Delta fare increased - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

exco · April 30, 2007, 12:30 PM

I signed into my frequent flyer account and tried to book a flight in the morning. I was interrupted when I was about to enter my credit card number, and could not complete the transaction. That evening, the fare for that flight went from $265 to above $400. . I checked the seating chart, no one has bought the tickets on that flight that day. All other flights on that Sunday had no fare change. The flights leave at the same time on other Sundays still have the $265 fare, even though there are fewer seats left.

Did anyone else have the same experience? I am wondering if Delta determines the fare based on fare checking hits/count from the onlione user.

Dave M · April 30, 2007, 12:55 PM

Available fares change constantly - not just at Delta, but at most of the U.S. legacy carriers. They can change because of an actual fare change or because all of the seats currently available in a particular fare bucket may have been sold.

If you experienced this problem on a weekend, it's also quite possible you got caught in a fare increase trial balloon.

Keep trying. It's quite possible that you will see the same fare again by mid-week.

Debbie0329 · April 30, 2007, 04:34 PM

Hi Dave,

Maybe you can answer this question - again Delta. Fares seem to be all over the board for the Sunday arrivals and departures for next March. It seems like the later you get in the month the more the airfare is... in your experience is it better to wait and see or buy them now? And, does Delta refund or voucher on international fare decreases?

Thanks so much for your reply,
Debbie

laxmom · April 30, 2007, 06:07 PM

It may be because you are heading into spring break time. Easter is the end of March.

Dave M · April 30, 2007, 09:29 PM

I agree. The airlines have gotten much smarter over the past year or so, asking higher fares from day one for those holiday periods for which they know they will sell every seat.

See this sticky thread from The Lounge forum for typical spring vacation dates for next year. With Easter falling on March 23, the last two weeks of March will be heavy vacation travel periods, meaning higher air fares.

camachinist · April 30, 2007, 11:26 PM

I don't care if the building is burning down around you, don't let anything interfere with getting that killer airfare deal

Seriously, no worries. It'll be back, perhaps even better.

If you post the particulars of the fare/O&D, I can perhaps share the metrics and why the fare disappeared. My bet is the fare is there, but they zero'd the fare bucket...

Pat

BSQ · May 1, 2007, 08:48 AM

agree with all above. This is not an issue unique to Delta. This past spring break my airfare from CLT to LAX was all over the board every day, and did remain high for this trip IMHO. In this example it is in timing. I just took a spring break trip and the prices were all over the board. What I hated was if I traveled just 7 days later the fare would have been more than half the price of most of the quotes that came up. I paid nearly double what I usually do, all because of spring break.

In purchasing my mexico tickets this past year I tracked every major airline daily (yeah I had time on my hands) and the fares litterally changed daily ... sometimes even during the day.

In both cases the low prices always returned, it's a waiting game. (though the LA trip was more than I like to pay because of the holiday).

Debbie0329 · May 1, 2007, 07:13 PM

Yikes! I had no idea that Easter was at the end of March next year...

We have Morritt's Grand reserved from the 23rd through the 30th of March. Will fly from Boston to Grand Cayman on whoever has the cheapest flight with the best times! Unfortunately right now American FF seats are at 60K miles which none of us have - beginning of March they were at 30K.

Deb

April 30, 2007, 12:30 PM	#1
exco Guest BBS Reg. Date: Jan 4, 06 Posts: 25	Delta fare increased I signed into my frequent flyer account and tried to book a flight in the morning. I was interrupted when I was about to enter my credit card number, and could not complete the transaction. That evening, the fare for that flight went from $265 to above $400. . I checked the seating chart, no one has bought the tickets on that flight that day. All other flights on that Sunday had no fare change. The flights leave at the same time on other Sundays still have the $265 fare, even though there are fewer seats left. Did anyone else have the same experience? I am wondering if Delta determines the fare based on fare checking hits/count from the onlione user. Last edited by exco : April 30, 2007 at 03:59 PM.

April 30, 2007, 04:34 PM	#3
Debbie0329 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 7, 05 Location: Glen, New Hampshire Posts: 136 Resorts: Grand Summit Resort, Bartlett, NH	Grand Cayman Hi Dave, Maybe you can answer this question - again Delta. Fares seem to be all over the board for the Sunday arrivals and departures for next March. It seems like the later you get in the month the more the airfare is... in your experience is it better to wait and see or buy them now? And, does Delta refund or voucher on international fare decreases? Thanks so much for your reply, Debbie

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April 30, 2007, 12:55 PM	#2
Dave M Moderator TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 16, 04 Location: Sun City Hilton Head, SC Posts: 11,351	Available fares change constantly - not just at Delta, but at most of the U.S. legacy carriers. They can change because of an actual fare change or because all of the seats currently available in a particular fare bucket may have been sold. If you experienced this problem on a weekend, it's also quite possible you got caught in a fare increase trial balloon. Keep trying. It's quite possible that you will see the same fare again by mid-week.

April 30, 2007, 06:07 PM	#4
laxmom TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jan 27, 06 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 735 Resorts: Mariott's Grande Vista, Marriott's Barony Beach Club, DVC Hilton Head	It may be because you are heading into spring break time. Easter is the end of March.

April 30, 2007, 09:29 PM	#5
Dave M Moderator TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 16, 04 Location: Sun City Hilton Head, SC Posts: 11,351	I agree. The airlines have gotten much smarter over the past year or so, asking higher fares from day one for those holiday periods for which they know they will sell every seat. See this sticky thread from The Lounge forum for typical spring vacation dates for next year. With Easter falling on March 23, the last two weeks of March will be heavy vacation travel periods, meaning higher air fares.

April 30, 2007, 11:26 PM	#6
camachinist TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Central California Posts: 2,305	I don't care if the building is burning down around you, don't let anything interfere with getting that killer airfare deal Seriously, no worries. It'll be back, perhaps even better. If you post the particulars of the fare/O&D, I can perhaps share the metrics and why the fare disappeared. My bet is the fare is there, but they zero'd the fare bucket... Pat

May 1, 2007, 08:48 AM	#7
BSQ TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Oct 24, 05 Location: L.A. & Atlanta Posts: 740 Resorts: Royal Caribbean	agree with all above. This is not an issue unique to Delta. This past spring break my airfare from CLT to LAX was all over the board every day, and did remain high for this trip IMHO. In this example it is in timing. I just took a spring break trip and the prices were all over the board. What I hated was if I traveled just 7 days later the fare would have been more than half the price of most of the quotes that came up. I paid nearly double what I usually do, all because of spring break. In purchasing my mexico tickets this past year I tracked every major airline daily (yeah I had time on my hands) and the fares litterally changed daily ... sometimes even during the day. In both cases the low prices always returned, it's a waiting game. (though the LA trip was more than I like to pay because of the holiday).

May 1, 2007, 07:13 PM	#8
Debbie0329 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 7, 05 Location: Glen, New Hampshire Posts: 136 Resorts: Grand Summit Resort, Bartlett, NH	Yikes! I had no idea that Easter was at the end of March next year... We have Morritt's Grand reserved from the 23rd through the 30th of March. Will fly from Boston to Grand Cayman on whoever has the cheapest flight with the best times! Unfortunately right now American FF seats are at 60K miles which none of us have - beginning of March they were at 30K. Deb