As an airline insider, the previous post explaining airline pricing logic was thorough and accurate. (Disclaimer - I am in flight operations, not revenue management). I get the frustration with the “logic” of how flying from the US to Amsterdam to Bonaire costs less than from many places in the US to Bonaire..... A recent search for me was over $1100 for MSP-BON, but buying 2 separate tickets MSP-AMS and AMS-BON totaled around $850 for the airfare. I have found that its consistently cheaper to fly to the Philippines or Indonesia than to Bonaire.
For Bonaire to become cheaper to fly to from the USA, we need some alternate routes to get there. If airlines allowed interline ticketing from AUA, prices would almost certainly drop. I have seen flights to AUA from many places in the USA under $400 if you have flexible dates. Most people dont want to risk a delay and missed flight and many dont even consider separate tickets on Divi Divi or EZair. If these airlines allowed their results to be included in pricing and protected from missed connections, we’d certainly see the fares drop.
Richmond is market that I watch for flights because I have family there. American seems to be attempting to gain some market share back from Delta to the Caribbean. You will likely see fares drop between now late August.
Where are you staying in October?
