American Airlines Monopoly on Cozumel

[sefuchs]

I've never spent more than $650 to fly to Roatan or Bonaire and awards for both destinations have been good for the past several years - 25k miles or less for RT on American. Part of the appeal of Mexico for me has been airfare in the $300-range so if that's eliminated (along with nonstop flights) then it's harder for Cozumel to compete with other Caribbean destinations.

Since Covid days, my focus are trips (fares) to Cozumel and Bonaire, with some attention to the Cayman Islands, so I'm not able to comment on Roatan. Having traveled (from PDX) to the Caribbean multiple times a year for about 15 years, I haven't encountered fares like these in a long time. If you come across such fares, I'd suggest you book them right away! I haven't found any of my other Caribbean trips to be as cost-effective as Cozumel.

 

[wateraddiction]

Since Covid days, my focus are trips (fares) to Cozumel and Bonaire, with some attention to the Cayman Islands, so I'm not able to comment on Roatan. Having traveled (from PDX) to the Caribbean multiple times a year for about 15 years, I haven't encountered fares like these in a long time. If you come across such fares, I'd suggest you book them right away! I haven't found any of my other Caribbean trips to be as cost-effective as Cozumel.

PDX is a tough market for flights! I'm in Chicago so I usually benefit from UA and AA competing for routes.

 

[tursiops]

Then again I remember the signs on McDonalds for a 'Meal on a Bun for under 1', lately that Big Mac combo meal is running $12 plus tax

My first McDonald's hamburgers were 15 cents.

 

[mcohen1021]

Miles or $850? Or did you spend miles that They value at $850? The mileage game was fun in the 80s, a riot in 1988 when Delta kicked off the triple mileage fun, but it's deteriorated so much since, since they've tied miles to credit card spending. The 2% rebates on some cards is much rmore rewarding. I see tickets from DFW to RTB at under $700 RT.

We flew on miles but the airfare was around 850 and I think mileage we spent $25k for roatan

 

[DandyDon]

We flew on miles but the airfare was around 850 and I think mileage we spent $25k for roatan

Ok, but that is odd. I look now with at least three weeks before departure and all days are much less. Ticket prices are always changing tho.

Another thing I hate about today's mileage programs is that when I do find dates with minimum miles required, they still want me to pay a lot of cash in fees. They make it sound good until they zing you.

 

[mcohen1021]

We just finalized our ff mile airfare for November... I got a sweet condo @ the landmark for $1100... My dive master will come pick us up @ Money Bar, no taxi to the marina...

 

[gopbroek]

AA does not have a complete monopoly, it appears air taxi's are in operation from Playa.

Divers resurface crashed plane off Cozumel coast - Riviera Maya News

Cozumel, Q.R. -- A plane that crashed into the sea off the island of Cozumel was recovered by a group of divers early Sunday.

riviera-maya-news.com

 

[DandyDon]

I don't know how many different companies have tried to offer air service to & from Cozumel & Cancun. They've never made sense to me. Maybe more appealing to travelers not transporting dive gear.

 

[mcohen1021]

AA does not have a complete monopoly, it appears air taxi's are in operation from Playa.

Divers resurface crashed plane off Cozumel coast - Riviera Maya News

Cozumel, Q.R. -- A plane that crashed into the sea off the island of Cozumel was recovered by a group of divers early Sunday.

riviera-maya-news.com

Nonstop direct doesn't mean stopping anywhere

 

[ggunn]

I do not understand the title of this thread; many other airlines provide service to and from Cozumel.