Oh no! My brother-in-law's family just decided to join us in Belize next summer and the price of flights from Portland, Oregon appears to have jumped $200 yesterday, from around $665 to $845 for American and nearly $900 for Continental. With 5 in their family that's nearly $1000. I was thinking prices were down from September because gas prices are down by half. Does anyone have explanations or hints for me to pass on to them?

I would give it some time. These fares have been bouncing around. Once they get back to his target I would buy them. I have been checking CA fares a lot lately and they have been surprisingly high. Then, last night, I found some $420 fares in Feb to GUA and MGA. Once someone drops the fare the rest will follow. It's crazy!!

I wish someone would explain this to me too!! I've been trying to book to Mexico for the last month. While crude oil and gas prices have dropped to half what they were 6 months ago, air fare climbs another 40-60$ EVERY time I check.

WTH???

US airlines (and many others for that matter) are virtually (or actually) bankrupt and presumably are trying to rebuild their balance sheets to stay in business

Flights to Guatemala and Belize had dropped substantially since September and I assumed it had more to do with gas prices dropping than was probably true. This is (unfortunately for my brother-in-law's family) probably not a spike in prices so much as the end of the sale. Thanks for your responses!