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.

What's up with these DFW-LAS prices?

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by weluvvegas, Aug 24, 2013.

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

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2003
    Messages:
    3,024
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    Having worked in the travel industry for so long I'm usually pretty good about snagging deals on airfare for our Vegas trips but this time the prices are just not going down! Mom and I are leaving Oct 10 in the evening and coming home in the evening on Oct 13. The cost on AA is still $385+ which is way more than I've ever paid for a ticket to Vegas. We don't want to make a connection so it looks like we have to sacrifice $ for convenience.

    They say, prices are lowest 7 weeks out. My 7 week deadline hit this past Thursday and the prices were NOT lower. On bing.com it says to wait "fares dropping $50+" but I'm wondering how far in advance do you think I will see a difference? October is not usually a big travel month to Vegas and I don't see any huge conventions going on that weekend so I'm not sure what the deal is. I really didn't want to pay more than $250 for my ticket because it's just a short getaway trip.

    Just had to vent. Looks like the economy must be back on track judging by these prices!
     
  2. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,307
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    With airlines, 7 weeks is when it's worth starting to look, that's for sure. But my upcoming trip, a Disneyland/Vegas combo, I booked a little less than 5 weeks out. The cheapest flight I ever took to Vegas was only about 10 days out! :eek: Currently, it looks like $301 w/a stop from STL (where I am located). A great price is < $250 with stops. Our upcoming trip we're paying $290/ea, but these are both non-stop fortunately.

    Check again tuesday or so, flights tend to be inflated on the weekends too.
     
  3. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    10,096
    Location:
    At the tables
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    I'm headed the following weekend and haven't found good fares yet either. So I'm still waiting. There's plenty of time. I don't book a bad fare until under 5 weeks out. That's when you have to take what you can get.
     
  4. weluvvegas

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2003
    Messages:
    3,024
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    That will be my cutoff too. If its $385 or no Vegas...well I'll just have to make the sacrifice. Priorities you know!

    When I win the Lion's Share it'll pay for that anyway....
     
  5. hillwood24

    hillwood24 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2012
    Messages:
    773
    Location:
    Fort Worth, TX
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    13
    The DFW>LAS flights are fairly expensive in mid September as well. I'm planning to go the second week of September, but also don't want to pay $350+. My dad works for AA, so I think I may just buy a one way ticket to LAS at $141 and then fly standby on the way back.
     
  6. weluvvegas

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2003
    Messages:
    3,024
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    Be real careful with that. My dad is an AA retiree...we tried that once. Spent 5a-10p at the DFW airport and finally got out to Vegas. On the return, there was a storm in Dallas and it backed up all the flights. We spent 3 DAYS in the Vegas airport before we finally gave up...bought a one way to LAX on Southwest and flew non rev from LA to Dallas.

    Never, ever again...I wouldn't even chance it. Worst experience ever and it ended up costing me much more, the flight on SW and also 3 extra days to board our dogs. Ugh, makes me shudder just thinking about it. Flying non rev is not anything like it used to be. It's a total nightmare now.
     
  7. lotso-bear

    lotso-bear VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    1,225
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    111
    No one will understand how airfare pricing goes except those who work in the Revenue Management department.. :(

    Have you considered getting an AMEX Membership Rewards card? You can get a round-trip Economy ticket for 15K British Air miles from DFW-LAS.
     
  8. sarah9nascar

    sarah9nascar VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Messages:
    2,375
    Location:
    Mesquite, Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    31
    We are flying out of DFW November 2nd on AA. Paid around $250 round trip but I bought them back in February.
     
    Sema Show
  9. klawrey

    klawrey High-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2012
    Messages:
    735
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    Actually according to UNLV's gaming research center, October is the 4th on the list of highest occupancy months only behind, June, July and April. So that is one reason for high prices because October is a popular time in Vegas with the temperatures finally cooling a bit.

    Also, that weekend you have chose is Columbus Day weekend so more travelers have Monday off for an extended weekend. There is also a Bbig boxing match at UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center, Juan Marquez-Timothy Bradley. The Lakers are in town on the 10th to play a game at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Bon Jovi is performing at the Garden Arena on the 12th and Josh Groban on the 13th.

    So on top of being one of the higher months when it comes to hotel occupancy rates, you've also chosen a weekend with a TON of stuff going on. That being said be thankful for $385 because I am heading out the same weekend and flights out of Columbus, Ohio start around $400 and the flight I prefer is $495.
     
  10. weluvvegas

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2003
    Messages:
    3,024
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    Well I stand corrected. ill still pay the $385 if I have to, I was able to get comped at Mirage which helps. I just wish it were somewhere under $300.

    Just sayin, my husband is going Labor Day weekend (he used miles) but the ticket for my dad who is going with him was only around $280.
     
  11. klawrey

    klawrey High-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2012
    Messages:
    735
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    I'm hoping I can eek out a few more Southwest points before the end of this statement and then I should be able to get at least one way of my flight cover. It sucks because I'm limited to that weekend as we have a few days off from school. Just happens to be the busiest weekend in a busy month then on top of it fuel prices are through the roof!

    Best of luck with your flight search!
     
  12. hillwood24

    hillwood24 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2012
    Messages:
    773
    Location:
    Fort Worth, TX
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    13
    This is true. I will probably end up just paying for the round trip flight, as stand by really sucks. But it'd be nice to save a couple hundred bucks.

    I'm a cheapskate, but in all reality, $350 is an absolute steal when you consider how terrible it would be to drive from DFW to Vegas and back. And in the end, it would probably even cost more to drive.

    I guess I should forget about my first world problems and just book a $350 round trip :)
     
  13. mirs56

    mirs56 Tourist

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2013
    Messages:
    19
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Fly on Spirit. Cheapest roundtrip I've paid was $39. Yes Spirit is a pain in the ass but I like saving money.
     
  14. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,307
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    For those dates, spirit doesn't even save her money.
     
  15. pompous

    pompous Low-Roller

    Joined:
    May 8, 2012
    Messages:
    103
    Location:
    FL
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    5
    We've been looking for a ticket for those exact dates out of DC for a few weeks now (trying to get a friend out to meet us). It was down to $315 and we thought it was going to go down lol whoops...We are in the same boat. G'luck
     
  16. weluvvegas

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2003
    Messages:
    3,024
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    How accurate do you think the advice on Bing travel is? It says fares will drop. I will pay the $385 if that's my only option, because it is the only weekend we can go (work, kids, etc..) so if I can get it even $50 less then that is good. It would piss me off if I bought now at the high price then see in 2 weeks that it dropped. Because they will not adjust the price no matter what. That happened last time my husband and I bought tickets. The fare dropped considerably about 3 weeks out and I called to ask about the lower price they said sorry! no go.
     
  17. klawrey

    klawrey High-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2012
    Messages:
    735
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    I do not believe they are that accurate. They even give themselves leeway by telling you it's always with 80% confidence. Just a few weeks ago flights were around $330 with Bing saying with their 80% confidence that they would be dropping $50, today those same flights are $388. It's a craps shoot, I think they do have some bases for their predictions but in the end they are just that a prediction.

    If you are comfortable paying $385 then I would lock it in and not risk or fret over $50 movement either way as it would be trivial because you're going to Vegas. Or you could do what I'm doing and since Vegas is about gambling, wait it out a few more weeks and continue to gamble on the air fare.
     
  18. pompous

    pompous Low-Roller

    Joined:
    May 8, 2012
    Messages:
    103
    Location:
    FL
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    5
    X2 Already missed out on the lower fare. Might as well ride it out and see where it goes lol If I see the care back to $315 or close, we'll probably get it and I will PM you if/when that happens.
     
  19. weluvvegas

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2003
    Messages:
    3,024
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    Awesome, and ill do the same. I look every day, ready to buy when I see it go down. My lucky mom has a $100 credit from Citibank to apply to her ticket!
     
  20. klawrey

    klawrey High-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2012
    Messages:
    735
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    Might as well gamble, it's Vegas! Good luck with the fares and if you don't get the price you want hopefully you can make up for it in the casinos!
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.