Are the airlines having trouble filling seats to Europe
May 11th, 2007, 07:57 AM
#1
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Are the airlines having trouble filling seats to Europe
The airlines throught they could make big bucks with summer travel to Europe but are now finding themselves with many unsold seats.
Just typed in NYC to London, leaving May 21 and returning on May 28. Prices are:
Air India $271 plus tax
American $294 plus tax
Delta $498 plus tax
Virgin $366 plus tax
Continental $508 plus tax
Taxes are between $250 and $300.
So, if you gave up going to Europe, check again, unfortunately, you might get stuck in the center section of a 777, which is still pretty empty just ten days before departure.
Just typed in NYC to London, leaving May 21 and returning on May 28. Prices are:
Air India $271 plus tax
American $294 plus tax
Delta $498 plus tax
Virgin $366 plus tax
Continental $508 plus tax
Taxes are between $250 and $300.
So, if you gave up going to Europe, check again, unfortunately, you might get stuck in the center section of a 777, which is still pretty empty just ten days before departure.
May 11th, 2007, 11:37 AM
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Many airlines have added capacity to Europe in the last few years. Most are already running their full summer schedule by now, and there's really more supply than demand for May travel.
For example, Continental started its full summer schedule last weekend. They doubled their capacity to Lisbon, and significantly increase those to Dublin, Frankfurt, Edinburgh, Rome, and even Paris; compared to just a week ago.
I won't be surprised there are plenty of empty flights for the next few weeks.
For example, Continental started its full summer schedule last weekend. They doubled their capacity to Lisbon, and significantly increase those to Dublin, Frankfurt, Edinburgh, Rome, and even Paris; compared to just a week ago.
I won't be surprised there are plenty of empty flights for the next few weeks.
With some luck, maybe it will go down as those dates approach, but who knows.
May 18th, 2007, 07:40 AM
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May isn't summer and never has been. Airlines frequently offer some "sales" for fares in May at the last minute, which is what these are. It isn't even clear what rates those are, if they are RT or what.
But I have been searching for cheap fares for summer travel to Europe (real summer) in July, and the fares are over $1000 and the planes are almost full -- this is for late July and itineraries to Switzerland and France.
But I have been searching for cheap fares for summer travel to Europe (real summer) in July, and the fares are over $1000 and the planes are almost full -- this is for late July and itineraries to Switzerland and France.
May 18th, 2007, 08:00 AM
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Those fares were round trip.
I was checking daily for a friend who wanted a ticket from Florida to CDG and Barcelona back to Florida. Today, it was down to $1032. He told me he has changed his mind and is not going to Europe.
I was checking daily for a friend who wanted a ticket from Florida to CDG and Barcelona back to Florida. Today, it was down to $1032. He told me he has changed his mind and is not going to Europe.
May 18th, 2007, 08:08 AM
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I checked again today, three days before departure.
Air India $271 Plus Taxes (round trip)
Virgin $365 Plus Taxes
Continental $880 Plus
Delta 1019 Plus
AA $1205 Plus Taxes, (over 40 unsold seats each way)
Air India $271 Plus Taxes (round trip)
Virgin $365 Plus Taxes
Continental $880 Plus
Delta 1019 Plus
AA $1205 Plus Taxes, (over 40 unsold seats each way)
May 18th, 2007, 08:21 AM
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So far I'm not seeing an indication that fares are going down. I've been checking a number of options for June and July and as dutyfree indicated, there doesn't seem to be a lot of empty seats on quite a few flights.
May 18th, 2007, 08:33 AM
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Consider going to www.orbitz.com, type in the dates of the flight you want, and check seating. You will see how many empty seats there are on the plane.
On the Delta flights above, 70% of the plane is empty. The U.S. based airlines raised their prices the last few days, unfortunately, I don't think they will get too many takers since Virgin is much better and cheaper.
On the Delta flights above, 70% of the plane is empty. The U.S. based airlines raised their prices the last few days, unfortunately, I don't think they will get too many takers since Virgin is much better and cheaper.
May 18th, 2007, 09:25 AM
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Ray - not sure I understand why? I know most carriers hold back seats for FF, etc but, for ex, CO shows those in blue (and then will release them a day or two before flight if they're not taken) and the other "occupied" seats in gray. Are the gray ones not filled?
May 18th, 2007, 09:36 AM
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Blue seats on CO are "premium" seats saved for Elite Onepass members. White are regular open seats. Grey are occupied or held seats. By the time online check-in happens at 24 hours, all unoccupied seats are opened up.
May 18th, 2007, 10:10 AM
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And for free, www.seatcounter.com
