Originally Posted by
Lowlevel
If every US airline raised ticket prices to what they really should be, I guarantee that people will still pay the price and fly......
Really want to see how cheap airline travel is? Look at JFK-LAX! Only $99! Now, look at the drive: 2813 miles, 43 hours driving ($311.75), 117 gals of gas ($321.75), maybe 2 nights in hotels at $80 ($160)...$793.50 Total!
I wish the airlines would stop being such pussies when it comes to raising airfare. Put the price where it should be, people will still fly. If you fly it, they will come.
The airlines aren't competing with cars. Sure, when Southwest started flying in Texas, they were. But, since the jet age, a trip from JFK to LAX doesn't.
They compete against other sources of travel, which are typically other airlines. In Europe, it's a good rail system that competes.
I just bought a ticket, SAN to JFK on JetBlue; $120. I threw in another $40 for a preferred seat. Unbelievably cheap. As long as there is a lot of competition (there is on this route), the price will be cheap in a free economy.
If I want to go to SAN to LAX tomorrow, which I
can drive in less time than flying, the cheapest fare is $300.
Competition with cars really has no bearing.