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  • June 6, 2008

    City Pair 2008 Airfare Comparison Challenge

    Filed under: Airfares, Airlines — Rick Seaney @ 12:47 am

    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%

    17 Comments »

    1. Dallas to Seattle

      Comment by Rick Seaney — June 6, 2008 @ 1:03 am

    2. Portland, OR to Cleveland

      Comment by Ezra — June 6, 2008 @ 2:16 am

    3. San Francisco to Washington D.C.
      Thanks!!

      Comment by Biyun — June 6, 2008 @ 2:25 am

    4. New York to Los Angeles

      Comment by Joe — June 6, 2008 @ 6:40 am

    5. Raleigh Durham to San Jose or San Francisco

      Comment by Andy — June 6, 2008 @ 8:13 am

    6. PIT to HNL

      Comment by Lynda — June 6, 2008 @ 8:51 am

    7. NYC to YUL

      Comment by George — June 6, 2008 @ 9:33 am

    8. Boston Area Airports, Boston,MA (BOS) OR Manchester,NH (MHT) to Tallahassee,FL (TLH)

      Comment by Shan — June 6, 2008 @ 10:04 am

    9. PIT to MSP (both somewhat captive hubs)
      Thanks

      Comment by Brad — June 6, 2008 @ 10:45 am

    10. CLT to PWM

      Comment by Rhonda — June 6, 2008 @ 12:54 pm

    11. 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

    12. WAS to PDX.

      Comment by Dick — June 6, 2008 @ 4:40 pm

    13. 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

    14. ATL to PDX

      Comment by Phil — June 7, 2008 @ 3:05 pm

    15. CLT to MCO

      Comment by Heather — June 8, 2008 @ 4:00 pm

    16. SFO-GSO

      Comment by Romel — June 13, 2008 @ 1:36 am

    17. MCO-BOS

      Comment by Amy — June 19, 2008 @ 10:52 am

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