Airline fare confusion

Matt13C

Matt13C

Well-Known Member
My gf and I were discussing taking a vacation to St. Martin. To explore the possibility, I started looking into the most expensive aspect, getting there.

I looked at PHL and the cheapest flight is Continental at 449 with a stop in EWR. The next flight is 579 also with a connection in EWR.

However, if I drive to and departing from EWR I can get a flight on USAir, that connects through PHL, for 357?.?

Can somone with knowledge of flight scheduling and pricing fill me in on how this makes sense? Why can't I skip the Dash-8 flight from EWR-PHL, hop on the 757 in PHL and fly directly to St. Martins?

Could it be that expedia only shows certain flights and the direct flight from PHL-SXM is more in demand, but when offered as a package it is less appealing? If we just showed up in PHL, carried our luggage on, and skipped the EWR connection flight, would they let us board?
 
Matt13C said:
Could it be that expedia only shows certain flights and the direct flight from PHL-SXm is more in demand, but when offered as a package it is less appealing? if we just showed up in PHL, carried our luggage on, and skipped the EWR connection flight, would they let us board?
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Usually, if you don't show for an originating leg, they will cancel your entire itinerary to prevent you from doing what you're talking about. Can't say for sure that would happen but it's been my experience that that is what happens.

Business travelers used to game the system doing things like this, booking back-to-backs (two round trips between cities were often cheaper than a short-notice one) and "hidden-city" or "open jaw" fares.
 
They've factored all this into their pricing to make as much money as possible. There are ways of finding cheaper tickets, but unfortunately the most common involve the most connections and screaming infants imaginable.
 
I dont mind the connection and I wouldnt mind the ride on the Dash. What I am thinking about is the way home. The last thing I want to do is sit in my home airport for an hour or two, board a plane, fly to EWR, then drive back home, 20 mins outside of Philadelphia.

Oh well, if we decide to go and the difference is substantial, I will be driving to EWR. If it is under 100, I will take the direct flight.

Anyone have any suggestions for hotels? Is a car essential? From the limited reading I have done, I am thinking the french side.
 
if you are going home, skip the flight back to newark, there is nothing left for them to cancel. Leave your car at PHL and take the SEPTA to connect to NJ transit to newark. the train stops at EWR.
 
Have you considered taking Amtrak or NJ Transit to EWR? Just park at a station near you and take it up to the EWR stop. That way your car isn't parked at EWR when you arrive and you can just go home from PHL. Guess you'd have to take the train from PHL Airport to where ever you park, but at least you don't have to fly back to EWR
 
Matt - did you try calling USAir directly to see if a CS rep could do anything? Just curious what they might say.
 
saxman66 said:
Have you considered taking Amtrak or NJ Transit to EWR? Just park at a station near you and take it up to the EWR stop. That way your car isn't parked at EWR when you arrive and you can just go home from PHL. Guess you'd have to take the train from PHL Airport to where ever you park, but at least you don't have to fly back to EWR
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I was thinking that, or have someone drop us of up at EWR.

ladder360 said:
Matt - did you try calling USAir directly to see if a CS rep could do anything? Just curious what they might say.
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If we get more serious about the trip, I will make the call. As it stands now, we are not certain where we are going, or if we are going anywhere.

I was just pricing them and could not understand why I could fly cheaper on two planes than I could on one, when the connection flight is too my desired point of departure.
 
On a side note, I don't think US serve EWR from PHL on their dashs..I don't think they serve it at all. Could be a code share.
 
On the way home, don't check any bags, and just walk out of the terminal.

Heck, Its international you'll have to reclaim your bags anywho, and walk out the terminal.

CVG-DAY, had while I was there the highest no-show rate in the entire DL system for exactly this reason.
 
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