DCSki Forums

JohnL - DCSki Supporter

October 30, 2012

Member since 01/6/2000 🔗

3,565 posts

I'm only looking at a couple of select time windows, but seems to me prices are ~150 higher than last year, even on Southwest.

Anyone finding any deals?

Heath

October 31, 2012

Member since 04/30/2012 🔗

44 posts

also looking at airfare prices this season, I found 300 roundtrip to Denver. Jackson hole is about 600$ from Pittsburgh international

eggraid

October 31, 2012

Member since 02/9/2010 🔗

520 posts

I started looking a couple weeks ago, and I felt the same way, things do seem more expensive. I wonder if that is just because it is so early and things will come down a little bit? You add the expense of luggage these days - no getting around that with ski gear unless you go Southwest

JimK - DCSki Columnist

October 31, 2012

Member since 01/14/2004 🔗

3,012 posts

SWA had a quick fare sale for about a week or less back around mid-Oct. I missed it, but even then rates were not as good as past years. Hope this thread stays alive and someone posts when something breaks cause I'm looking at $375ish each for RDTRP fares to far west right now and that's not SWA, so will be more for baggage.

johnfmh - DCSki Columnist

October 31, 2012

Member since 07/18/2001 🔗

1,992 posts

I've found that it's cheaper to wait until 30-40 days out or even closer to the deadline before buying a ticket. Booking early does not seem to pay.

Delta is adding at least one new direct service flight to SLC from DCA for this season--a plus for people interested in UT.

JohnL - DCSki Supporter

October 31, 2012

Member since 01/6/2000 🔗

3,565 posts

Quote:

SWA had a quick fare sale for about a week or less back around mid-Oct. I missed it, but even then rates were not as good as past years.

SWA is having a fare sale right now for a lot of the winter (travel through Mar 6), and has had some quick-hit sales earlier, but as you said the prices were pretty meh. In particular, I've been tracking BWI to DEN and SLC. The SLC prices have actually sucked so far. Right now BWI-SLC is $450 RT! during early Feb. (Travelocity is no better.)

IIRC, in the past they've had sales ~Thanksgiving time that I've taken advantage of for ski trips.

But with their pricing in the past year or so, seems like there is a larger delta in price for flights to DEN than to SLC.

JohnL - DCSki Supporter

October 31, 2012

Member since 01/6/2000 🔗

3,565 posts

Quote:

I've found that it's cheaper to wait until 30-40 days out or even closer to the deadline before buying a ticket. Booking early does not seem to pay.

That seems to be currently true. Flights to SLC in early Dec are cheaper than in early Feb. (Though Feb is closer to prime season and early Dec is the fringe season.)

Though one friend for the Feb trip booked from Philly to SLC for $260 RT several months ago. YMMV.

johnfmh - DCSki Columnist

October 31, 2012

Member since 07/18/2001 🔗

1,992 posts

I think the larger question is: why book early for a ski trip at all? I'd rather pay more for a last minute fare than make a trip somewhere and have to ski lackluster conditions. Given the price of lift tickets, paying an additional $100 bucks for an air fare does not seem like too high a price to pay for powder versus crude, cement, ice, chicken heads, etc

JohnL - DCSki Supporter

October 31, 2012

Member since 01/6/2000 🔗

3,565 posts

Quote:

I think the larger question is: why book early for a ski trip at all? I'd rather pay more for a last minute fare than make a trip somewhere and have to ski lackluster conditions. Given the price of lift tickets, paying an additional $100 bucks for an air fare does not seem like too high a price to pay for powder versus crude, cement, ice, chicken heads, etc

If it's just you and your wife, that's doable. But if you are coordinating with with 5-50+ people (possibly sharing rental cars, hotel rooms/condos/houses), that's not doable. Depending upon how remote the area you are visiting, hotel rooms and plane seats fill up, advanced lift ticket deals expire, etc. Depending upon the airline, last second airfare can be much, much more than $100 extra. Toss in possible last second prices for lodging, car rentals, lift tickets, etc., and the extra $$$ can really add up.

Plus if you fly Southwest, you can cancel your flight for free and apply the travel funds to a future trip.

djop

October 31, 2012

Member since 03/18/2002 🔗

343 posts

I don't think Southwest has been able to leverage fuel prices as they had done in previous years.

johnfmh - DCSki Columnist

November 1, 2012

Member since 07/18/2001 🔗

1,992 posts

Quote:

If it's just you and your wife, that's doable. But if you are coordinating with with 5-50+ people (possibly sharing rental cars, hotel rooms/condos/houses), that's not doable. Depending upon how remote the area you are visiting, hotel rooms and plane seats fill up, advanced lift ticket deals expire, etc. Depending upon the airline, last second airfare can be much, much more than $100 extra. Toss in possible last second prices for lodging, car rentals, lift tickets, etc., and the extra $$$ can really add up.

Plus if you fly Southwest, you can cancel your flight for free and apply the travel funds to a future trip.

Makes sense. The biggest problem for me with Southwest is BWI--much less convenient than the VA airports, but the savings can sometimes be worth it.

marzNC - DCSki Supporter

November 3, 2012

Member since 12/10/2008 🔗

3,370 posts

Found a 1-stop flight to Bozeman from DCA for $491 on Delta as of Nov. 3. I checked based on leaving Sun, March 24, returning Fri, March 29. That seems like a pretty good deal. Next price on Travelocity was over $600.

JimK - DCSki Columnist

November 26, 2012

Member since 01/14/2004 🔗

3,012 posts

I got a marginal price break on Frontier via Orbitz today for flight to Cali in Jan 2013. Cyber monday type deal. No luck finding significant flight bargains last few months.