Nov 6, 2008 5:43 pm US/Pacific
Web Site Tracks Sinking Flight Prices
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―
Delta and Northwest have eliminated fuel surcharges on frequent flier tickets. Other airlines have reduced that fee as oil prices have dropped.
Carriers are also realizing they have too many empty seats, so there's a window of discounting going on to fill them up.
It's a girl's weekend in Phoenix for Kitty Noonan and her friends. They bought tickets during the summer, for $283 round trip from SFO.
"I thought it was high but not exorbitant. It was 25% higher than I thought I'd pay," said Noonan.
Too bad she didn't wait a few weeks. An online travel search tool called
Live Search Farecast shows she could've gotten a better deal. Prices are taking a surprising turn: down, according to Live Search Farecast VP Mike Fridgen.
"A couple months ago, fares were 34% higher for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Today Thanksgiving travel is down 10% year-over-year and Christmas is still 13% higher, but significantly down from a couple months ago," said Fridgen.
I was curious to see how much the tickets would cost in December when Noonan thought the prices would be higher a month out. Live Search Farecast's answer? "Prices are... $205 ... mmm," winced Noonan.
She would have saved about $80. The reason for what appears to be an airfare war? "The price of oil going down is why they're lowering fares," said Noonan.
That's partly true; fuel surcharges are coming down. But the big factor is consumer confidence is low. Carriers can't fill up planes, so they're cutting prices. But, not on everything.
"You should expect to see baggage fees and the meal fees that airlines have been charging so be prepared for that," said Fridgen.
He recommends if you see a low fare, snatch it, because once there's a significant price drop, it usually only lasts 48 hours. That has Noonan thinking of where to go next.
"Hawaii," she said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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