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Did Taca DOUBLE their fares recently?

I'm getting fares of $540-700RT out of JFK.

It was $275-350 a month ago.

Yeah.....I've noticed it too out of DC/BALTIMORE. I asked this same question in a post last week.

I'm really beginning to doubt my TACA preferences lately. This year they have been SHIITE.

They are pricing themselves out of the market. The central Americans who travel with them will not be able to afford a 80-90% price hike.

Biz class or not, I don't think I'm paying $650. Phuck that, I can fly US Air for $382 with taxes.

At these fares, one might as well just go to Medellin.

So far, the best deal I can find for July is $480 TOTAL R/T on USAIRWAYS out of BWI.

I need to remember to look at BWI when pricing trips. Where does US Air layover on that flight?

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That would be Charlotte, same as from Dulles

US Airways Flight 909
Departs: 8:45a Baltimore/ Washington (BWI)
Arrives: 10:16a Douglas (CLT)

Flight 1773
Departs: 11:21a Douglas (CLT)
Arrives: 1:40p Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO)

I swear that airfares are determined by people with mental disorders. About the only thing that you can count on is that the fares WILL change!

Often times fares are determined by competition (or the lack there of) but other times, who knows?

What I do know is that it always pays to shop if you have options. My first trip, US Air had a decent fare from SEA to SJO. 3 months later, forget it! But, Frontier, who was not in running 3 months earlier now has a fare that is almost what I previously paid on US Air. Go figure!

Delta actually had the best fare from SEA for a while but the route was rediculous! SEA to LAX to ATL to SJO! 24 hours tavel time! No way, not even for $400!

I try to optimise my frequent flyer miles by being loyal to an airline and it's partners. This is pretty easy to do when work is paying but when it's my nickel, I look for value which is getting tough to find.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

Spanky,

In the past....I always got the best USAIRWAYS deal out of WASH/DULLES, but for some reason, this time their best deal is out of Baltimore. The flight schedule and duration of the flight is about the same, and they do change planes in Charlotte, NC.

Zebra

I don't know this for sure, but I bet their hedges against the price of fuel have expired. Rather quietly, four airlines around the world have ceased to exist in the last 11 days. That is insane. Ata, Hong Kong Oasis, not unknown airlines, and all of them are the type that made their profits on efficiencies. With jet fuel being an outlandish cost right now, unless the airlines have properly paid for a hedge, or more or less "insurance" against higher prices, these airlines can't make money unless they price at a certain level. Of course if no one buys their tickets they are screwed, so I don't know the real math, but this is happening to a TON of airlines. Tons of consolidation stories in the news as well. Alitalia is rumored to be in crisis with Air France-KLM negotiating now with their unions trying to keep them in business, several deals on the table in the USA, US/Europe competition legistation being discussed, a ton of changes on the horizon have to happen.

The problem with the fuel hedges is many companies were prepared, but not prepared for the price to stay this high for this long. Southwest was famous for this, and was able to price out competitors because they locked in their fuel rate for a few years. Those rates for many airlines have expired and the renew rate for a few year lock in is outlandishly high, because of the uncertainties of the global economy and the flight to commodities and quality investments.

Not saying I know this is what happened with Taca, but an industry with many distressed entities. Four filings in 11 days is ridiculous. I never looked at the financials, and it could be a ton of other things, but I've heard that until some changes happen, the smaller airlines will not be able to price competitive most of the time. The bigger airlines make their money on the business and last minute traveler anyways, and keep afloat on the other economy passengers, they aren't AS impacted, still a tough time.

I see American Airlines is having problems also.850 flights were cancelled today because of inspection problems.I use them out of BWI and they fly thru Miami.I have usually found them to be the cheapest flying from there and it is best to wait around 2 months before your trip for the best rates.I will be there for Fourth of July and there price is about 690$ now but I am sure that will drop.One piece of advice,on the return trip make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get thru customs in Miami.

Airlines that fly older (727) planes that are less efficent are going out of business first. Champion Air, American Trans Air etc.

Thanks!

I'm using US Air in June when I head down but I used miles for the trip. I always forget to check BWI as an option and I hate flying out of Regan.

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[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

The FAA quit being a "regulatory agency" for the airlines seven years ago. Instead, it became their "sponsor" and did everything it could to make the airlines profitable, including looking the other way on things like maintenance. Now the chickens have come home to roost.

The latest airline debacle is the tip of the iceberg.

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"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
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In times like these where their costs are high, many airlines have only 2 choices: lose little or lose big. Sometimes making money isn't a feasible option.

-If they keep fares lower than their competition, they will have fuller planes but will still operate at a small loss because they're not charging enough to make money.

-But if they raise fares, they will have emptier planes and then operate at a big loss.

At these fares, Taca is pricing themselves into deep shit.