Flights to Cozumel about to get more expensive

[Mike]

With American Airlines going BK, you think flights are going to get more expensive? We lost Continental already since it's now part of United, now American going BK and maybe going away permanently, can't be good for the already higher prices we've seen over the last couple of years.

 

[cvchief]

About h-e-double toothpicks. I am trying to put together a fam trip for June and airfare from Balt/Washington seriously sucks all the sudden.

 

[Ron Lee]

Bankruptcy does not mean going out of business. Reality is that higher airfares than in recent years past are impacting dozens if not hundreds of thousands of people.

 

[blue steal]

I've been tracking airfares on several sites to Cozumel from Los Angeles since our last trip over a year ago.
It has stayed high with the layover times very long in both directions.
An example was our last trip was $419RT on continental/United with a decent layover time in Houston of about 3 hours. Now it's $590 and up with 5+ hours of layover time.
American Airlines is not much better nor is Delta.
Sometimes a $400 flight shows up and it is 2 stops with 0:39 minute change planes, yeah that's going to work or a 19 hour layover.
There is the option of the Cancun flight, but the difference in price is rarely more than $70. Plus most flight from LAX-Cancun arrive late in the afternoon.
Really want to return to COZ, but unless the airfare dips below $500 with a half way decent layover time it just might not happen this year.

 

[briankinley2004]

Inflation is now affecting all aspects of life except salary. We are seeing it big time in the construction industry as well

 

[Mike]

Bankruptcy does not mean going out of business. Reality is that higher airfares than in recent years past are impacting dozens if not hundreds of thousands of people.

Very true Ron, about the BK, but you know with a big financial shake up in a company it makes them look at things differently, even without going out of business, you know American is going to have to evaluate every route they fly and they might just make some changes to the caribbean routes that they wouldn't have made before, for instance eliminate some routes and therefore reduce competition to a destination which could result in the airlines left seeing an opportunity to raise rates since they have no peers on those routes. Overall I just see more down side then up side to another carrier having to look at it's caribbean routes now. With such a limited amount of choices already in the caribbean it can't be a good thing can it?

 

[beachnik]

...for instance eliminate some routes and therefore reduce competition to a destination which could result in the airlines left seeing an opportunity to raise rates since they have no peers on those routes. Overall I just see more down side then up side to another carrier having to look at it's caribbean routes now. With such a limited amount of choices already in the caribbean it can't be a good thing can it?

I think you've hit the nail on the head.

I'm going down in March via Continental. Booked last August. I paid about $420 RT lax-czm-lax. The price today for the same flights is $893. You can book AA with nearly identical routing/transit times for $761, but I'd guess that Continental is wagering that people are scared off of AA and willing to pay a premium.

In normal times, CO would be a little less expensive than AA when flying lax-czm.

 

[Dr Dog]

You could always fly to Canada and leave from here.

I waited till about 3 weeks out and booked my trip, all inclusive for a shade over 500 bucks + tax

 

[buton]

There is an airline from Mexico city that fly every Thursday Friday Sunday and Monday to cozumel from Mexico city at about 120 to 160 dollars one way... It is called inter jet....flights to Mexico city might be cheaper, the flight takes off at 130 pm..

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Dear Blue Steal,

Keep checking the direct flights from LAX to Cancun. When I had a home in SOCal that was by far my preferred way to travel, even with three kids and a nagging wife. Over the 20 years I have been at it I have done it both ways, perhaps hundreds of times. Doing a plane change anywhere is risky due to weather, mechanical or other problems...where you miss the one flight a day into Cozumel. That has happened to me MANY times! Then to get into Cozumel from the west coast you usually have to take a red eye flight which just kills me.

Non stop from LAX to Cancun usually gets you in plenty of time to catch the very nice bus to Playa Del Carmen, or even a private taxi for about $70. The taxi will usually get you to Cozumel 1 hour faster if lucky. (The taxi back will be only $40). Aside from the name people have described as "bag drag" there is virtually no need for you to ever carry your bags. At every step there are plenty of porters happy to drag your bag for a few pesos. The ferry crossing is about 40 minutes and they are very nicely air conditioned with great seats and video entertainment.

At least that is what my experience tells me.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers


PS See you at the Long Beach Scuba Show in May?