US fares to stay cheap - unless you're flying the A380

[oz_mark]

Reports of a steep rise in air fares to the US have been greatly exaggerated, according to the airline industry. There are still plenty of ultra-cheap fares and talk of increases is "bollocks", according to V Australia, the airline responsible for lowering them in the first place.

Some airline industry analysts said last week that fares would rise as a result of the joint-marketing agreement between V Australia and United States carrier Delta, which has been given the stamp of approval by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

US fares to stay cheap - unless you're flying the A380

[samh004]

Heather must have spent too much time with Richard, but good to see such a down to earth word used. Might be lost on most Australians though. I certainly don't hear it that often.

If they keep prices down, should be good, but I wont hold my breath for QF to lower their prices.

[dajop]

Originally Posted by david870mdg

And one free drink on a 15hr flight...

To be precise, one free alcoholic drink on a 15 hr flight. Non-alcoholic drinks are not limited. Which is actually fine by me, as I'm not a big fan (particularly in the Y cabin) of drinking a lot on long haul flights.

[Warks]

Originally Posted by samh004

... but good to see such a down to earth word used. Might be lost on most Australians though. I certainly don't hear it that often.
.

Bollocks! I hear it all the time.

[SeaWolf]

I think until one of the carriers 'breaks' and pulls out (it would probably be UA) the prices will stay low for the forseeable future. However at the moment I don't think any of them is about to pull out, not even UA.

Also, the paragraph at the end of the article:

Virgin Blue claimed a first last month when it staged a two-hour concert by the Black Eyed Peas – at 10,000 metres on a flight from the east coast to Perth.

Does anyone have any more info on this?

[sampson]

It was a karaoke flight in a plane painted with the faces of the Peas.

You could get up and sing with Fergie.

V's pretty innovative imo.

As for cheap fares, V and UA deserve support.

[BAM1748]

Originally Posted by sampson

It was a karaoke flight in a plane painted with the faces of the Peas.

You could get up and sing with Fergie.

V's pretty innovative imo.

As for cheap fares, V and UA deserve support.

I think I could see a drum kit set up in the cabin, the Peas standing and singing, the whole lot as it they were on stage.

UA has been coming here a long time, why do people think they will pull out first? They do deserve our support and they have had mine in the past and I found the service to very good.

[SeaWolf]

Originally Posted by BAM1748

UA has been coming here a long time, why do people think they will pull out first? They do deserve our support.

I agree, I think they've had a long commitment to Aus and personally, as a *A flyer, I'd be very sad to see them go even though I've never used them on the Aus-US route. However, they're not doing great financially and at the cut-throat prices on the Aus-US route I would imagine that they're hemorrhaging money on it. Sooner or later someone at United is going to have to sit down and take an axe to routes that are expensive to operate and aren't yeilding a profit. I have a feeling it'll be top of the list, especially given their very poor onward connections.

[sampson]

People slag UA because of 'old' hosties and 1980s tv screens though I've always had several seats to sleep on because they're empty. I hope they don't pull out because I need 40 winks

[dazz81]

did MEL-SYD-LAX and back on UA in the past 2 weeks, flights very full, bout 85 to 90% both ways. found the LCD overhead and main screen LCD in Y to be fine really, both o/night flights so tried to sleep most of the time anyway!