Hello,

We board our charter for a sleep-aboard Friday night Dec 22 returning Jan 7th. I was a bit shocked about flight costs. Have been watching them close for the past two months. Not much movement. We are flying out of San Francisco with our two children and their spouses. My wife and I will fly Business, and tickets are well priced on AA. However, coach prices seem high, over $1,000 to STT, SJU, EIS. Price is difficult for the kids.

Anyone have experience flying during high season? If we wait will the coach prices come down a few hundred dollars? Should we just bite the bullet and get the tickets now?

Thanks for any advice, particularly based on past experience for that time of year.

~Ed

I am seeing $774 to STT from SFO, so $1,000 to EIS may be the going rate.

We just had friends book in May CLT to STT. 690 was the best they could do. You might look at leaving a few days earlier. I suspect it's 22 Dec that's the issue.
G

You have Christmas and New Years in the mix, it's going cost.Those prices from the Left Coast aren't all that crazy. These are on United, Beater class.
From the East Coast, Newark/SJU/EIS:Total $1,608.16
Newark to STT,same dates:Total $1,327.16
1 adult (18-64) $1,267.00
Taxes and fees $60.16

I have generally found from 12/14-1/14 you will pay dearly, once in awhile a deal comes up, but not usually.

I think it's a combination of 2 things: high season dates and flying to EIS. We fly into STT and take the ferry. Ferry is $40 pp one way. And like George said, try a day before or a day after (if schedules will allow), add the cost of a hotel and see where the final numbers fall.
We typically find a rate we can live with, buy it, and then don't check again :-)

We don't need to fly into EIS - in fact, we typicaly fly into STT. But the flights are $1175 coach right now departing on departing on 12/21. If we went two days earlier the price is a palatable $786.

I'm sure the date (Dec 21) has a lot to do with it. Was hoping someone might have flown a similar departure date last year (12-20 / 12-23) that could provide some insight.

Cheers,

Ed

We always fly SFO to STT..usually around Dec 29th..usually get $700/$800 keep checking..

Try Skiplagged?

https://skiplagged.com/flights/SFO/STT/2017-12-22

Not sure how flexible your schedule is. Just a suggestion. They have an overnight flight through Charlotte for $439.00.

Thanks Malcom....that is what I was hoping for as well. When (what months) have you purchased those tickets?

~Ed

Would you consider an overnight stay in SJU? We can fly to SJU for really great prices. Its become our habit to do a stop over in SJU and then on to VG or STT (in our case) the next day. Breaks up the trip and we arrive refreshed.

We have chartered with Island Birds that past couple of trips and it can be cheaper or just slightly more than flying commercial all the way to EIS.

Often the first flight on the morning on Cape Air or Seaborne is really cheap.

Agree with above about high season rates. Another thing is that Southwest and Jet Blue don't book this far ahead. That eliminates two big carriers into SJU. You may want to look as soon as their calendars open up, and then consider a charter to EIS if the connecting flights are too expensive.

That flight would be great - but the price is incorrect. When you go to book its not available. This is an American Airlines issue. You get a lot of fares in the $800 range when using Google flights. Then, after selecting the flights it takes you to AA.com and you find out that fare does not exist :-(.

Sorry about chasing you down that rabbit hole. Southwest schedule currently shows Friday flights to SJU from Oakland if that's an option. $250-300, 3 flights a day. I would bet when the schedule opens dates, that close to Christmas will be a bit higher.