Economy in the toilet; fuel prices up; people worried...

[AntRobertson]

... so why the fock can I not get flights back home for Xmas!?!

Every airline we've tried is either booked solid or, where there are seats, flying on dates that don't suit - one flight we can get arrives Xmas Eve which would mean flying in, renting a car, and immediately driving 3.5hrs South (after 16hrs of travelling already) to meet with my family and all the while with two probably very grumpy infants.

We're currently wait-listed on a couple of flights but it's increasingly looking like we'll have to go much, much earlier than planned. Even return flights are an issue, regardless of when we do go the absolute earliest that we can get on a flight back out is the 6th Jan. And it's not cheap either, will be in excess of 100k for flights alone (+another 100k odd for passports/visas etc for family making it one of the most expensive holidays I've ever taken and all before we've even got there )

So what gives? Fuel prices went up, people said airlines would struggle to full their planes, economy goes around the s-bend, people said airlines would struggle to full their flights, and yet... all the flights are full.

[baldrick]

many of the seats will have been taken by travel agents in bulk bookings before the last round of price increases.

when you do get on a plane , it will be half empty

[Muadib]

The airlines are taking a piss on fuel prices... They're trying to cover expenses while flying reduced schedules... The only way to pay the bills is to reduce flights, fill the seats and jack up the price... Supply & demand...

The US is now predicting $1.50 gasoline by 1st Qtr 2009... Crazy isn't it... PPB for oil is in the $70+/- range...

[AntRobertson]

many of the seats will have been taken by travel agents in bulk bookings before the last round of price increases.

when you do get on a plane , it will be half empty

Is that right? I'm genuinely largely ignorant of how this all works, didn't know that happens.

That being the case then I hope the fockers are stuck with a bunch of tickets they can't on-sell!

[Jet Gorgon]

^ Agree with Muadib. Airlines are cutting back on frequency to ensure flights are full to keep costs down. True, agents block book seats tho so book through a few different travel agents. Should get better once the season nears.

[EmperorTud]

They're trying to cover expenses while flying reduced schedules... The only way to pay the bills is to reduce flights, fill the seats and jack up the price...

Wot he said.

TG have cancelled their flights to NZ anyway have they not?

will be in excess of 100k for flights alone

That's cheap for a family of four.

Business will cost you 100k for a single round trip.

[Thetyim]

Twice I have read the thread title and thought it was going to be about ways of saving toilet paper

[AntRobertson]

TG have cancelled their flights to NZ anyway have they not?

No, but they only fly into Christchurch which - since we need to be in Auckland - is about as useful as stopping in Sydney. Only more expensive from there.

That's cheap for a family of four.

Business will cost you 100k for a single round trip.

'Cheap' is a relative term, we aren't flying business class so that's irrelevant and it's certainly not cheap in comparison to previous trips. Anyway the point was the total before we'd even gone anywhere.

Twice I have read the thread title and thought it was going to be about ways of saving toilet paper

Give me a minute, I'm getting to that!

[baldrick]

Twice I have read the thread title and thought it was going to be about ways of saving toilet paper

my portable , Co2 powered bum gun is going to take the world by storm.

[barbaro]

... so why the fock can I not get flights back home for Xmas!?!

Every airline we've tried is either booked solid or, where there are seats, flying on dates that don't suit - one flight we can get arrives Xmas Eve which would mean flying in, renting a car, and immediately driving 3.5hrs South (after 16hrs of travelling already) to meet with my family and all the while with two probably very grumpy infants.very airline we've tried is either booked solid or, where there are seats, flying on dates that don't suit - one flight we can get arrives Xmas Eve which would mean flying in, renting a car, and immediately driving 3.5hrs South (after 16hrs of travelling already) to meet with my family and all the while with two probably very grumpy infants.

We're currently wait-listed on a couple of flights but it's increasingly looking like we'll have to go much, much earlier than planned. Even return flights are an issue, regardless of when we do go the absolute earliest that we can get on a flight back out is the 6th Jan. And it's not cheap either, will be in excess of 100k for flights alone (+another 100k odd for passports/visas etc for family making it one of the most expensive holidays I've ever taken and all before we've even got there )

So what gives? Fuel prices went up, people said airlines would struggle to full their planes, economy goes around the s-bend, people said airlines would struggle to full their flights, and yet... all the flights are full.

You could postpone the trip until another time. Up to you, of course.

Yes, traveling via plane and all of the related expenses is not cheap, undertaking.

[Spin]

Booking this close to christmas is considered last minute. Everybody want perfect flight times at christmas. Lots of disaapointed people. With the drop in oil price, flight tickets should drop quickly, but i doubt they will come down as fast as they went up

[chitown]

Prices are through the roof. I paid $2200 per ticket for economy plus seats to to Chicago and I used to pay about $700 for an economy ticket and $1800 for business.

I hope Mrs. Chi does mind me sprawling out all over all the way home.

Maybe I can get her to stand for most of the flight so it will be like a business seat!

[barbaro]

Prices are through the roof. I paid $2200 per ticket for economy plus seats to to Chicago and I used to pay about $700 for an economy ticket and $1800 for business.

I hope Mrs. Chi does mind me sprawling out all over all the way home.

Maybe I can get her to stand for most of the flight so it will be like a business seat!

Yeah, I remember even coming to and from LOS on a round-trip that cost in the $700s.

This Summer (2007), I paid $1,440+.

[slimboyfat]

I paid S$8200 for 5 of us to the UK from Singapore on SQ when I booked the flight about 6 weeks ago (flying in December). Now the same flight tickets would be a total of S$9200 if I bought them today

[AntRobertson]

You could postpone the trip until another time. Up to you, of course.

Not really an option unfortunately, whole point is to take the boys home for a family Xmas. Meet their Great-grandmother, stuff like that.

[baldrick]

whole point is to take the boys home for a family Xmas.

but they won't remember a thing ?

sentimental stuff forced on to you by the matriarchs in the family ?
tell them to pay for business class if they feel the need to have you there on that date.

[AntRobertson]

but they won't remember a thing ?

Yeah I know, bit of a bugger that.

But I fear that this will probably be our one and only chance. Much as I hate to say it me Nana's not getting any younger so It's quite important to me for her to meet the boys (plus I miss her a lot too! )