With Dubai prices falling 48%, what else is going on these days?
Call me old-fashioned, but I would have thought that fares right now were being deeply discounted across the board.Alas, that’s not true.
For example, one year ago, Virgin Atlantic’s New York-London round-trip in Business Class (pre-lockdown) was $3,184. Now it’s only $2,049.
And United’s Chicago-Amman, Jordan, fares are about the same.
A year ago, British Airways Business Class from Dallas to Dubai cost $4,389, whereas today it’s just $2,280.
Makes sense, there are lockdowns happening across the world.
But look at the New York-Abu Dhabi route. It costs $5,746 and Abu Dhabi is only 140 miles from Dubai. Don’t forget you could just get an Uber to head over there.
Needless to say, airlines are not deeply discounting everywhere, but if you know where to look you can find those sweet deals.
Why Lockdown Airfares Aren’t All They’re Cracked Down to Be
We looked at a number of routes and fares and compared them with pre-lockdown fares from 12 months ago. So you can use this special report for ideas on what to book while the going is good, and also to stay informed about what’s really happening in the air travel sphere.The moral of the story is that it’s not a pure buyer’s market. Don’t expect those special premium airfare deals to fall into your lap without some know-how and effort.
World Wrap: Fare Fluctuations in Focus
Here’s a high-level, unscientific overview of some of the airlines and routes FCF is monitoring right now:Asia: ↑ Fares are higher from 6%-101%.
Example: Business Class from United’s Los Angeles to Tokyo used to be $4,590 – now it’s $5,400+.United and All Nippon’s Los Angeles to Beijing used to be $2,408 – now it’s $4,838+.
Europe: ↓ Fares are down 36%-50%.
Example: American’s Business Class from Chicago to Rome is often over $3,600+ – now it’s $1,864, as are many other routes.South America: ↓ Fares are down 62%-83%.
Example: American and United’s Business Class from Houston to Rio de Janeiro used to be $8,505+ – now it’s $1,470, a savings of $7,035.Africa: ↑ Fares are up to Johannesburg 100% and Nairobi 63%.
Example: Business Class from Delta’s New York to Johannesburg used to often be in the low $3,000’s – now it’s $6,799. Delta and KLM’s Los Angeles to Nairobi used to be $3,319 now it’s $5,407.Middle East: 21% higher in some markets, lower in others (42% to 48%). In some markets there hasn’t been any change.
Example: British Airways’ Business Class from Dallas to Dubai used to be $4,389 – now it’s $2,280, while Etihad’s New York to Abu Dhabi used to be $4,763 – today it’s $5,746.
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Remember, many things are not only different these days, but counterintuitive. Stay tuned.