The end of cheap airfare

https://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/02/us_airways_american_airlines_merger_get_ready_for_less_competition_and_higher.html

What else would you expect when they cut down the competition. They let the oil companies merge, the banks merge and even the casinos merge and guess what happened?

I think the American people should merge and refuse to purchase and buy their overpriced products.

The local news stated that the combined US Air and American would control about 86% of the planes taking off and landing in Dallas at DFW airport. That includes international flights.

Now that does not seem competitive to me.

And Southwest is still coming out from under the Wright Amendment that kept them from flying non-stop from Dallas to any other state than those that adjoined Texas. However, with higher fuel costs and less competition, even SW isn't as cheap as it used to be.

Six years ago I used to book flights from DFW to LAS for around $160. Today, forgetaboutit!

But I still see sales posted for Jet Blue and Southwest. I once flew from Boston to Vegas for $115 each. Now the cheapest fare is over $300.

It just keeps people from visiting so often. Maybe the casinos can offer an incentive - like 1/2 your airfare back in casino comps???

Mergers are sometimes a ggod thing to save companies but in most cases they are simply cutting out competition and this leaves customers at the mercy of price fixing. Maybe the the best examples are as mentioned above banks, casinos, oil companies, and now the airlines. Don't hold you breath for the people in Washington to notice this. Harry Reid should get Obama attention and drop a note saying this can't be good for business in not only my home state but all states. Good idea would be to let elected officials go on the Obama Care. With Higher taxes, higher unemployment, and to raise the minimium wage is surley the answer to get America back on it's feet. Washington better wake up and forget balancing their budget and worry about taxpayers and voters budgets. They have the ideal plan for America to go to hell in a handbasket. Finally figured out what that term meant.

Hey as long as US American keeps a direct flight from CLT to LAS. And Charlotte as a major hub then I'm OK with it.

That's the real problem. If USA consumers could ever unite, we could take all of this price fixing out of the control of the corporations. But that will never happen. The only time it's been done is when B of A was going to charge for debit card use and the public made them change their minds.

I remember 25 years ago going to the airport here and seeing all the different Airlines.
TWA, Eastern, Western, Ozark, United, American, Delta, Piedmont, Continental, Republic, Northwest, Frontier, Braniff, Pan Am and US Air.

Now there is 6 after US and American merge it will be 5.

I was fortunate to buy my April ticket in late Dec. on the first day of a seat sale on Air Canada for just under $500.00. If I was to buy the same ticket

Now it would be another $300.00. I remember in the mid 90's paying $450.00 total for flight and 5 or 7 nights at MGM. Boy how times have changed. Also

food prices for the most part are a lot higher.