Originally Posted by Michael

I do understand why US airlines have been able to raise prices to Europe since European airlines raised prices to offset higher oil prices so they are competing on a price basis.

What I don't understand is why US airlines have not done the same in the US. I can still purchase round trip tickets from San Francisco to New York for under $300 and San Francisco to Los Angeles for about $125. Compared to a price of about $235 for a round trip between London and Paris, the US prices are dirt cheap.

I understand that the US airlines are keeping the prices low to compete but it just seems that they will all go out of business if they don't significantly raise the prices.

Originally Posted by Brit3964

Wait till after October. You'll see a significant price increase as well as reductions on the number of flights domestically. You'll get your wanted price increase

Originally Posted by Michael

I don't want the price increase. Its just that with about a dozen airlines going bankrupt over the last year, I would have thought that at least one of the major airlines would have already tried to significantly increase the ticket prices more than those luggage and oil surcharges.

Originally Posted by Brit3964

The simple reason is, they can't. The US aviation market is so competitive compared to Europe or elsewhere. What's been happening is they have been merging. US Airways with America West, and very soon Delta with Northwest. By doing this they think they can absorb the higher gas costs etc without passing it on to the customer, at least in theory. I doubt it'll stop them from adding indirect fees though if they can get away with it Southwest is the only major US airline that hasn't added indirect fees but that's because they are paying last year's oil price instead of this year's. Eventually I think they probably will follow suit.

Originally Posted by Brit3964

The simple reason is, they can't. The US aviation market is so competitive compared to Europe or elsewhere. What's been happening is they have been merging. US Airways with America West, and very soon Delta with Northwest. By doing this they think they can absorb the higher gas costs etc without passing it on to the customer, at least in theory. I doubt it'll stop them from adding indirect fees though if they can get away with it Southwest is the only major US airline that hasn't added indirect fees but that's because they are paying last year's oil price instead of this year's. Eventually I think they probably will follow suit.

Originally Posted by BritishGuy36

The only things I will accept off the crew are diet cola and water!

Originally Posted by lapin_windstar

most US airports don't sell cold beer in the terminal.

Originally Posted by BritGuyTN

I'm very confused at this statement

Originally Posted by BritGuyTN

I'm very confused at this statement

Originally Posted by Giantaxe

The European market has become pretty competitive with all the low cost carriers. What's not as competitive is the transatlantic market that has suffered from the Bermuda Convention (until last year) and the lack of gates at major airports. Now that an open skies agreement is in force I expect the transatlantic market to become less of a gravy train for the major airlines like BA. Iirc, BA was making about half their total profit from that market!

Originally Posted by Bob

They'll be charging you for the water too

Originally Posted by Deedee13

oh god.. just the thought has my mouth drooling!! branston piccle and pork pies !!!

and its best i dont tell u about the water!!!!! If someone comes around with water with no label on the bottle DONT DRINK IT!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Bob

could be worse, could be the recycled water out of the shit tank

anyway, for snacks, my mother brought over about 25kg's of sweets and various chocs...lovely