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Since many seem to be in a “show me the price increases” mood and I have the luxury of one of the worlds largest database of current and historical airfare — I thought it might be fun to see how many comments it was possible to get on one blog post — so here is a challenge: I will post the 2008 price comparison information for the cheapest domestic U.S./Canada roundtrip business airfare (inside 14 days advance purchase) and leisure airfare for any city pair requested in a comment (1 per person per comment). I am heading to Seattle in a few months so I’ll make the first comment post (prices are the cheapest for the category that day including all fuel surcharges and 7.5% sales tax) : |
A couple things to note:
- Sales do occur (contrary to popular belief) so this is just a snapshot in time
- Connecting air travel can use a combination of airfares from other city pairs which may be cheaper
- These are the absolute cheapest prices — airlines yield up to higher prices depending on the date/time of travel and projected demand
|
Origin |
Destination |
Airline Code |
Cheapest Roundtrip Business Price 1-Jan-2008 |
Cheapest Roundtrip Business Price 5-June-2008 |
Increase % |
Cheapest Roundtrip Leisure Price 1-Jan-2008 |
Cheapest Roundtrip Leisure Price 5-June-2008 |
Increase % |
|
DFW |
SEA |
AA |
$ 368 |
$ 678 |
84% |
$ 228 |
$ 260 |
14% |
|
DFW |
SEA |
AS |
$ 368 |
$ 658 |
79% |
$ 228 |
$ 260 |
14% |
|
DFW |
SEA |
CO |
$ 388 |
$ 638 |
64% |
$ 228 |
$ 340 |
49% |
|
DFW |
SEA |
DL |
$ 368 |
$ 598 |
63% |
$ 228 |
$ 388 |
70% |
|
DFW |
SEA |
F9 |
$ 308 |
$ 376 |
22% |
$ 208 |
$ 248 |
19% |
|
DFW |
SEA |
NW |
$ 368 |
$ 638 |
73% |
$ 228 |
$ 260 |
14% |
|
DFW |
SEA |
UA |
$ 368 |
$ 618 |
68% |
$ 208 |
$ 260 |
25% |
|
DFW |
SEA |
US |
$ 308 |
$ 438 |
42% |
$ 208 |
$ 396 |
90% |
|
DFW |
SEA |
YX |
$ 378 |
$ 510 |
35% |
$ 378 |
$ 510 |
35% |
|
PDX |
CLE |
AA |
$ 380 |
$ 400 |
5% |
$ 218 |
$ 400 |
83% |
|
PDX |
CLE |
AS |
$ 440 |
$ 468 |
6% |
$ 440 |
$ 468 |
6% |
|
PDX |
CLE |
CO |
$ 400 |
$ 508 |
27% |
$ 218 |
$ 408 |
87% |
|
PDX |
CLE |
DL |
$ 380 |
$ 528 |
39% |
$ 218 |
$ 408 |
87% |
|
PDX |
CLE |
NW |
$ 380 |
$ 568 |
49% |
$ 380 |
$ 568 |
49% |
|
PDX |
CLE |
UA |
$ 380 |
$ 392 |
3% |
$ 218 |
$ 338 |
55% |
|
PDX |
CLE |
US |
$ 380 |
$ 534 |
41% |
$ 218 |
$ 498 |
128% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
AA |
$ 338 |
$ 338 |
0% |
$ 338 |
$ 338 |
0% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
AS |
$ 588 |
$ 620 |
5% |
$ 488 |
$ 520 |
7% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
B6 |
$ 318 |
$ 278 |
-13% |
$ 278 |
$ 268 |
-4% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
CO |
$ 738 |
$ 1,038 |
41% |
$ 238 |
$ 368 |
55% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
DL |
$ 738 |
$ 908 |
23% |
$ 418 |
$ 189 |
-55% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
F9 |
$ 278 |
$ 264 |
-5% |
$ 198 |
$ 264 |
33% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
FL |
$ 288 |
$ 348 |
21% |
$ 198 |
$ 268 |
35% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
NW |
$ 718 |
$ 246 |
-66% |
$ 398 |
$ 246 |
-38% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
UA |
$ 718 |
$ 908 |
26% |
$ 398 |
$ 498 |
25% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
US |
$ 318 |
$ 348 |
9% |
$ 198 |
$ 348 |
76% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
VX |
$ 278 |
$ 338 |
22% |
$ 278 |
$ 338 |
22% |
|
SFO |
WAS |
YX |
$ 338 |
$ 520 |
54% |
$ 338 |
$ 520 |
54% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
AA |
$ 378 |
$ 358 |
-5% |
$ 338 |
$ 358 |
6% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
AS |
$ 398 |
$ 578 |
45% |
$ 358 |
$ 528 |
47% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
CO |
$ 398 |
$ 379 |
-5% |
$ 398 |
$ 379 |
-5% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
DL |
$ 378 |
$ 299 |
-21% |
$ 338 |
$ 299 |
-12% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
F9 |
$ 308 |
$ 338 |
10% |
$ 248 |
$ 338 |
36% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
FL |
$ 308 |
$ 418 |
36% |
$ 248 |
$ 388 |
56% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
NK |
$ 418 |
$ 308 |
-26% |
$ 318 |
$ 308 |
-3% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
NW |
$ 378 |
$ 358 |
-5% |
$ 338 |
$ 358 |
6% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
SY |
$ 558 |
$ 468 |
-16% |
$ 318 |
$ 428 |
35% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
UA |
$ 378 |
$ 468 |
24% |
$ 338 |
$ 468 |
38% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
US |
$ 338 |
$ 398 |
18% |
$ 298 |
$ 358 |
20% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
VX |
$ 298 |
$ 468 |
57% |
$ 298 |
$ 468 |
57% |
|
NYC |
LAX |
YX |
$ 388 |
$ 426 |
10% |
$ 248 |
$ 386 |
56% |
|
RDU |
SJC |
AA |
$ 258 |
$ 198 |
-23% |
$ 176 |
$ 198 |
12% |
|
RDU |
SJC |
B6 |
$ 378 |
$ 448 |
19% |
$ 298 |
$ 348 |
17% |
|
RDU |
SJC |
CO |
$ 328 |
$ 278 |
-15% |
$ 176 |
$ 278 |
58% |
|
RDU |
SJC |
DL |
$ 258 |
$ 198 |
-23% |
$ 178 |
$ 198 |
11% |
|
RDU |
SJC |
NW |
$ 258 |
$ 198 |
-23% |
$ 176 |
$ 198 |
12% |
|
RDU |
SJC |
UA |
$ 472 |
$ 198 |
-58% |
$ 198 |
$ 198 |
0% |
|
RDU |
SJC |
US |
$ 258 |
$ 470 |
82% |
$ 178 |
$ 434 |
144% |
|
RDU |
SFO |
AA |
$ 368 |
$ 629 |
71% |
$ 198 |
$ 318 |
61% |
|
RDU |
SFO |
B6 |
$ 378 |
$ 438 |
16% |
$ 298 |
$ 348 |
17% |
|
RDU |
SFO |
CO |
$ 480 |
$ 580 |
21% |
$ 198 |
$ 374 |
89% |
|
RDU |
SFO |
DL |
$ 368 |
$ 402 |
9% |
$ 198 |
$ 248 |
25% |
|
RDU |
SFO |
FL |
$ 348 |
$ 398 |
14% |
$ 198 |
$ 244 |
23% |
|
RDU |
SFO |
NW |
$ 368 |
$ 398 |
8% |
$ 198 |
$ 284 |
43% |
|
RDU |
SFO |
UA |
$ 480 |
$ 828 |
73% |
$ 198 |
$ 178 |
-10% |
|
RDU |
SFO |
US |
$ 430 |
$ 470 |
9% |
$ 198 |
$ 338 |
71% |
|
RDU |
SFO |
YX |
$ 380 |
$ 492 |
29% |
$ 356 |
$ 488 |
37% |
|
PIT |
HNL |
AA |
$ 1,029 |
$ 1,022 |
-1% |
$ 623 |
$ 814 |
31% |
|
PIT |
HNL |
CO |
$ 807 |
$ 1,022 |
27% |
$ 592 |
$ 814 |
38% |
|
PIT |
HNL |
DL |
$ 604 |
$ 1,022 |
69% |
$ 511 |
$ 814 |
59% |
|
PIT |
HNL |
NW |
$ 863 |
$ 807 |
-7% |
$ 548 |
$ 599 |
9% |
|
PIT |
HNL |
UA |
$ 988 |
$ 1,022 |
3% |
$ 884 |
$ 814 |
-8% |
|
PIT |
HNL |
US |
$ 985 |
$ 1,159 |
18% |
$ 548 |
$ 848 |
55% |
|
NYC |
YUL |
AA |
$ 205 |
$ 840 |
309% |
$ 205 |
$ 364 |
77% |
|
NYC |
YUL |
AC |
$ 205 |
$ 840 |
309% |
$ 205 |
$ 364 |
77% |
|
NYC |
YUL |
DL |
$ 205 |
$ 840 |
309% |
$ 205 |
$ 364 |
77% |
|
NYC |
YUL |
UA |
$ 356 |
$ 840 |
136% |
$ 356 |
$ 364 |
2% |
|
NYC |
YUL |
US |
$ 505 |
$ 704 |
40% |
$ 346 |
$ 364 |
5% |
|
BOS |
TLH |
AA |
$ 364 |
$ 635 |
74% |
$ 288 |
$ 555 |
93% |
|
BOS |
TLH |
CO |
$ 364 |
$ 484 |
33% |
$ 288 |
$ 468 |
63% |
|
BOS |
TLH |
DL |
$ 364 |
$ 414 |
14% |
$ 288 |
$ 338 |
17% |
|
BOS |
TLH |
NW |
$ 364 |
$ 414 |
14% |
$ 288 |
$ 338 |
17% |
|
BOS |
TLH |
UA |
$ 364 |
$ 434 |
19% |
$ 288 |
$ 338 |
17% |
|
BOS |
TLH |
US |
$ 354 |
$ 434 |
23% |
$ 278 |
$ 338 |
22% |
|
MHT |
TLH |
CO |
$ 388 |
$ 628 |
62% |
$ 292 |
$ 392 |
34% |
|
MHT |
TLH |
DL |
$ 158 |
$ 198 |
25% |
$ 158 |
$ 198 |
25% |
|
MHT |
TLH |
NW |
$ 178 |
$ 218 |
22% |
$ 178 |
$ 218 |
22% |
|
MHT |
TLH |
UA |
$ 368 |
$ 628 |
71% |
$ 292 |
$ 560 |
92% |
|
MHT |
TLH |
US |
$ 368 |
$ 628 |
71% |
$ 292 |
$ 560 |
92% |
|
PIT |
MSP |
FL |
$ 148 |
$ 228 |
54% |
$ 148 |
$ 228 |
54% |
|
PIT |
MSP |
NW |
$ 410 |
$ 934 |
128% |
$ 398 |
$ 758 |
90% |
|
PIT |
MSP |
US |
$ 148 |
$ 399 |
170% |
$ 148 |
$ 399 |
170% |
|
PIT |
MSP |
YX |
$ 148 |
$ 898 |
507% |
$ 148 |
$ 208 |
41% |
|
CLT |
PWM |
B6 |
$ 188 |
$ 158 |
-16% |
$ 208 |
$ 158 |
-24% |
|
CLT |
PWM |
CO |
$ 136 |
$ 268 |
97% |
$ 136 |
$ 248 |
82% |
|
CLT |
PWM |
FL |
$ 148 |
$ 158 |
7% |
$ 148 |
$ 158 |
7% |
|
CLT |
PWM |
NW |
$ 108 |
$ 158 |
46% |
$ 108 |
$ 118 |
9% |
|
CLT |
PWM |
US |
$ 158 |
$ 1,013 |
541% |
$ 319 |
$ 720 |
126% |
|
PDX |
WAS |
AA |
$ 258 |
$ 1,013 |
293% |
$ 258 |
$ 480 |
86% |
|
PDX |
WAS |
B6 |
$ 380 |
$ 278 |
-27% |
$ 298 |
$ 258 |
-13% |
|
PDX |
WAS |
CO |
$ 288 |
$ 522 |
81% |
$ 684 |
$ 457 |
-33% |
|
PDX |
WAS |
F9 |
$ 380 |
$ 462 |
22% |
$ 198 |
$ 380 |
92% |
|
PDX |
WAS |
NW |
$ 664 |
$ 1,013 |
53% |
$ 604 |
$ 480 |
-21% |
|
PDX |
WAS |
US |
$ 664 |
$ 591 |
-11% |
$ 624 |
$ 482 |
-23% |
|
PDX |
WAS |
UA |
$ 544 |
$ 1,013 |
86% |
$ 370 |
$ 480 |
30% |



Dallas to Seattle
Comment by Rick Seaney — June 6, 2008 @ 1:03 am
Portland, OR to Cleveland
Comment by Ezra — June 6, 2008 @ 2:16 am
San Francisco to Washington D.C.
Thanks!!
Comment by Biyun — June 6, 2008 @ 2:25 am
New York to Los Angeles
Comment by Joe — June 6, 2008 @ 6:40 am
Raleigh Durham to San Jose or San Francisco
Comment by Andy — June 6, 2008 @ 8:13 am
PIT to HNL
Comment by Lynda — June 6, 2008 @ 8:51 am
NYC to YUL
Comment by George — June 6, 2008 @ 9:33 am
Boston Area Airports, Boston,MA (BOS) OR Manchester,NH (MHT) to Tallahassee,FL (TLH)
Comment by Shan — June 6, 2008 @ 10:04 am
PIT to MSP (both somewhat captive hubs)
Thanks
Comment by Brad — June 6, 2008 @ 10:45 am
CLT to PWM
Comment by Rhonda — June 6, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
Hmmm…what good does this exercise do unless you also know the number of seats available at the cheapest price?
Quiz time:
(1-jan) 1 seat at $99, 9 seats for $149, others higher
(5-jun) 10 seats at $114, etc. others higher
Your fare-based analysis would say that the fare increased by 15% between January and June…but did it? My family of 4 would pay $90 less on 5-jun than on 1-jan.
Comment by Mike B — June 6, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
WAS to PDX.
Comment by Dick — June 6, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
Mike B - Would you go out and buy a used Geo Metro without knowing the Blue Book Value? I wouldn’t, like buying a car (new or used) being informed about the cheapest published price (invoice price) is one of many valuable tools needed to make better airfare buying decisions. Cheapest historical price trends are equally important in making a good buying decision as each city pair can be dramatically different because of competiition, demand and dozens of otehr variables. To your point about seats — at any given minute on any given flight airlines can change seat counts at over 10 different price points — less that 10% of all travelers will fly at the cheapest price (only stated in this blog over 100 times) — in your particular example it could have easily been $900 depending on the flight, date etc — this is how the airline ticket game works
Comment by Rick Seaney — June 7, 2008 @ 12:29 am
ATL to PDX
Comment by Phil — June 7, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
CLT to MCO
Comment by Heather — June 8, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
SFO-GSO
Comment by Romel — June 13, 2008 @ 1:36 am
MCO-BOS
Comment by Amy — June 19, 2008 @ 10:52 am