1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Future of Air Travel

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by smartone, Jan 2, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2011
    Messages:
    9,892
    Location:
    Northern Nevada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    248
  2. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2009
    Messages:
    16,023
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    175
  3. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2006
    Messages:
    8,343
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    The CEO of Southwest: fewer airlines, bigger, stronger, and healthier. Translation: prices will rise, fuller planes, fewer deals, more fees, tighter seats, time to grab your ankles folks.

    A few years ago, Richard Branson from Virgin Airlines said it best: the best way to become a Millionaire is to start out as a Billionaire and buy an airline.

    I read that between 1947 and 2005, the cumulative net loss for the airline industry was $16.8 billion. Add to this the cost of all the bankruptcies, the raiding of the airline pension funds and subsequent liabilities placed on the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp., a Federal Agency.
     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2014
  4. Turtleman

    Turtleman VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2005
    Messages:
    4,097
    Location:
    Bradenton, FL
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    110
    Thanks for the interesting link. I have a magnetic sticker on the side of my computer that reads, "I flew on the 100th Anniversary of flight! December 17, 2003." I was on my way to Vegas when Delta was passing them out to their boarding passengers ten years ago on Dec. 17.
     
  5. runningonthehub

    runningonthehub VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,069
    Location:
    Chicago
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    59
    "Many of today’s consumers will be priced out of the air" I think we are already headed in that direction.
    Fewer airlines, and less competition will make this a reality.
     
  6. chitownjohn

    chitownjohn High-Roller

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2010
    Messages:
    760
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    1
    I disagree with that, air fare is still a bargain based on what it used to be. In my opinion, the problem with air travel is too many people CAN afford it. When I was young my parents couldn't afford air travel, we always traveled by auto. Nowadays flights are packed with families because it's affordable.

    Per link: "Even with baggage fees, the ‘miracle of flight’ remains a real bargain; average 2011 airfare was 40% below 1980 average"

    http://www.aei-ideas.org/2012/10/even-with-baggage-fees-the-miracle-of-flight-remains-a-real-bargain-average-2011-airfare-was-40-below-1980-level
     
  7. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,303
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    :evillaugh

    That would be awesome (under the 100 years from now section of the article).
     
  8. xmarksx

    xmarksx VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2010
    Messages:
    1,315
    Location:
    Bloomington, Illinois
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    38
    Exactly! I remember in the 1980s a pretty good flight from KC to Las Vegas was $200. I can still find flights on SWA for around that amount, from Chicago.
     
  9. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2010
    Messages:
    6,477
    Location:
    Chicago South Suburbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    Really? I haven't seen $200 airfares in a year from Chicago. I think the Hawaiian guy is right. Unless there is a major change and there starts to be some growth in wages, people will be priced out of air travel. Even if airfare stays the same, folks will be more choosy on how they spend their leisure money. I think part of the reason the casino companies are fighting for positions in the East Coast markets is that they are assuming that airfares will become too unattractive and they are trying to bring their product to customers they could potentially lose.
     
  10. fudd

    fudd Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    Messages:
    42
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    Wow, I check Southwest often and never see flights from Chicago to LAS for $200.00 anymore. I must be just missing it? What month do you see that?
     
  11. gilly from philly

    gilly from philly Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2012
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra, Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    Then you are not looking hard enough. We are going to Vegas in Feb, round trip on Virgin America for $180 a person going through LAX.
     
  12. LolaDoggie

    LolaDoggie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2009
    Messages:
    4,299
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    6
    A job at an airline isn't what it used to be either. The pay sucks pretty bad. More money in the airline's pocket as fares rise.
     
  13. runningonthehub

    runningonthehub VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,069
    Location:
    Chicago
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    59
    Right now, the cheapest fare I can find on SW for MDW-LAS is $380.00/rt for flights in May. I check prices at SW every day and I never see prices drop. I am hoping there will be some type of sale soon. I have never paid that much to fly to Vegas. But, I think I better get used to it. I don't see prices getting much lower. If I see a good sale, I am going to jump on it quick.
     
  14. runningonthehub

    runningonthehub VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,069
    Location:
    Chicago
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    59
    You mean "one way", correct? I checked prices for a flight Feb. 17-21 and the cheapest price that I see is $352.00/rt. I see $180.00 for one way.

    Where are you "looking" and what dates are you using? I might have missed something.

    If we are going to talk air fares, lets talk about round trip. You know I have to get back home.
     
  15. gilly from philly

    gilly from philly Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2012
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra, Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    No, it was round trip. I bought those tickets back in November, so no doubt they have gone up since then. It is for travel on Feb 11-17th.

    This is my 1st time flying Virgin America, we will see how they are. I have heard nothing but good things about them.
     
  16. xmarksx

    xmarksx VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2010
    Messages:
    1,315
    Location:
    Bloomington, Illinois
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    38
    I have found the less expensive rates just as they are releasing dates. For example I will be booking my August trip when they open rates. From their site: On January 27, 2014, we will open our schedule for sale through August 8, 2014. This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.

    I will let you know how much I book for
     
  17. etm117

    etm117 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2011
    Messages:
    254
    Location:
    Baltimore, MD
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    There are deals out there, you just need to find them.

    For reference, in October I flew Baltimore->Vegas and it cost ~$210 roundtrip per person. Since SW has no change fees, I book the airfare the second my plans are finalized. Then as part of my morning coffee I check each morning to see if the prices dropped and if they did, I rebook and get a partial refund. I believe the October flight I spoke of above was rebooked 5 or 6 times to get that cheap.

    Side note of a trick I learned on this forum... Book your roundtrip on southwest as separate tickets each way, thus if the price drops one way but is up the other way, you can rebook separately the leg the price went down and not have to rebook the whole trip meaning you pay more for the other leg.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.