Jet Blue - why did tickets go up so much from JFK to Aruba?

[StacyJ]

We were just able to book flights in January (saturday to saturday) for $300 each out of LaGuardia (stops in Ft. Lauderdale).

Good luck!

[Arubalisa]

Chadd, how does the predicted colder than average winter figure into future pricing on jet fuel or does one thing not have anything to do with the other? Just curious...

[chuckfreda]

From JFK to Aruba for the second week in December for $465

[Chadd]

Originally Posted by Arubalisa

Chadd, how does the predicted colder than average winter figure into future pricing on jet fuel or does one thing not have anything to do with the other? Just curious...

It should have little, if any, impact on the price of Jet-A. It is much more like Kerosene than home heating oil, in terms of its distillate properties.

Airlines have reduced capacity across the board and supplies are very high. That doesn't even take into account all of the oil being stockpiled in older tankers around the world either. Taking all of that into account, there is no justification for the current price of oil (gas, diesel and Jet A included). If/When the economy starts to recover, we could see prices spike significantly based on speculation over the future demand.

Just because I like to add random facts when its late and I'm bored; fuel was at $1.75 at the close on the 29th, compared to $2.92 a year ago. An Airbus A320 like Jet Blue, Northwest, United or US Airways flies burns roughly 5,900 lbs/hour of flight. At 6.7 pounds per gallon that is 880 gallons per hour and $1500+ per hour, just for fuel.

[fattypatty]

Originally Posted by Chadd

Just because I like to add random facts when its late and I'm bored; fuel was at $1.75 at the close on the 29th, compared to $2.92 a year ago. An Airbus A320 like Jet Blue, Northwest, United or US Airways flies burns roughly 5,900 lbs/hour of flight. At 6.7 pounds per gallon that is 880 gallons per hour and $1500+ per hour, just for fuel.

that's it? so a jfk/aua flight of 5 hours would only cost 7k in fuel? i wouldve thought it was much higher.

[Chadd]

I don't know if that number also includes the takeoff/climb burn or is simply the burn at cruise.

[miesk5]

Our flight from JFK to Aruba, non-stop on Sat, 14 Nov 09 is only ~ 80% booked as compared to same flight/week last year when it was almost 99% booked (at this time).

Today's cost pp round-trip is $438.00 + taxes and fees
We paid $350. pp round-trip with all taxes and fees when we booked da flight back in July 09

[Chadd]

Originally Posted by miesk5

Our flight from JFK to Aruba, non-stop on Sat, 14 Nov 09 is only ~ 80% booked as compared to same flight/week last year when it was almost 99% booked (at this time).

Today's cost pp round-trip is $438.00 + taxes and fees
We paid $350. pp round-trip with all taxes and fees when we booked da flight back in July 09

Airlines will often have seats blocked from their hub to a destination as they hope to sell some tickets to passengers that will be connecting from other cities.

[ktkins1020]

I just moved and JFK is closer but I can fly out of either JFK or Boston. I jsut booked my flight (last min) and it was more expensive to fly out of JFK then Boston. The Boston flight had a short layover at JFK and the same flight JFK to aruba direct was more expensive. It's obvisouly costing Jetblue more in fuel etc.... I called and they didnt have an answer to why it cost more.

[Chadd]

Originally Posted by ktkins1020

I just moved and JFK is closer but I can fly out of either JFK or Boston. I jsut booked my flight (last min) and it was more expensive to fly out of JFK then Boston. The Boston flight had a short layover at JFK and the same flight JFK to aruba direct was more expensive. It's obvisouly costing Jetblue more in fuel etc.... I called and they didnt have an answer to why it cost more.

There is more competition for a flight from Boston to Aruba with one stop than there is for a non stop out of JFK. Things like this happen all the time because that's what the revenue management models tell them to do. More often than not, people don't have the option of connecting or catching the same flight as a direct.