Has anyone else noticed the price rise?

[Pushka]

We are trying to return to Qantas, but the prices have just gone through the roof for business travel. We could usually book return flights to Melbourne Economy for at most, $480 or thereabouts. Currently, booking flights at the same time gives us prices of around $750! Back to the old days of expensive travel for business. Sad to say, we are still booking with Virgin, this time because of price.

 

[nlagalle]

We are trying to return to Qantas, but the prices have just gone through the roof for business travel. We could usually book return flights to Melbourne Economy for at most, $480 or thereabouts. Currently, booking flights at the same time gives us prices of around $750! Back to the old days of expensive travel for business. Sad to say, we are still booking with Virgin, this time because of price.

I've been booking weekly trips and they are around the same. Remember it is a very busy time of year too! There aren't a lot of red edeals around either.

 

[mannej]

We are trying to return to Qantas, but the prices have just gone through the roof for business travel. We could usually book return flights to Melbourne Economy for at most, $480 or thereabouts. Currently, booking flights at the same time gives us prices of around $750! Back to the old days of expensive travel for business. Sad to say, we are still booking with Virgin, this time because of price.

Without giving dates, you can't really look too much into things as there are quite a few variables that could be at play.

 

[Pushka]

Yes, a busy time of course but as you say, the difference is lack of red-edeals available now. So probably not a price rise as such, but a paucity of cheaper offerings around. Sigh, I miss Ansett.

 

[simongr]

Today red-e-deals to MEL from SYD were $175 and flex savers were $200. A lot of people travelling for business to get things squared away before Christmas.

 

[Austman]

We are trying to return to Qantas, but the prices have just gone through the roof for business travel. We could usually book return flights to Melbourne Economy for at most, $480 or thereabouts. Currently, booking flights at the same time gives us prices of around $750! Back to the old days of expensive travel for business. Sad to say, we are still booking with Virgin, this time because of price.

It might just help if you say what flights they are? xx_ to MEL. I have no idea.

 

[Mike_m]

Judging by the prices you have quoted I assume you might be x PER. If so, I did a dummy booking for the first week of December and the virgin flights came out much the same price as the qantas flights. At most $20 difference give or take (Qantas cheaper at some times). These prices are consistent with previous peak travel periods so I am unsure of any price rise??

 

[JohnK]

Aren't last minute airfares always expensive?

Occasionally there may still be some last minute red e-deals available at times of low demand but this does not happen very often. I have already locked in cheap(ish) airfares through to April 2012.

 

[Pushka]

It might just help if you say what flight

Believe it or not, those prices referred to Adelaide Melbourne. Last week someone flew Q for $701 as the cheapest discount flight around, and yesterday when I posted, the fares were $770! Flying virgin for around about the same times, maybe 30 minutes difference, they came in at around $610.

 

[harvyk]

QF have always been just that little bit more expensive, however as others have said this time of year is always an expensive time to travel, esp last minute (with exception to one specific day). This is the time where you'll get most of the one a year flyers flying.

 

[TheInsider]

QF have always been just that little bit more expensive, however as others have said this time of year is always an expensive time to travel, esp last minute (with exception to one specific day). This is the time where you'll get most of the one a year flyers flying.

Those Wednesdays and once a year flyers!

Prices haven't gone up, just less availability as more flights are full. Yeild operations at work!