Continental Airlines

[HtownWxBoy]

I'm traveling to LAX and saw continental has a non stop flight for $998(it said economy)! I check southwest the exact same flight around the same time is only 240 round trip with taxes. Granted i would have to drive to IAH to fly and burn my 1000 bucks...Is this the reason they aren't making any money?

That doesn't seem right... when are you flying? I see nonstop flights to LAX in June for $198.

[cottonmather0]

I think more information is needed before anyone can adequately evaluate this. If the disparity between Continental and Southwest is that great, then my first inclination is to say that you're looking at one specific flight (or day's worth of flights) that is almost sold out so they're saving the last few seats in the economy section for people who are desperate and willing to pay a high price. Only a handful of seats on any particular flight are competitive with Southwest and once those are sold out they start raising the price stair-step to increase the total revenue.

[JamesL]

Good luck even trying reconcile Continental's pricing with any sort of reason.

I discovered recently that it costs about half as much to buy a ticket to Providence or Albany via Newark and skip the second section than to buy a ticket to Newark.

Additionally, the cheapest I can usually find to fly from IAH to Hartford, CT is around $150. This summer, I got a ticket from Hartford to Cleveland to Houston to Albuquerque for $72.

[Hartmann]

Good luck even trying reconcile Continental's pricing with any sort of reason.

I discovered recently that it costs about half as much to buy a ticket to Providence or Albany via Newark and skip the second section than to buy a ticket to Newark.

Additionally, the cheapest I can usually find to fly from IAH to Hartford, CT is around $150. This summer, I got a ticket from Hartford to Cleveland to Houston to Albuquerque for $72.

Just be aware that what you are suggesting is throw-away ticketing and is technically against most of the legacy carrier's Contracts of Carriage. Doing it once or twice is alright, but if it happens continually, they can see it.

About the prices to LAX, you are probably not fitting a criteria of the fare rules, which forces a higher priced fare to come out. There may be a Saturday night stay requirement for the cheaper fares or a 7-day stay.

[tanith27]

My WTF moment involves booking a flight to the Bahamas. To get there you have to go thru Miami and then catch one of those little island hoppers. So I look at prices on the website for IAH-Bahamas and it says Flight A to Miami, then Flight B to Bahamas for a total of $800rt. Okay, then I look at booking the EXACT same Flight A to Miami first, then Flight B to the Bahamas second. Bear in mind, this is the exact same planes taken when I book IAH-Bahamas, this time I'm booking IAH-MIA-Bahamas. Final result? Less than $500rt. Weird.

[VicMan]

Did you search for Newark ticketing on other days?

Airline ticket pricing (for all of the airlines) is very complicated.

Good luck even trying reconcile Continental's pricing with any sort of reason.

I discovered recently that it costs about half as much to buy a ticket to Providence or Albany via Newark and skip the second section than to buy a ticket to Newark.

Additionally, the cheapest I can usually find to fly from IAH to Hartford, CT is around $150. This summer, I got a ticket from Hartford to Cleveland to Houston to Albuquerque for $72.

[foxmulder]

Did you search for Newark ticketing on other days?

Airline ticket pricing (for all of the airlines) is very complicated.

here is my new rule...If southwest doesn't fly there i'm not going. I'm going to LAX for 66 bucks per person! 140 with tax round trip. Eat your heart out AA, and continental. I'll enjoy my free 2 checked in bags, not dealing with IAH and my free peanuts and soda PLUS sitting where ever i want!

[JJVilla]

here is my new rule...If southwest doesn't fly there i'm not going. I'm going to LAX for 66 bucks per person! 140 with tax round trip. Eat your heart out AA, and continental. I'll enjoy my free 2 checked in bags, not dealing with IAH and my free peanuts and soda PLUS sitting where ever i want!

My rule is the opposite: if Southwest flies there then I'm not going there. JUST KIDDING! Serioulsy, it's a good airline for most regional travel but most of my flying is to the coast and/or outside the USA so Southwest is out of the contention. Also, I would rather fly directly and pay $2 or $3 more than stop in most cities along the way. Southwest lost their competitive price advantage to many places when their fuel hedge expired not too long ago.

[Hartmann]

here is my new rule...If southwest doesn't fly there i'm not going. I'm going to LAX for 66 bucks per person! 140 with tax round trip. Eat your heart out AA, and continental. I'll enjoy my free 2 checked in bags, not dealing with IAH and my free peanuts and soda PLUS sitting where ever i want!

So you're not leaving the U.S.?

Southwest is a good airline if you don't mind point-to-point routes and very few perks for business passengers. I on the other hand travel out of the country frequently and CO treats me well.

[foxmulder]

So you're not leaving the U.S.?

Southwest is a good airline if you don't mind point-to-point routes and very few perks for business passengers. I on the other hand travel out of the country frequently and CO treats me well.

No, Never had plans to leave the US. I almost flew to Buffalo via SW and took an amtrak/canadian rail to Ontario.(or whatever city that is)

Good thing we live in Houston. SW has a vast majority of non stops out of hobby. When i did AA it was HOU to DFW then to LAX. I don't mind the stop by why wait

[Hartmann]

No, Never had plans to leave the US. I almost flew to Buffalo via SW and took an amtrak/canadian rail to Ontario.(or whatever city that is)

Good thing we live in Houston. SW has a vast majority of non stops out of hobby. When i did AA it was HOU to DFW then to LAX. I don't mind the stop by why wait

Southwest serves a certain market and that's fine. If it works for you, great.

For me, I'd rather take almost all of my flights direct, especially when weather and other issues can cause problems on connections. To clients, my time on site with them is more valuable and important than the cost of the plane ticket.

A great example of where Southwest falls short for me is Lubbock. I cannot fly non-stop there on them. Continental offers multiple non-stop flights at decent times.

Also, I noticed you're in Pasadena, so HOU is much more convenient for you, it is not for me.

[wxman]

Good luck even trying reconcile Continental's pricing with any sort of reason.

I discovered recently that it costs about half as much to buy a ticket to Providence or Albany via Newark and skip the second section than to buy a ticket to Newark.

Additionally, the cheapest I can usually find to fly from IAH to Hartford, CT is around $150. This summer, I got a ticket from Hartford to Cleveland to Houston to Albuquerque for $72.

I'm afraid I don't understand. I looked at Southwest Airlines for a flight to Cincinnati, OH (since they don't fly there, I was looking at Columbus) and I can't find anything remotely close to being a steal. What is it that I do? Book a flight to a cheap city and then book another flight from that city to Cincinnati? I'm trying to leave at the end of this month....the 28th to the 2nd.

[foxmulder]

I'm afraid I don't understand. I looked at Southwest Airlines for a flight to Cincinnati, OH (since they don't fly there, I was looking at Columbus) and I can't find anything remotely close to being a steal. What is it that I do? Book a flight to a cheap city and then book another flight from that city to Cincinnati? I'm trying to leave at the end of this month....the 28th to the 2nd.

Cheapest it shows is 125...You can fly to BWI, BOS, LAX And IAD for cheaper than that...Don't know why. I have "ding" application installed. Got my LAX for 66bucks

[foxmulder]

Southwest serves a certain market and that's fine. If it works for you, great.

For me, I'd rather take almost all of my flights direct, especially when weather and other issues can cause problems on connections. To clients, my time on site with them is more valuable and important than the cost of the plane ticket.

A great example of where Southwest falls short for me is Lubbock. I cannot fly non-stop there on them. Continental offers multiple non-stop flights at decent times.

Also, I noticed you're in Pasadena, so HOU is much more convenient for you, it is not for me.

Oh i agree. Time is always an issue. I saw a much cheaper flight to LAX but had 2 hour layover and 1 stop. Not worth it. The 5 or 6 times i've flown SW i've had NS flights. Normally within 10 bucks of the flight with stops. This flight is NS and so is the return flight. I don't fly for business so i see where you are coming from.

[dudemeister]

I'm afraid I don't understand. I looked at Southwest Airlines for a flight to Cincinnati, OH (since they don't fly there, I was looking at Columbus) and I can't find anything remotely close to being a steal. What is it that I do? Book a flight to a cheap city and then book another flight from that city to Cincinnati? I'm trying to leave at the end of this month....the 28th to the 2nd.

I know this is an old post but for anyone else that is interested, the reason why southwest does not fly into Cincinatti is because until recently they avoided major airline hubs which is why until recently they did not serve Minneapolis or Denver. Delta has a monopoly at that airport which is why it is so expensice to fly there. On the plus side Louisville, Columbus, and Dayton, OH are not that far away at all with the closest alternative airport in Dayton, OH.

[foxmulder]

I was looking at flying into KMFE(McAllen) and noticed a few airlines had BS flights. From KMFE-KAUS-to MEMPHIS, charlotte then back to IAH... WTF?

*scratches head* i don't get it...

[VicMan]

I was looking at flying into KMFE(McAllen) and noticed a few airlines had BS flights. From KMFE-KAUS-to MEMPHIS, charlotte then back to IAH... WTF?

*scratches head* i don't get it...

Some people actually take those flights...

[skwatra]

i've skipped my last legs a few times for various reasons, and each time i let the airline know i wasn't continuing on (at the airport after i was done) and they did say i wasn't supposed to do that, but realize they can't do anything about it and appreciated that i let them know.

the only penalty is you don't get miles for any portion of the trip, for an incomplete penalty.

my goal is to go direct. i'll take SW if it saves me money, and we are lucky that there are a lot of direct flights from houston. i notice that Continental prices change at least 3-4 times a day, so if you have time keep looking, you never know what will happen.

[gto250us]

I just checked Continental from IAH to PIT on 10 Jun return 11 Jun and it is $901. Return on the 13th and it is $218.

[EMME]

Just be aware that what you are suggesting is throw-away ticketing and is technically against most of the legacy carrier's Contracts of Carriage. Doing it once or twice is alright, but if it happens continually, they can see it.

About the prices to LAX, you are probably not fitting a criteria of the fare rules, which forces a higher priced fare to come out. There may be a Saturday night stay requirement for the cheaper fares or a 7-day stay.

OK, so my boss had had completed two legs of a three leg itinerary. I called to cancel the last leg and was told it would involve a fare increase and a $150 change fee. HA! He just was in the restroom too long and missed his connection . Darnit!

Silliest thing I ever heard of.

[lockmat]

What is going on with Continental this past year? They can't buy good press these days.

I'm sure yall have seen the latest: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6483198.html

They goin down hill?

[TJones]

At least they didn't lose the kids, just threw them on the wrong planes. Who let's an 8yr. old fly ALONE ??? I blame the parents.

Here's another warm and fuzzy story about the airline industry.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/16/news/inter...on=money_latest

[Jeebus]

Who let's an 8yr. old fly ALONE ??? I blame the parents.

Don't be a jerk TJ. Mom moves with kid(s) three states over with new husband, court approves it, dad can't leave because there's no job for him where ex-wive moved to or he has new wife and/or children here.

Dad buys "weekend passes" so his kid(s) can fly home to see him every weekend. I personally know two different guys that do this. Don't blame the parents, blame the ex-wife.

[TJones]

Don't be a jerk TJ. Mom moves with kid(s) three states over with new husband, court approves it, dad can't leave because there's no job for him where ex-wive moved to or he has new wife and/or children here.

Dad buys "weekend passes" so his kid(s) can fly home to see him every weekend. I personally know two different guys that do this. Don't blame the parents, blame the ex-wife.

So, DAD flies his @$$ to go pick up kid and fly back. Plan these things in advance and the prices ain't that bad.

[TheNiche]

So, DAD flies his @$$ to go pick up kid and fly back. Plan these things in advance and the prices ain't that bad.

I flew alone all the time when I was a kid. Typically to visit grandparents. Not a big deal, and I was frequently not the only unaccompanied minor on any given flight.

As frequently as kids fly alone, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if misdirecting the kid is fairly commonplace. It's not like the planes or airports are unsafe environments, and the airlines do keep plenty of verifiable contact information on file for the kids in their care. I can't imagine that the end result is typically anything more than a few hours of delays for the kids involved. It's a hassle, but nothing deserving national media attention.

Methinks the parents and their lawyers are merely exploiting media attention to create a bargaining position for themselves based on negative publicity where none previously existed.

[ihop]

I flew alone all the time when I was a kid. Typically to visit grandparents. Not a big deal, and I was frequently not the only unaccompanied minor on any given flight.

I think I even managed to reschedule a missed connection in LUV by myself when I was 12 or 15, going to spend the summer with some relatives. Might've been a bit tougher at a younger age, but really not too difficult.

[Jeebus]

So, DAD flies his @$$ to go pick up kid and fly back. Plan these things in advance and the prices ain't that bad.

He does for as many little league games, holidays, and other family type events. Still, it takes its toll and having the kid fly is the best option considering factors like work schedules, income, etc.

I talked to a friend about this and he said that he walks his boy onto the plane, to his seat, and when the plane lands, mom meets him at the gate exit. They are on a first name basis with most of the flight attendants.

[infinite_jim]

I flew at least 6x a year as a young child between my parents in MSY and PDX. Missed my connection in Salt Lake a few times, no big deal; actually I liked it b/c I got to hang out in the pilot's lounge and met a lot of interesting people in the process. Mountain out of a mole hill.

[CDeb]

I talked to a friend about this and he said that he walks his boy onto the plane, to his seat, and when the plane lands, mom meets him at the gate exit. They are on a first name basis with most of the flight attendants.

Security lets dad in without a ticket? Is there a special policy for parents dropping off children who are flying alone?

[20thStDad]

Security lets dad in without a ticket? Is there a special policy for parents dropping off children who are flying alone?

Most definitely. I would think it's also encouraged, otherwise an airline employee has to escort them or their chance of getting lost or missing the flight goes up exponentially. I've seen the same done with disabled people being wheeled by someone to the gate, on the plane, then they go back.