Booked short-notice business flight for DH BOS-PHL; down and back same day. Shocked to find fare was almost $650. Doing a more detailed search was able to book him on USAirways first class southbound and coach northbound for just over $400. (Book Friday - same trip today is even higher in coach - over $800)

This is completely ridiculous, but he will be happy to have a first class seat. Now I will know to check other fare classes when I book - never even considered this as a possible way to save money.

Good tip!

This happened to me once on a Newark to Honolulu flight. I had to switch and stop in San Diego on my way to Honolulu instead. Between the change fee and cost of the seat to San Diego I was really looking at an expensive flight. For some reason, I checked first class and the EWR-San Diego-HNL seats were about $100 less than in economy. The savings covered my change fee, and with about 10 hours in the air, First class made a huge difference in my comfort.

I wonder if this happens when the economy section is nearly full, causing the remaining economy tickets to be at the top tier?

I have noticed that many one-way fares on AA (and sometimes Delta) are half of a round-trip. I don't look at business class but it has been useful to buy one-way coach on AA and return on Delta.

We often combine AA and Delta for a better fare too.

Have also noticed more one-way fares being just half of RT and do combine airlines. In case of BOS-PHL there is Southwest and USAir - which is part of the reason fares are so high. We can fly across the country for about half that much.

gail, fares have gone up in the past year. At least for the route we often travel which is midwest to southern California. And living in a smaller city which is only served by AA limits us even more. We have the option of driving to Chicago but that's a hassle especially in winter.

Stop trying to rationalize air fare. It's very complicated with lots of fare classes - with huge difference between discount and non-discount fares. Just grab what you can find and be done with it.

My Company just bought our teams ORD-PHX for $550, which is about the same as our upcoming ORD-CLT-PLS vacation fare which is now cheaper than our friends who we will be connecting with in CLT

Go figure