, set Google flight alerts, and got me and my group Premium Select for $3500 for this August. If you are checking June last minute with the Arab shut down this year then yes it will be eye popping. Plan ahead, decide your budget, get all paperwork in to your travel agent now, set Google flight alerts when the flights open up and let us know how it goes!

Oh I will book way in advance but I cant check June 27 for another 60 days, which I know June will be higher than May but may is reasonable so far.

 

[Russ16]

Just thinking why would Qatar be so much less at this time and it has to be demand down due to Iran situation so my guess is they are trying to drive demand

If you have American miles you can currently book Qatar business class to JNB via Doha for 90k miles. Thats dirt cheap. I almost thought about canceling my Emirates flight for this August and rebooking on Qatar with miles.

 

[DLSJR]

If you have American miles you can currently book Qatar business class to JNB via Doha for 90k miles. Thats dirt cheap. I almost thought about canceling my Emirates flight for this August and rebooking on Qatar with miles.

That’s not what I’m finding on American’s website. For SFO-JNB it’s 115,000 miles for economy. SFO-LUN is 80,000 miles for economy. Qatar has not been allowing AAdvantage miles for biz class for a while now as far as I’m aware. I’d love to be wrong so please advise if I’m missing something.

 

[Russ16]

That’s not what I’m finding on American’s website. For SFO-JNB it’s 115,000 miles for economy. SFO-LUN is 80,000 miles for economy. Qatar has not been allowing AAdvantage miles for biz class for a while now as far as I’m aware. I’d love to be wrong so please advise if I’m missing something.

I was looking Dulles to JNB via Doha

It’s changed since I looked but still available via LHR at just slightly higher.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

I wonder if fuel prices might prove less of a concern with Qatar and Emirates as compared to Delta.

 

[cajunchefray]

I wonder if fuel prices might prove less of a concern with Qatar and Emirates as compared to Delta.

Interesting insight. The Gulf countries are not shipping jet fuel (or just oil to be refined), might as well pass on the savings, and recapture some market share.

On another point, $6000 Business class on Emirates is what I (company) paid in 1999 on BA or Emirates to from the Middle East.

Following with interest.

 

[MacJenkins]

I just came over on United Buisness class as Emerites cancelled my flight 2 weeks before the trip. I liked it better than delta buisness. Mainly because I have somewhat broad shoulders and don’t fit in delta at all when in the lay flat position.

However Emerites is much better than either for a less money.

 

[Corylax18]

I wonder if fuel prices might prove less of a concern with Qatar and Emirates as compared to Delta.

Interesting insight. The Gulf countries are not shipping jet fuel (or just oil to be refined), might as well pass on the savings, and recapture some market share.

On another point, $6000 Business class on Emirates is what I (company) paid in 1999 on BA or Emirates to from the Middle East.

Following with interest.

That wouldn't make any sense. At all.

Delta own there own refinery, which processes a WTI/Venezuelan Sour mix. WTI was trading 4 bucks a barrel cheaper than Brent at the end of the week and the gap has been much larger over the last couple months.

Delta (and every other airline to some degree) is using higher oil prices as an excuse to vastly expand their profits. As evidenced by the fact that Delta's stock price has increased almost 30% in the 3 months since the war started. (chart below) Southwest airlines president flat out said it last week, they aren't going to lower their prices when the war is over, because they don't think they have to. People are still paying these ridiculous prices and airlines are minting money.

Client Challenge

 

[Corylax18]

However Emerites is much better than either for a less money.

Agreed. As are Turkish, Qatar, Etihad, maybe even Ethiopian. Flying those airlines may require slightly longer travel time and less optimal routing, but if the tickets are half the price, or less, begin flexible makes a lot of sense.

 

[wv123]

Feels like a real missed opportunity with the thread title. "Skyway Robbery" maybe.

 

[Hogpatrol]

How Delta has trained its passenger to pay more for premium seats.

Delta has trained its passengers to pay premium prices. Here’s how it plans to get even more from them

The airline’s success with premium travelers has reshaped its business—and as rivals catch up, Delta is doubling down on luxury offerings, loyalty, and new revenue streams beyond ticket sales.

finance.yahoo.com

 

[Huntforever]

I booked with Quatar from Dallas to the East Cape and it was almost half as much as delta. The total flight times was actually less then Delta. I would rather save money to spend more money on animals

 

[Scott CWO]

Most businesses don't really care what they pay. It's a tax write-off. So Delta doesn't care how much they charge. The market for us unwashed masses, which are the bulk of the seats on the plane, can be more of competitive. I booked my flights for August last month and the fares had gone up significantly but not as much as I expected. It was far from shocking. Of course, the longer this aimless horse shit goes on in the Middle East, the more fares are bound to increase. Also, if you've been following the news you'd see several bargain airlines have folded up in the last couple of weeks. I would be surprised if South African Airlines doesn't go belly-up again. When competition disappears, fares will go up ... because they can.

Of bigger concern to me is ebola. Controlling travel during the COVID pandemic should have been a wakeup call but I'm not sure what was learned. Controlling travelers from Asia wasn't initiated until too late during COVID. We will see what happens this time. It will not surprise me if the govt here doesn't shutdown travel from Africa altogether by August. COVID was bad news ... ebola is a potential deadly disaster. No doubt about it.

Ebola is transmitted through fluids so its transmission is much more difficult than an airborne virus like COVID. Apples and oranges.

 

[leslie hetrick]

Agree. While I have always with few exceptions gone with Delta strictly due to save hours not pain, they are just crazy now. When I looked up Qatar they were literally half the price of Delta...yes 33 hours with layover versus 15 hours no lay over but for the money savings and service of Qatar I would go with them over Delta at this time.

i have used Qatar and agree.