Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
The Dominican Chamber of Deputies have asked AA, JetBlue, and United executives to explain why Puerto Plata ticket prices are so much higher than other airports. I'd like to see them sweat through this one....
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/...=Econom%C3%ADa
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
I thought it had more to do with airport fees than airline prices?
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rubicon
I thought it had more to do with airport fees than airline prices?
should be interesting....mi betting the landing fees at POP are very high to the airlines.....like the fees are to the traveler...
mi figure the reason Spirit lands in STI versus POP is cause of the landing fees etc........
another reason is competition.......mi betting there isn't much competition flying into POP either......
it's $728 R/T from Tampa, FL to POP......4 years ago it was around $300 R/T from Tampa to POP.......
might as well fly to Asia if you gonna pay that kind of money.....
mi R/T to Jamaica is $258....about the same miles too.....sumthin wrong with this picture.....
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
WickedWillie priced out 2 different tickets. One to SDQ the other through POP.
All the taxes were the same. All the fees were the same.
They just charge more for POP.
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TNT72
WickedWillie priced out 2 different tickets. One to SDQ the other through POP.
All the taxes were the same. All the fees were the same.
They just charge more for POP.
Now that you mention it I do vaguely recall that. In fact, IIRC, he went through the trouble as the result of a similar discussion.
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TNT72
WickedWillie priced out 2 different tickets. One to SDQ the other through POP.
All the taxes were the same. All the fees were the same.
They just charge more for POP.
Yeah we went through that recently, also it would appear that DR govt landing charges/fees are the same throughout the country as well.:confused:
http://aip.idac.gov.do/gen.html
http://aip.idac.gov.do/DATOS/gen/gen_4-1.pdf
http://aip.idac.gov.do/DATOS/gen/gen_4-2.pdf
It has been claimed that DR aviation fees are the most expensive in the Caribbean. If anyone wants a very interesting task to prove that or not here is the global airport fees document. 600 odd pages have fun!!:lol:
http://aviadocs.net/icaodocs/Docs/7100_cons_en.pdf
One thing that my pilot buddy tells me is that Avgas/Jetfuel is more expensive at POP.
I would guess the airline execs will point all this out to the Chamber of Deputies.
IMO it is ridiculous to question the scheduled airlines, those boys are heavy into market and passenger research and target their routes accordingly.
Instead, the question should be asked of the charter operators as they were the ones who delivered 900k passengers in 2000 into POP and only 350k in 2013.
I would guess the charter operators would point out a corresponding upswing into PUJ to reflect the rise and demise of both destinations over the same time period.
Undoubtably the end result will be POP fares will remain higher than STI, PUJ or SDQ for the forseeable future.
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
The plea in the DR article is idiotic. No matter for the prices now, because with the same amount of capacity no more tourists will arrive.
The planes are always full. At least for the last almost 7 years that I follow.
Jet fuel may be an interesting topic. I know that is always the issue with charters to Cuba or Colombia.
The prices on charters from YYZ are higher than regular carriers for the last 3-4 years and even higher in advance. Charters are making money by rebates from hotel chains on AI packaged deals.
As for AERODOM Luperon I read somewhere that the company placed millions in bonds against the law.
For this school holiday season YYZ-POP-YYZ is at least $1,200. That's why I am planning to fly into AZS El Catey.
YYZ is most expensive airport in North America, and POP - in Latin America.
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MrHappy
Why don't the execs just answer, "it's price gouging sir", and then just cut them a check. It will be "no importa" and business as usual will continue.
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MrHappy
I thought the reason behind the high pricing for pop is that jetblue is the only one that is flying there, at least from nyc area. Also I recall there is like 1 flight per day. Sdq and santiago have numerous flights per day from nyc and I believe united and aa both fly there, though not as cheap as jetblue.
So I actually thought it was a lack of competition and of course mongering that inflated the pop airfares. I remember when 400 rt was actually too much and we were all holding out for sub 400 deals. Now a 400 rt to pop is a steal.
I'm out of touch with pop but I do recall there being just 1 flight a day and sometimes on holidays like labor day I remember seeing 2 flights. Are things any different now??
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Just checked JetBlue flights for the end of January
JFK-POP direct Friday to the following Saturday - $572.50
JFK-STI same dates, Friday to the following Saturday - $383.50
WOW, that's a big difference!!
$189 difference!!! Same airline, same days to travel... Just crazy!
Edit: So who is willing to pick me up at STI, bring me to Sosua, then bring me back to STI?
I know I can take the metro or other bus lines or even pay taxi... But that's if you want to go through the hassle for $189... Would you?
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
I am building my miles on American Airlines and it is rare that I find an appreciable difference between POP, STI and SDQ from ATL. Fares run between 600-800 depending on the season.
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Out of Detroit, we use to be able to fly Delta, Continental, United or American. We could get round trip to POP for under $400. Delta dropped it. Continental is now an overnight layover in Newark. I haven't checked United, but I know Tiger just flew with them. I haven't found AA xfor under $800 R/T for the past few years. And the flight is almost always sold out from MIA.
Its lack of competition to POP that keeps the prices so damn high.
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Out of Mexico City, Jan 10-17 2014
AA to POP via Miami, includes 1 night layover, $888.23
AA to STI via Dallas and Miami, no layover (I believe), $888.23
Copa to STI via Panama, no layover, $626.66
Copa does not fly to POP.
No point checking United as you have to go through Newark.
granted, possibly a shorter route for Copa. But I am not sure on that.
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TNT72
I haven't found AA xfor under $800 R/T for the past few years. And the flight is almost always sold out from MIA.
Its lack of competition to POP that keeps the prices so damn high.
...you are right the MIA AA flight is almost always full and you never want to be standby because AA only does 1 flight a day to POP. I always try to get my tickets at least 2 months in advance to get a reasonable fare...
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TNT72
Continental is now an overnight layover in Newark. I haven't checked United, but I know Tiger just flew with them.
Continental was bought out a couple of years ago(?) by United so, the layover in Newark is actually United.
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
I have about 140,000 miles on AA... Some of that are charges on the credit card, but also used to rack up the miles making JFK-POP trips with American.... Unfortunately they no longer fly direct from JFK so it's no longer an option for me... I used to get the AA netsavers for $299 round trip... That was also before the international tax was about 100 extra bucks...
I've said this before but back when the NYers were getting these deals, we were also getting 3 nights for 100 bucks at Sosua Palace... For $400 bucks or so, you could get the direct 3.5 hour flight, 3 nights in the hotel, all for under $500 with tax and taxi rides from the airport... Those were the days...
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
these crazy prices are the reason why I no longer goto Sosua now. JetBlue is crazy. for $700 from JFK, I rather fly to MDE!
Its a pattern I'm noticing with JetBlue and Monger destinations..
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BrooklynBeas
Edit: So who is willing to pick me up at STI, bring me to Sosua, then bring me back to STI?
Who would willingly leave Santiago to go to Sousa?:confused::confused::confused:
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Don Tomas
Who would willingly leave Santiago to go to Sousa?:confused::confused::confused:
I hear ya, only problem is I like the beach and have a few friends that i'd like to see, chat with, etc. that live or frequent the Sewer.. I have spent plenty of time in Santiago, but I think every time I was with a couple wingmen and/or met up with Dominican friends that live there... I just get kind of bored in Santiago... The one time I went there solo, I actually met up with you and I think Ajax... This of course doesn't mean I don't love the women out there.. By far it is tops in my experience and opinion...
Re: Puerto Plata ticket prices? This could be interesting...
I used to post about the cheap fares you guys who live on the east coast or eastern third of the country at least, could get away with compared to what I have to pay from California. But no more! You guys are getting gouged on your 3-4 hour flights as bad as I am on what amounts to a 12-14 hour deal for me, including layover time.
I did some advance checking a couple of weeks ago for next Labor Day week and saw a round trip on AA from SFO to POP for $709. Nearly booked it right then and there, but need to hold off until the new year to plan anymore trips.
What I really wish would happen is for Southwest to gain a foothold in the Caribbean and throw some serious competition to the other guys. They fly into Ft. Lauderdale and it would seem to be a natural extension for them to add in an international destination only a couple of hours away, as their 757's would make that round trip easily without the need to pay exhorbitant surcharges to refuel.
If they ever added multiple routes to the DR airports, they would own the country inside of a year. And if you live in a city that is serviced by Southwest, you would never board another carrier to fly there again.