The good news is that I found a great airfare to go visit my parents: UAL, $184 R/T from Baltimore to Phoenix, connecting through Denver.

The bad news is that my sister, who lives in Denver, can't get a fare to Phoenix to join in the fun for lower than $198, the lowest possible fare. So she is being charged $14 more by UAL to sit on the plane next to me, just for the Denver-Phoenix part of the trip.

On what planet does this make sense? Does this happen to other people too?

Cindy -- Digitalcity.com has $138 roundtrip BWI to Phoenix -- go to http://www.digitalcity.com/washington/travel/deals.dci

This may change soon though.
Haven't checked the same site for Denver deals though.

Note that the above $138 roundtrip fare for BWI-Phoenix (on Northwest) is also available from Washington National and Dulles (but on USAirways).

Good heavens, Lisa! You're a lifesaver. I got tickets for us for $155 instead of $184.

How much do I owe you?

Happy to help, Cindy -- I love that website & check it almost every day and have gotten some pretty sweet deals myself That's a really great fare to Phoenix from here!

Unfortunately they didn't seem to have any better fares from Denver to Phoenix for your sister though. I agree that airline fares don't make much sense. I think it all has to do with how much competition there is on the routes -- which is why this merger-mania among the airlines is discouraging to me -- I think it's only going to get worse.