Airfare Sky High!

[kirbyfan]

So we are paying twice what we did last year to fly to Playa out of Minnesota and almost 4 times as much as we did 8 years ago. I have talked to some others that are experiencing the same problems. How is airfare in your area?

Just for references we are paying between 700-800 per person and thats the best deal I have found all winter so we booked it. Its been closer to 800-1200 per ticket on many of the flights I looked at.

[January Guy]

Originally Posted by kirbyfan

So we are paying twice what we did last year to fly to Playa out of Minnesota and almost 4 times as much as we did 8 years ago. I have talked to some others that are experiencing the same problems. How is airfare in your area?

Just for references we are paying between 700-800 per person and thats the best deal I have found all winter so we booked it. Its been closer to 800-1200 per ticket on many of the flights I looked at.

I totally agree. Up until this year, my January flights and March flights always cost around $325. This year, once they dropped to $450 I jumped on it and never saw them lower. We aren't going back this March with our kids because I never say those lower than $500-$600 or so.

Sorry you had to pay that much, but at least with the strong US Dollar right now, you'll recoup some of it with the beer being cheaper once you get there!

[MN Annie]

That's why we ended up booking to an AI on Cozumel instead. For the 2 of us it was $2500 from Duluth, and that included insurance

We've never stayed on Cozumel before, so we will have fun exploring and using our new Mapchick map

[Jacko]

Yep..we paid $563 Charlotte to Cancun non-stop.....that is about $100 more expensive than we could have gotten it if we had waited a bit longer to book.

Last year, we paid about $100 less as well.....

Given your prices, I guess I should be happy...okay, I AM happy...really I am...only 8 more days....

[Mnbruce]

We were just thinking about going down for a long weekend, but no thank you at those prices.

[JimmyMN]

Using the NEW Orbitz search tool with +/- 3 days helps greatly in the selection process. Oddly, the real prices are often masked until you actually click on the price link. Out of Minneapolis, American Airlines seems to consistently have the lowest fare. I've seen several flights in the $450-$500 range for February and March. I've not seen anything less than mid-$500s via Cozumel.

Believe I hear the Mardi Gras in New Orleans calling my name... guess I'm good with an alternative.

...then again, there's always Priceline.

Jimmy

[mrsr05]

we also are paying over $100 more per person than just last august when we travelelled...

not making it easy to get to paradise!

[Rissask]

I have not noticed much of a difference up here. We did not pay significantly more for either of our winter holidays/airfare.

Although we are pricing out trips to Vegas for April and those airfares seem pretty high - but it is due in part to it being Easter week I think.


Also maybe because it is US? Perhaps they cancelled a bunch of flights due to the recession, and now that your economy has rebounded a bit, demand is up, therefore the price has risen?

[kirbyfan]

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

Using the NEW Orbitz search tool with +/- 3 days helps greatly in the selection process. Oddly, the real prices are often masked until you actually click on the price link. Out of Minneapolis, American Airlines seems to consistently have the lowest fare. I've seen several flights in the $450-$500 range for February and March. I've not seen anything less than mid-$500s via Cozumel.

Believe I hear the Mardi Gras in New Orleans calling my name... guess I'm good with an alternative.

...then again, there's always Priceline.

Jimmy

Well we fly out of Fargo into Minneapolis so our rates are usually about $125-$150 higher. I found some rates in same range that you did but all of those flights had 3 stops and an overnight in Armpitsmellsbad, Texas. I'll pass.

Our flight leaves Fargo at 7:10 am am and arrives in Cancun at 12:29 the same day...coming home we leave at like 2:29 and arrive Fargo at 10:00.

[cpfstich]

Round trip for both of us from MSP to CUN a couple months ago was about $750.00. We booked a couple weeks ago at about $1100.00 for both of us.

[redmagicat]

OK, some of you guys are a lot father away and paying less!! From Oklahoma City is now close to 600!!! I am still coming, but pissed off. Usually pay around 400....

[Camilla]

We are going in April and paid $448 out of St Louis a few weeks ago

[fireinmn]

We've noticed the same high prices from MN. We booked at $667 each, but used miles to get them both down to $467. Haven't seen anything good for less than $800, sometimes they're as much as $1,300 ea. WTH?

[jayjay]

I booked ours last August (for March'12) for $840 for 2 of us, from Mpls to Cancun. I didn't think that was too bad at the time! I'm looking now for tickets for CA, for August, and they are really high!

[RonH]

I just looked at end of Oct 2012. Right now I can get 2 RT at $950. That is leaving on the 31rst, and coming home on 09/04. For me, that is very high. I guess we will make the 12 hour drive to Panama City. The airlines hopefully will realize that they will lose the vacation traveler. Maybe they don't care.