anyone seeing the rates fall yet?

[semperinfidelis]

The point is, plain and simple - the cost of airfares does not reflect the cost of operation. Don't expect the airlines to make a profit when the flying public expects to pay a price around the same amount as it was 20 years ago. Additionally, don't expect the best of customer service and anmenities of the past - those days are long gone.

In regards to flying to the DR, the Dominican government can start by scaling back on their ridiculous airport taxes which end up in somebody's (un funcionario, director, politico, etc.) pocket and not for its intended purpose.

[laurapasinifan]

Originally Posted by semperinfidelis

The point is, plain and simple - the cost of airfares does not reflect the cost of operation. Don't expect the airlines to make a profit when the flying public expects to pay a price around the same amount as it was 20 years ago. Additionally, don't expect the best of customer service and anmenities of the past - those days are long gone.

In regards to flying to the DR, the Dominican government can start by scaling back on their ridiculous airport taxes which end up in somebody's (un funcionario, director, politico, etc.) pocket and not for its intended purpose.

well if an airlines expects to stay in business, it better start looking at amenities and customer service....because the flyers will flock to the airline that has the flights and the extra nice service.....everyone wants to be catered too...

no one wants flights so cheap that the airline goes under...but the gouging is hard to take......

the fuel has dropped so should the cost of the seats.

bad bob

[edm7583]

Originally Posted by laurapasinifan

well if an airlines expects to stay in business, it better start looking at amenities and customer service....because the flyers will flock to the airline that has the flights and the extra nice service.....everyone wants to be catered too...

no one wants flights so cheap that the airline goes under...but the gouging is hard to take......

the fuel has dropped so should the cost of the seats.

bad bob

I don't think so. people want cheap, rock bottom fares, period. Yes they will complain about bad service and so on, and that they'll never fly that airline again, etc., until they have a chance to save a penny and they'll be right back.

For example, look at my flight next month. Florida to Santo Domingo $140 and change round trip tax included on Spirit. Where else can I get that?! Why would I pay $350 on AA for the same route on the same dates (their best fare.) for alleged "better service"? When flying on AA, you are hardly treated like a king unless you are an elite. What does AA have that Spirit doesn't for more than double the fare? The historical value of riding on antique aircraft? The privilege of checking 2 bags for free? Even if I wanted to bring 2 checked bags with me on Spirit (which I won't) that would raise my fare to $40 each way making it $220. Still a bargain. You are going to be treated like hell no matter what when flying. Better to be treated like hell and pay half as much for it.

Oh and Spirit, with its $9 fares, is actually making a modest profit! (Spirit is a private company so financial numbers are hard to come by, but from their required reports to the US DOT)
For the last 4 quarters ending September 30, 2008
Revenue: $598 million
Operating Costs $ 579 million
Operating profit $ 19 million
Net income $ 7 million

In the same timeframe, AA lost $2.3 billion! and even JetBlue lost $22 million. Delta, Continental and US Airways all lost as well. So the only profitable US airline that serves the Dominican Republic is Spirit! Bare bones air travel is the way of the future.

[Arrica]

I tend to agree - the days of glamorous airtravel are for gone - In Europe we have made cheap (relatively), no-thrill airtravel into an artform, with numerous discount airlines flourishing and sending people across the continent, passangers even accepting to be dropped off at out of place airports and the inconvenience associated with such - partly because public surface transport exists that can take you from even the most out-of-place airport to your destination with a reasonable frequency of busses and/or trains.

Personally, I am somewhat affronted that I have to pay extra for getting my suitcase on the flight, and that such is not included in the price of the airfare (just like I hate to pay service fees for having a bank account - I simply refuse to have to pay for someone guarding my meager earnings - beyond the profits that the bank earn for the differential of little to nothning in interest and the interest they charge for loans) - but can calculate the extra cost - and it does help to make people think twice taking two suitcases of clothes with them for 1 week's thrill at an all-inclusive where mainly shorts and T-shirts are required.

[bachata]

Originally Posted by edm7583

For example, look at my flight next month. Florida to Santo Domingo $140 and change round trip tax included on Spirit. Where else can I get that?! Why would I pay $350 on AA for the same route on the same dates (their best fare.) for alleged "better service"? When flying on AA, you are hardly treated like a king unless you are an elite. What does AA have that Spirit doesn't for more than double the fare?

I was trying to book a flight for next month from Raleigh NC to STI and the cheapest one for the date I was looking for is about $ 1200. in AA.
A one way ticket from RDU to FLL will cost me more than rate for the round trip from FLL to SDQ flying in Spirit. Can I find a economic and reliable land transportation from Raleigh NC to FLL ?

JJ

[Tamborista]

Originally Posted by bachata

I was trying to book a flight for next month from Raleigh NC to STI and the cheapest one for the date I was looking for is about $ 1200. in AA.

JJ:

Delta has $439 (including tax)flights through RDU-ATL-STI for mid January travel.

tambo'

[Kyle]

i just saw BWI-POP for 453.00 the end of january. (holy crap ! AA is offering BWI to SanJose Costa Rica 304.00).

i'm confused..

[leromero]

Just purchased my ticket for Semana Santa - Delta ($318 plus $101 in taxes) nonstop from Atlanta to SDQ.

[Ezequiel]

Originally Posted by leromero

Just purchased my ticket for Semana Santa - Delta ($318 plus $101 in taxes) nonstop from Atlanta to SDQ.

Atlanta to SDQ always have good prices, Atlanta to Punta Cana too, now Atlanta to STI or POP it's very expansive to flight.

I bought my ticket from Atlanta to STI two weeks ago for the first week of January for $509.40 including taxes, a bargain for me i had paid $1000.00 before to get to STI from Atlanta.

[sweetdbt]

Bachata, I fly from Raleigh to the DR regularly, and the price you posted is more than double what I am getting in searching for prices for my next trip in January or February. The only thing I can figure is there may be high demand on that specific date. Unless your schedule is completely fixed, you should try a flexible date search, or just check other days in the same time frame. There is no way you need to pay that much or go to all that trouble.