Where are airfares headed in 2009? We don't know, and we don't think anyone else does, either
Posted by
George on Monday, December 22, 2008
Where are airfares headed in 2009? If we knew, trust us, we would not be sitting here. No siree, we'd be sitting on the terrace of our beachfront villa on St. Barts, sipping fancy drinks adorned with colorful umbrellas. We'd have flown there in our Gulfstream V (no commercial flights for us!). Yep, we would have retired a looooong time ago. Gone native. Flown the coop.
Because if we knew where airfares were heading, we'd also know exactly where oil prices are headed, and we would be playing on the New York Mercantile Exchange. We'd also know where the economy in general was headed. And we'd also be able to read the minds of airline executives, who haven't proven themselves to be the most rational businessmen since the dawn of commercial aviation.
The vagaries of airline pricing haven't prevented other airfare gurus from taking stabs at price predictions. I guess it's one way to grab headlines. In fact, one such guru was quoted in the same week predicting that fares would go both up and down. How's that for hedging one's bets.
In an AP story last week, this expert was quoted as saying, "Don't expect lower fuel prices to lower domestic airfares" and predicted "stable high prices for domestic airfares. We had 30 airfare hikes between the summer of '07 and '08, which raised the price point 20 to 40 percent. I think that price point will stay stable in 2009."
But the very same week, we saw a different angle on Businessweek.com.
The reporter spoke with "the two most prominent airfare 'gurus' " (hey, Tracy and I thought we were that!) and both predicted that fares through the first half of 2009 will yield a bonanza of bargains for travelers. The same expert quoted in the AP story above predicts we will see the “holy grail” of $99 fares cross-country again, with many trans-continental routes currently selling for $109 each way. But wait a sec: $99 one-way cross country fares were available, off and on, throughout 2008; we saw $69 and $79 one-way transcon fares on some routes.
So which is it? Don't expect lower domestic fares, or expect a bonanza of $99 bargains? Truth is, no one really knows. Our crystal ball is in the repair shop and our turban is at the dry cleaner.
Users are solely responsible for the content of the comments posted. Comments are subject to
the Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of AirfareWatchdog.com.
AirfareWatchdog.com does not control or endorse the content, messages or information posted.
Reader Comments
Click here to post a comment
I don't know what's going to happen with airfares either, but honestly I think that all in all airfares are still a bargain when you take inflation and all that into the picture. And no I don't work for the airlines and no one I know works for them either. just my 2 cents.
by JetGurrl on
Monday, December 22, 2008
Predicting airfares is like predicting the weather. they're right 1/2 of the time.
by rum runner on
Monday, December 22, 2008
Love your ramblings ~ always fun to read! Don't know about your comment [airline executives...haven't proven themselves to be the most rational businessmen since the dawn of commercial aviation]. We've had a few Northwest Airline CEOs who have shown a great deal of personal savvy: Checchi comes to mind. He built himself a castle (no kidding) in the woods of MN, where he lived whilst he continued to reap the benefits of his glorified position. Then he sold out to the tune of millions+++ and left us for California and beyond, where he has disappeared into the realm of wealthdom. That's not exactly irrational now, is it?
by Lindy on
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
It seems that the flights I have been looking into have been somewhat empty. Specifically, Hawaii. Even with the loss of about 750 to 1,000 seats from bankruptcies and less seats overall, it looks like seats are not selling. Less seats to fill, yet less seats are filled. Go figure....
by eskimo25 on
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
They are all using smaller planes, packing them to capacity--wonder if you still have the people trying to put 'all' of their luggage in the overhead compartments.
by pm1972 on
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
May I sugest a third choice on your Airfarewatchdog T-Shirts.
I would like to order two T-Shirts, but you must promise not to ship them. I simply do not wear T-Shirts.
However, at this time of year, I receive requests to support every organization under the sun by sending a donation. I look at your site every day trying to find the best price for flights. ( We are flying to London soon.) To help support an organization thst really helps me personally, would my idea be possible? Di.
by Di Pri on
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Hi Di Pri: not sure what you mean about the t-shirts. Just email us at questions@airfarewatchdog.com and we'll be happy to help
by George Hobica on
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Hi all. For most men life is a search for the proper manila envelope in which to get themselves filed. Help me! Can not find sites on the: Prometrium increase metabolism. I found only this - order Prometrium. How should I take prometrium progesterone prometrium is a excellent flotation. Progesterone is a steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy supports gestation and embryogenesis of prometrium progesterone. Best regards :eek:, Eirene from Lesotho.
by Eirene on
Friday, June 26, 2009
Post a Comment
Return to Blog listing...