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[lablady]

I've been checking the airfare from Anchorage to Orlando on and off for the last couple of weeks, and it's been running about $545 for US Airways. I get the money to buy tickets today....and the lowest is $620!? I'll be buying 7 tickets. That makes a HUGE difference to my budget. What happened? Do you think this is temporary? The dates that we need to fly are 10-25-07 and returning 11-5-07.

Honestly, I'm starting to think that this trip won't happen if these rates don't fall!

[lablady]

Either nobody feels my pain......or everyone is as confused as I am about the crazy price hike?

[iamgrumpy]

Have you tried Kayak.com it searches for the lowest fares??

I'm not sure why the price went up but sometimes the time of day you go to buy them or the day you purchasing them makes a diffrence.

I would keep checking at different times and days to see when the lowest you get is.

[marisag]

Hi Shawna!

I feel your pain!! I just wish there was a way I could help you! I have NO idea why airlines do the things they do! Even being a TA- I sometimes swear they make changes on a whim. I agree with Amy- try Kayak.com I use it all the time and send clients there too. It is great because it searches ALL the airlines and websites unlike others (expedia etc) that just search the major airlines. Kayak even searches expedia.

[lablady]

Unfortunately Kayak is the one I've been using! Their cheapest is $620 from Continental with a terrible schedule! I'll keep checking though!

[statelady01]

You might also try checking very early in the week, Mon or Tues- between 11:00 pm- 12 midnight. Many of the carriers' fares scramble in the system and I don't know, maybe I got lucky- but I have booked several trips with good, good deals at that time of night. Generally, though it's basically a game of roulette, like the other posters have suggested- no rhyme or reason. Don't give up though. You still in are in a pretty good advance purchase booking window.

Good luck!!!

[lablady]

Thanks Maureen,
I'll just keep checking (every hour on the hour) and pray that something good comes up soon!

[dmpyron]

It's all about capacity management. If the seats are selling above prediction, the price goes up. When they are selling below prediction, the price goes down. But I'm afraid that my experience this year is that the prices will only go up. Travel is up, capacity is down. It's that old supply and demand thing. The airlines own all the toys.

Did you know that bus fares are up 15% from a year ago? Fuel has something to do with that, but they have also seen more bookings. Even Amtrak is up, although I'm not sure why. I can almost walk to Dallas faster than Amtrak.