Airline Woes

This is a warning to anyone with expensive charters booked. It’s going to be a brutal spring and summer for airline travel. The difference this summer is it’s not going to be the usual suspects melting down. Everyone will be having issues. JetBlue just took the highly unusual step of announcing a 10% pull down of their summer schedule. They have had a very high cancelation rate. Only Spirit is keeping them out of the bottom position. Their decision to take down the schedule is however the right thing to do and hopefully will lead to fewer issues. Other airlines have not followed suit because they just can’t seem to let go of the revenue. Demand is through the roof. Pricing is ugly for the consumer.
This means regardless of who you are booked with, including United and Delta who have been running the best operations this winter which is basically prettiest pup in a ugly litter, give yourself some extra time. I highly highly recommend going down a day ahead of time and gettin a hotel. This also means the established guidelines for when to book tickets are out the window. I would lock in sooner rather than later. It may well be the ugliest summer travel season ever in the US. I also recommend not starting a booking on a regional airline to connect if there is any reasonable option to drive to a hub. Regionals will be even harder hit.
G

Last year I flew SWA from MCO to ALB for around 6000 points. This year I had to pay 18,000 points for the same flirght about 1 week ago. Then yeterday SWA sent me a notice that my non-stop would now be a 1 stop in Baltimore. Not for me! So I checked the SWA rates and flights and found a non-stop for 12,000 points. Looks like they revised their schedule and rates. and lowered prices. I also bought Mia to STT tickets in July/aug for about $175 one-way. (non-refundable)

Still watching my Dec tickets. Today they actually went down but still crazy high. Right now, if I were to book my usual Delta R/T to STT it would be 150,000 skymiles for one ticket! I am so on edge over these prices. When to pull the trigger.....

Ahoy Captains,

Ask your Charter Company for a Free Sleepaboard ?
See how much they Value You as a Guest and Sympathize with the Challenges we are All facing?

For Flights -
Clear all your Cookies, History, and Temporary Files.
https://download.cnet.com/Glary-Utilities/3000-18512_4-10508531.html
https://download.cnet.com/CCleaner/3000-18512_4-10315544.html
Regardless of the Date You Fly, it is often more economical to Buy The Ticket on-line mid-week. Check after 6 PM EST on Tuesday or all of Wednesday.
Hack separate tickets between SJU and the BVI (EIS)
Kayak.com has a search feature for +/- 3 days.

Fair Winds,
Brent from The Captains Compass

Brent, great suggestions. Another I would add, which I use on almost every flight I book, is to price each leg as a one way and track those prices separately. Often, I book my flight down when that leg is cheap; and then a few days/weeks later the return fare drops in price and I book my way back. In all my travels, I have never paid more (and most of the time save quite a bit) than the original round trip fare. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are definitely the best days to book.

Ahoy Captains,

Start with the Source - https://matrix.itasoftware.com/search - and instead of 'Search Exact Date' choose 'Calendar'
Hopefully a few useful links -
Synopsis of sites with Fare Forecasts & Alerts - https://techpp.com/2014/05/05/airfare-price-predictor/
Study of When to Buy - https://www.godsavethepoints.com/predict-flight-prices-google-flights/

Capt. George is Right.
Airline bookings, prices, and volume are all going Up - https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/13/delta-air-lines-dal-q1-2022-earnings.html
Yacht Charters are sure to follow so Carpe Diem!

Fair Winds,
Brent from The Captains Compass

George--I saw this note and was very concerned about it, but got busy and forgot to comment on it. I guess SkinDeep just confirmed your deepest fears..

Good advice above. I want to book my Jan 2023 Bos-STT flight but the best time and shortest flight is Delta at 6 am but it's through JFK. I'm thinking JFK in January might not be worth the two hours earlier it gets us there. I tend to like southern connections in the winter. Still holding out for a nonstop addition to the schedule but timing is intimidating me with the price fluctuations and the seemingly constant changes and cancellations. SkinDeeps Jet blue experience is so incredibly frustrating AND expensive. Anyway- I appreciate reading the airline recommendations and trade secrets This web site is invaluable.

I take the Delta 8:35Am out of JFK. Usually get in to STT earlier than estimated with time to catch the ferry. Watching prices right now for our Dec trip. Been doing that flight for years and always willing to pay the extra vs more economy airlines or risking connecting flights. Seems air travel is only going to keep getting more unreliable and complicated.

I’m guessing that would be our flight as well. We leave Boston at 6 am and switch in jfk landing 1:14. It’s probably in my head but I find Delta to be more reliable than most. But I’m sure someone out there has had a nasty Delta experience too.

That 8:30AM Delta flight never gets in that late. We are always off the plane WAY before 1PM. Sometimes they do bump that departure up to 8:05 though. Helps me but that is probably not good for you if you are connecting.
I hate connecting flights so much I would probably drive (train?) and stay over in a hotel right near the airport. But I am a terrible flyer.

I read recently, maybe it was here on TTOL, about potential future direct flights from the east coast to EIS. That would be a game changer. Not sure how realistic that is without big improvements to the airport.

Supposed to be some nonstops from south Florida, I presume either Miami or FLL.

The early Delta flight out of JFK has great reliability because both the pilots and flight attendants are NYC based originating the trip as a turn. This eliminates the crew getting caught out somewhere due to weather or other issues. In addition there are a bunch of layover 757’s so if mechanical issues a equipment swap is easy.

I love that you just shared that info!! That makes it much less intimidating to book from Boston-JFK- stt. Tho there still is that weather issue …. Anyway. Nice to have an “in” for the airlines. Thanks !!

I have to give Delta a shoutout. We always travel RDU to Atlanta to STT, then take either a private or public ferry to Road Town or West End. We’ve been visiting the Virgin Islands since 1985. Every other airline has caused problems at one time or another. Major cancellations, delays, lost or delayed luggage, especially when connecting through San Juan. To date, and dozens of trips, Delta is batting 1000 for us, no cancellations, delays, or luggage issues. I understand there are new challenges facing all airlines, but Delta has really delivered for us. American has always been the most frustrating for us, so we avoid AA.

Never really thought about why this is such a reliable route so thank you for explaining. In 25 years of flying this route we have only been delayed once. Aside from the price which is steep and getting steeper, I am thankful that in an hour and a half drive time I can access JFK.

Ahoy Captains ,

If you are concerned about the On Time Performance of a specific flight -
https://flightaware.com/ - and Enter your 'Departure' and 'Arrival'
Choose your Flight from the 'Ident' Column
Scroll down to see the past few Past Flights and choose 'View More Flight History'
Option to 'Join' for free for a 3 month history.

Fair Winds,
Brent from The Captains Compass

Spirit has joined Alaska and Jet Blue in pulling down summer schedules. Hopefully the other airlines will follow. It will
push pricing up but that is better than having a vacation ruined by cancelled flights.

So do you frequent travelers to the BVIs recommend connecting through STT instead of SJU? We are coming from Virginia to Little Dix Bay in late July. Had tickets booked on AA which has now been cancelled. Trying to figure out Delta to EIS or perhaps even VIJ. The resort will boat us from EIS if needed, but if we have to take 3 flights regardless, we might as well pay a little extra and land in VIJ. Has anyone seen any direct connects from any airlines out of south Florida??

Which ferry do you take from STT and how long is that run?

We take the Jet Blue DCA to SJU then Island Birds version to EIS...where do you live in God's country?

EIS should be 2 flights from DC assuming Jet Blue doesn't strand you

Fly out of Norfolk or richmond. We are in williamsburg

Take whatever ferry is going.Book one way so you are flexible on return.To Road Town its just under an hour depending which boat you are on.

Have to add a positive note… we flew the red eye on American from Denver to STT yesterday. Both flights were on time!