Why the huge difference in airfare between United & Southwest? About This Page:

[shnewell]

We are flying to Boston the second weekend in December to see the New England Patriots play the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. My DH is a huge Pats fan, and I am a die-hard Texans fan. We scored game tickets on the 8th row, field level and have already booked a hotel in Foxboro.

I'm looking at airfare now. Southwest's current price for a round trip ticket (no direct flights -- must change planes once) is about $350. United provides direct service to Boston, but the current price is $1100 per ticket!

I've never seen such a gigantic difference in airfare for the same itinerary. Who's going to buy an $1100 ticket to sit in coach? One more reason why my former loyalty to Continental is slowly being chipped away...

[CinderAbby]

That is a huge difference. And since I live close enough to the stadium (only about 10 minutes or so away) do you mind me asking what hotel you booked for?

[chezp]

Wow - that's an insane difference in airfares. It just goes to show that it pays to shop around.

[shnewell]

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

That is a huge difference. And since I live close enough to the stadium (only about 10 minutes or so away) do you mind me asking what hotel you booked for?

Whaaat? I didn't realize you were that close! I will PM you the name of our hotel.

[Dlandmom2]

I'm of the opinion that United (and many of the other airlines) is trying to do so much cost cutting that they're limiting the number of flights (and number of seats) in order to try to sell out as many flights as possible. Business fliers especially will pay whatever fare is available. That just makes it close to impossible for the rest of us.

Southwest would rather have as many flights available as they can and hope to make a little out of everyone who continues to fly them.

If I travel alone, I will likely fly Southwest because I don't mind having to make a connection. If I'm flying with the kids, I will likely try to find the least expensive on a non-stop flight...which means we don't fly much lately.

Good luck in your search! Sounds like you have a fun trip in the works!

[Huntermom]

Southwest only recently started flying into Logan so their prices can be lower overall. I know at Christmas, by DS was able to get much lower prices by going into Logan rather then MHT on his trip home from Houston.

I am also guessing that you are traveling at the start of Christmas break for a lot of kids. Boston has so many students the airport gets unbelievably busy when they are coming in and going home. When my DS was an undergrad we found Continental into Logan the cheapest but that hasn't been the case in recent years.

Have you considered flying into Providence? I much prefer PVD and MHT. The airports are so much smaller and IMO nicer. I don't think we've ever had more than a 5 minute wait at security. It is probably as close to Foxboro as Logan and I think an easier drive.

We are all heading down in a few weeks for D1's wedding and we got the best deals on Delta, although it may not be as good once we figure out luggage fees.

[CinderAbby]

Have you considered flying into Providence? I much prefer PVD and MHT. The airports are so much smaller and IMO nicer. I don't think we've ever had more than a 5 minute wait at security. It is probably as close to Foxboro as Logan and I think an easier drive.

Providence to Foxboro is a MUCH easier drive and if you haven't already bought tickets into Logan, I highly suggest it. Once you get on 95 from the airport (PVD) - which that in itself is really easy - it's literally a straight shot and the only exit you'll have to look for is the one for your hotel (pretty sure it's exit 7). None of this getting on 93 that turns into 128 where part of it is also 95 and so on and so fourth.

[shnewell]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

Have you considered flying into Providence? I much prefer PVD and MHT. The airports are so much smaller and IMO nicer. I don't think we've ever had more than a 5 minute wait at security. It is probably as close to Foxboro as Logan and I think an easier drive.

We are all heading down in a few weeks for D1's wedding and we got the best deals on Delta, although it may not be as good once we figure out luggage fees.

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

Providence to Foxboro is a MUCH easier drive and if you haven't already bought tickets into Logan, I highly suggest it. Once you get on 95 from the airport (PVD) - which that in itself is really easy - it's literally a straight shot and the only exit you'll have to look for is the one for your hotel (pretty sure it's exit 7). None of this getting on 93 that turns into 128 where part of it is also 95 and so on and so fourth.

Awesome -- thank you so much! I saw that Providence was an available alternate airport, but I didn't know how close it was in comparison with Logan. I will definitely look into that!!

[CinderAbby]

Awesome -- thank you so much! I saw that Providence was an available alternate airport, but I didn't know how close it was in comparison with Logan. I will definitely look into that!!

In terms of closeness, it takes roughly the same amount of time from one or the other to get where you're going. In terms of ease of getting to and from, Providence wins hands down. Like I said, literally a straight shot down the highway. Even for me - and I've lived in MA my whole life and have been to Boston quite a few times - Boston gets confusing with their exits so if I can avoid going there, I do.

[Huntermom]

PVD also avoids Boston commuting traffic, which can be horrendous. When my boys were at school, I did many trips into Logan to pick them up because there were direct flights rather than with a stop. (Both my boys got grounded overnight on stops on their way home from school so trip into Boston was safer.) It didn't matter how many trips I made into Logan, often a couple of days apart, I still got lost leaving. I have not gotten lost in the last couple of years, however, since most of the construction is done and the exits have been the same.

I would also think you will save lots of time going through security. We have waited at Logan and the airport itself sometimes gets backed up. My experience with the smaller airports is they tend to run much more on time.

You can also fly into one and out of the other as a round trip. I have also returned rentals to "nearby" airports without an extra charge.

[Carousel96]

We lived in CT for 6 years and Providence was our preferred airport. Eight years later we still talk about how we miss it.

And if SW just started flying to Logan, the price may be low to try and develop a customer base.