Airline prices can be totally nuts! It may be a matter of competitive analysis. There are undoubtedly several airlines offering connecting flights from FLL to SNA/So. Cal. Except for customers tied to loyalty programs, AA/UA/DL etc must compete in that route on price.

For the DFW market, AA offers nonstop service. My guess is that there is little or no competition on their nonstop flights so they are going to charge more, especially so far out in the future.

It defies logic though to think that you can go twice as far for a fraction of the money! It ties back to supply and demand and yield management. Just a theory!

Dena

Hi Dena,

Your excellent competitive analysis makes a lot of sense! Thanks!

Keeping fingers crossed for you and Don, Priscilla, that eventually that super fare will be available for Nov. 19!

Have you checked Southwest Airlines out of FLL? Not my favorite, but, they do fly out of FLL now and they are starting to assign seats on some flights on a test basis.

Southwest isn't the deal it once was. Last time I tried to use them they wanted $300 for Houston to St. Louis. Continental was $150.

My boss flies Southwest Airlines pretty extensively and has never had a seat assignment on a test basis. I try to check him in 24 hours prior to his flights so he may obtain "A" or first group boarding.

So right, Betty. Southwest is facing stiffer competion from many other carriers. They used to offer some outstanding deals. No so much now.

Southwest is $99.00 for an internet fare to Dallas Love Field but in April. Week we're travelling home from Cross is a Holiday week, so there may not be too many bargains.

Priscilla found O/W fares from FLL to DFW on American for $20 less than Southwest. Unfortunately, not for the date needed.

For those who have yet to book their return segment from FLL to home, I think it's important to keep a very close eye on fare fluctuations and grab a deal quickly if you can find one. Monday, November 19, is the beginning of Thanksgiving week.

If it wasn't for luggage, I would just book the FLL to SNA flight and get off the plane when it lands at DFW and go home.

Still, we will probably end up using miles for our flight and that will take care of it both ways.

Editing to add:

Just went to the AA website to do some checking.

No award tickets in coach on the 19th until the 5:30 flight.
One way non stop flights on AA to DFW are $454.
One way non stop flights on AA to LAX are $129.
One way one stop (in DFW) on AA to SNA are $175.

Airtran didn't have fares posted yet for November, but on October 29th (also a Monday) the one way fare is $120 for FLL-ATL-DFW.

Hang in there, Don! Soon those fares will be loaded on Airtran!

The other option is that you could get off in Orange County with you luggage and stay in the OC for a while! ;)

Just checked Airtran again, and they only have fares up to November 3rd still. It has been that way for awhile.

Denise, on AA it is cheaper for us to fly to Oklahoma City ($170) connecting through DFW, and then just take a plane back from OKC to DFW ($59), than booking just a flight direct from FLL to DFW ($454). Is this how you spell stupAAd? LOL

I checked JetBlue again the other day and they are still only doing reservations thru Sep 4. The agent told me that they would add flights beyond that date in a month or two. So, guess I'll just have to wait it out.

Very stupid!!

Yesterday I checked AA's fare from FLL to SNA, which we snagged for $141 PP. The fare jumped to $497 PP!!! I checked back later in the evening and the fare then dropped to $149 PP.

I loved playing with yo-yo's when I was a kid. Playing with yo-yo fares as an adult is just no fun!

Practicing patience is hard when you want to book your air and be done with it, Don and JoAnn. Those fares are bound to be posted on JetBlue and AirTran very soon!

Good to see the conversation pick up again. CROSS thread has been too quiet!

The airline reservations and fares make no sense. I am trying to book air on Southwest to come home from Seattle in May and they are only booking travel through May 10th too - yet we're all set for Cross and for FREE.

Agree Denise & Kathy - I'm frustrated by the fact that we can't get that last leg done and over with. Everything else is in place, and its annoying, but I'm sure it will all be taken care of.

Agree too, that the CROSS board has been too quiet lately, so its nice to see some chatter going on.

Well. as we all know, there is nothing better than talking about what you are going to be doing 10 months from now - be it sightseeing, flying, eating or playing :lct:

10 months from TODAY we will be flying or, for those already in Nice, touring that area, and 10 months from from TOMORROW we all will be boarding the Voyager. Hold that thought!

YAY!!! Can't wait! Thanks for the countdown Priscilla.

Whoo Hooo - We will be touring in Nice/Eze with friends 9 months from today!

How right you are, Priscilla! Thanks for the countdown!

Now for you folks who have not booked your flights into Nice (and you know who you are ;) ) time's a wastin'!

Priscilla,
If you and John get into Nice a day or so earlier, pizza and beer is on Alan and me! :D :D

OK, just wanted to give everybody an update on what is going on. On Friday, we finally decided that it just wasn't going to be practical for us to do the full CROSS, so we have decided that we will just stick with doing the TA part.

So now that the final decision has been made, we finally got all our flights booked on AA using airmiles. We are flying non-stop from DFW to Paris where we will spend a couple of days before flying to Funchal to catch the ship. We also managed to get a non-stop flight on the 19th back from FLL using our miles, but had to settle for the 5:37pm flight. Of course there is plenty of time to keep checking to see if a better flight time opens up.

Now, I can get the hotels booked as well. Anybody have a recommendation for a hotel in Funchal?

I just realized that the first part of CROSS falls in our anniversary ( 20th!!!).This is a very long shot.... I would have to convince my mother to come stay with our daughter ( my son will be gone to college ). The other option is to send my daughter to PR ( where my parents are) as that week is a short school week ( only 3 half days ) so she wouldn't be missing much, would she???

I don't know why I never thought of this before!

I'll look into it and see if we can swing this. It would be sooo exciting!!

Don - disappointed to hear this, but understand, you gotta do what you gotta do and of course we will be excited to have you join us in Funchal.

Maria - that would be so fun to have you come and celebrate your anniversary. Hope it works out.

Don,

Alan and I are sorely disappointed at the news that you are in need of cancelling the first segment of CROSS. However, your decision to do so is fully understood.

The wonderful upside is that you and Diana will be sailing with us on the TA segment! Lots of sea days to play catch-up since Alan and I saw you last. Great to hear you have flights on hold!

Maria,

I've got two words for you - DO IT!!!!!!!!

What a beautiful anniversary celebration the CROSSing would be. And, Alan and I would love to wish you both a happy anniversary in person!

Don,

Glad you and Diana are at least on the second half. The upside is time in Paris too and you don't have to tell your boss that you will be gone more than your allotted time so he can't say make it permanent!

Maria,

This cruise will be a lot of fun with great ports and what better way to spend your anniversary but in Europe in the Med?

Don, I too am very disappointed that you have had to cancel the first week of CROSS but certainly understand. We all have to do what is best for us. However, I'm thrilled to hear that you still will be on the trans-Atlantic portion! We'll have loads of fun that week, finally getting to meet our "neighbors" 20 miles or so up the road from us in Dallas.

Maria, I echo Denise. DO IT, book the first week of CROSS (or all of it if possible). What a wonderful 20th anniversary gift to yourselves! I hope this can work out for you -- and us! It would be so nice to meet you. By the way, I can vouch for anniversary celebrations on Regent. Our first personally booked Regent cruise (not a charter) was to Bermuda for our 25th anniversary.

Thank you everybody for the warm welcome! For this to happen is going to take a lot of ingenuity, so I'll work on it and let you know once I know one way or the other.

I agree, it would be a fantastic way to celebrate an anniversary and to get to meet so many of you!

Maria,

Rumor has it you are one ingenious woman! If anyone can pull this together, it's you!

Maria - I hope it works for you!!!! Sending good Cross thoughts your way :ch: :ch: :ch:

Joanna,

I am sure in great part due to your good wishes and positive thoughts and those of Denise, JoAnn, Priscilla and Kathy my DH gave the go ahead!!!!
I just sent an e-mail to Ngaire , hope she gets it in between Zodiac rides and can forward it to somebody in her office. Let's see what cabins are avilable .

I am soooo excited, like if it was my first cruise!

:app:

Oh, and one more:
:happyb: to myself ( I love to give myself this kind of presents!!)

YEAAAAAAA, Maria! How exciting! I'm looking forward to meeting you on Nov. 3. We're going to have a wonderful time. Ngaire will get you all set up, no doubt. She's so efficient it doesn't matter where in the world she is (literally).

And when should we be sending you birthday wishes? Today? If so, happy happy.

YOU MADE MY DAY MARIA!!!!!!!! I am very very happy for you :banana: :banana:

Thanks Priscilla!

Let's hope we can get situated on the ship!

I'm also looking forward to meeting you. It'll be a great trip.

And yes, it's today. I usually don't celebrate, but today is different!

:hug:

Happy Birthday, Maria! This is a different day indeed. I can't think of a better birthday gift than to book a cruise -- and especially this one! Tomorrow by this time I'm sure you'll be all situated, with your suite selected and booked.

I can't wait for Denise to "check in" and realize she has another exciting addition to Cross - you all are so enthusiastic I will be on that cruise in spirit -

Thanks Karen!!! I like that there is only one candle!! LOL!!!

Hi Maria -

Happy Birthday - what a great gift to select; I think it's a favorite gift around here for receiving. Yours will be continuing for your anniversary too! What a perfect way to celebrate.

I will add you to our roll call.

Thanks Joanna and Kathy!

But Kathy, don't add me yet! I'm not officially booked, I don't want to jinx it! ;)

Maria,

You are a birthday girl after my own heart! Make a decision and go for it, full speed ahead. Brilliant and very ingenious!

Not going to put a kabosh on anything until your booking is a done deal. However, to say I'm thrilled at the prospect of you and your sweet and very generous DH sailing on the first segment of CROSS with us has made my day!! We've been pen pals for a while now and I am so looking forward to meeting you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARIA! Alan and I wish you Feliz Cumpleaños! Have a blessed and joyful year ahead!
:happyb: