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Yes, this is a rant. Why do we have the most ridiculous airfares out of Charlotte?, especially the nonstop flights. Im sorry, but $450.00 and up is not going to fly. Why not connect you ask? I would, but traveling with an elder/senior citizen. Just more convenient with a non-stop flight. A non-stop flight should be no more than $350 or $375 max. Just unreal with the prices...thats all. Okay, rant is over.
I agree. Air fares ex-CLT have gone up by a ridiculous amount of late. Perhaps this is why the Dept. of Justice is suing US Airwars and AMR with the intent of stopping their merger. The DoJ says that they are doing this because a single huge ailine would cause fares to rise and reduced services.
To keep my costs low, I book one way and use the intended destination as a connection airport.
Only thing is to make sure I have no checked bags.
How does that work for the return trip? I thought if you tried that trick by getting on the plane in the "middle" airport that your ticket was cancelled since you didn't get on at the first airport.
Example: A flight is cheaper from Cleveland to Charlotte with a stop in Pittsburgh. If you don't get on in Cleveland, I thought your ticket would be cancelled or your seat given away so you wouldn't be able to get on in Pittsburgh.
How does that work for the return trip? I thought if you tried that trick by getting on the plane in the "middle" airport that your ticket was cancelled since you didn't get on at the first airport.
Example: A flight is cheaper from Cleveland to Charlotte with a stop in Pittsburgh. If you don't get on in Cleveland, I thought your ticket would be cancelled or your seat given away so you wouldn't be able to get on in Pittsburgh.
As I said, I book one way trips - since I have the same question you have...
It is also easier to go to Charlotte (real final destination) while booked as connecting airport, than say Buffalo, since there are not that many connecting flights from smaller airports.
Yes, this is a rant. Why do we have the most ridiculous airfares out of Charlotte?, especially the nonstop flights. Im sorry, but $450.00 and up is not going to fly. Why not connect you ask? I would, but traveling with an elder/senior citizen. Just more convenient with a non-stop flight. A non-stop flight should be no more than $350 or $375 max. Just unreal with the prices...thats all. Okay, rant is over.
You're really lucky to get a $450 flight from/to CLT to be honest. It sucks but thats how it is. US Airways controls over 70% of the gates/business at CLT. So any competition is only slightly cheaper than US. Southwest has dropped the prices at CLT.
To the others: What is being discussed is "hidden city ticketing" That is where your intended destination is actually the location that is scheduled to be connected. This would be for trips that involve say ORD-CLT-RDU. Your destination is CLT. In doing that you have to: only use carry-ons/no gate checked to final destinations, and buy one way tickets. [Otherwise your ticket could be canceled for doing that].
If you are "commuting" to your airport [I.e. a ticket of GSP-CLT-BUF (It will be cheaper than CLT-BUF)] you cannot, and I repeat CANNOT get on the plane at CLT. You are considered a no show at GSP, and your ticket has been canceled.
What are other risks in using the above method? I can't recall any connection city being switched (apart from weather) but I assume there is a possibility of that happening, correct?
What are other risks in using the above method? I can't recall any connection city being switched (apart from weather) but I assume there is a possibility of that happening, correct?
I forgot to mention.
So if you're doing
CLT-IAH-MSY [Charlotte to NOLA... via Huston] because you want to go to Huston they have no obligation to route you through Huston. You could end up going to ORD, or IAD as a result to connect. You won't be able to tell the agent that they have to get you to Huston. Your ticket is to NOLA, they're responsible for getting you there. Possbile causes: Overbooking, equipment changes, delays [causing a miss connect], weather causing an issue at CLT, on the way to IAH, or at Huston. You could even run into the issue with an ground/airstop in IAH. Another issue: Presidential airspace. Bill Clinton is going to Huston... hello delay.
The airline industry has been hit hard by rising cost yet people expect prices to not rise. Not only that, you're paying for convenience, speed & much higher fuel cost plus non-stop.
Most cities, you have to connect anyway (Pittsburg, Raleigh, St. Louis, Kansas City, Etc) so that ticket sounds reasonable. What needs to happen is higher wages and/or better train service.
The airline industry has been hit hard by rising cost yet people expect prices to not rise. Not only that, you're paying for convenience, speed & much higher fuel cost plus non-stop.
Most cities, you have to connect anyway (Pittsburg, Raleigh, St. Louis, Kansas City, Etc) so that ticket sounds reasonable. What needs to happen is higher wages and/or better train service.
Looking at the airplane tickets in USA vs Europe, I see that we pay unreasonable high cost here.
I wish we had the high speed trains they have...or better highways for unlimited speed (like the autobahns in Germany).
Also, higher wages = higher overall cost
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Yes, this is a rant. Why do we have the most ridiculous airfares out of Charlotte?, especially the nonstop flights. Im sorry, but $450.00 and up is not going to fly. Why not connect you ask? I would, but traveling with an elder/senior citizen. Just more convenient with a non-stop flight. A non-stop flight should be no more than $350 or $375 max. Just unreal with the prices...thats all. Okay, rant is over.
