Gavin Reynolds (Rochester, NY) 05/12/04 - Some airlines are known for their cheap tickets. They're credited, in part, with boosting travel at the Rochester airport, and most travelers fly a low-cost airline because of just that, the price.
Travelers like Keith Dardis are convinced it's a bargain.
Dardis said, "It's probably a perception but yeah, I feel like I'm getting the best deal, I don't know if that's actually the case."
It may not be the case.
We checked prices two months in advance flying from Rochester to several destinations.
“Discountâ€airlines like Jet Blue, Air Tran and Southwest were consistently more expensive than the major airlines.
A round trip ticket to Fort Lauderdale Florida leaving later this month on Southwest cost $400 -- and $326 on Jet Blue. But a ticket on US Airways was under $230. And on Northwest: less than$220.
Recently, travel agent Lila Ford is booking fewer trips through discount airlines.
"They have had a great marketing plan,†she said, “and they've made everybody aware that their fares are lower, even when they're not lower."
For anyone going to Las Vegas leaving the last week of May, the Jet Blue fare listed was almost$ 580; Air Tran: just under $320. Compare that to US Airways: round trip was$ 340. Northwest also less expensive at around $320.
Low-cost airlines can still be low-cost.
Jet Blue is still the best price to New York City, and travel experts said the key to getting a great discount deal is buying your tickets well in advance.
The experts advise the savvy traveler to--not just assume one airline has the best price. Call a travel agent, they say, or search flights on all airlines on the web.
Here's another comparison: this time, we checked fares from Rochester to Puerto Rico where Jet Blue advertises $119 each way on its Web site.
But when we checked a round trip flight to San Juan cost almost $500 on Jet Blue. American was $460 and US Airways was the lowest at $360.
Why the disparity between advertised price and actual price?
The cheap seats go fast.
Ford said, "I really find that many times, especially in the high season, their fares are higher because all the inventory seats, the lower inventory seats are gone.
However, discount airlines top the list in "Customer Satisfaction." Passengers love Jet Blue's satellite TV and the guarantee of a jet instead of a cramped commuter plane.
Discount airlines have increased competition and that has brought down the average cost of flights out of Rochester.
Travelers like Keith Dardis are convinced it's a bargain.
Dardis said, "It's probably a perception but yeah, I feel like I'm getting the best deal, I don't know if that's actually the case."
It may not be the case.
We checked prices two months in advance flying from Rochester to several destinations.
“Discountâ€airlines like Jet Blue, Air Tran and Southwest were consistently more expensive than the major airlines.
A round trip ticket to Fort Lauderdale Florida leaving later this month on Southwest cost $400 -- and $326 on Jet Blue. But a ticket on US Airways was under $230. And on Northwest: less than$220.
Recently, travel agent Lila Ford is booking fewer trips through discount airlines.
"They have had a great marketing plan,†she said, “and they've made everybody aware that their fares are lower, even when they're not lower."
For anyone going to Las Vegas leaving the last week of May, the Jet Blue fare listed was almost$ 580; Air Tran: just under $320. Compare that to US Airways: round trip was$ 340. Northwest also less expensive at around $320.
Low-cost airlines can still be low-cost.
Jet Blue is still the best price to New York City, and travel experts said the key to getting a great discount deal is buying your tickets well in advance.
The experts advise the savvy traveler to--not just assume one airline has the best price. Call a travel agent, they say, or search flights on all airlines on the web.
Here's another comparison: this time, we checked fares from Rochester to Puerto Rico where Jet Blue advertises $119 each way on its Web site.
But when we checked a round trip flight to San Juan cost almost $500 on Jet Blue. American was $460 and US Airways was the lowest at $360.
Why the disparity between advertised price and actual price?
The cheap seats go fast.
Ford said, "I really find that many times, especially in the high season, their fares are higher because all the inventory seats, the lower inventory seats are gone.
However, discount airlines top the list in "Customer Satisfaction." Passengers love Jet Blue's satellite TV and the guarantee of a jet instead of a cramped commuter plane.
Discount airlines have increased competition and that has brought down the average cost of flights out of Rochester.
