As I mentioned in a previous thread, I am planning a trip to Italy in November. I had been putting off buying a plane ticket, since the prices on them had been dropping sharply for some reason.
Then, of course, the catastrophe in NY and DC happened.
I’m wondering–what is going to happen to airfares in the wake of this? I can’t decide if they’re going to:
–fall, because of decreased demand;
–rise, because of the increased cost of security measures, possibly increased fuel costs, and the airlines trying to compensate for decreased demand; or
–stay about the same.
This is the least of my worries about this whole mess, and if I have to put the trip off for one reason or another, I can. Still, I’d like to go ahead with it, and I can’t decide if I should buy a ticket ASAP or wait a week or two.
I’m thinking they will probably fall. People are more than likely going to drive the short-haul flights if they have to get to the airport 2 hours in advance.
You are going to get the scared factor. That’ll take some people a while to get over.
Now, I guess if jet fuel prices go through the roof… who knows. The costs of paying the bag security $10 per hour from $7 (or whatever) might not have much of an effect.
The costs of Air Marshalls will probably be Federally absorbed somehow, but once again thats just a guess.
Ah christ. Who am I fooling? What the hell do I know? :rolleyes:
I’m figuring, purely a WAG, that the airlines will go to non-profit status for a while, charging just enough to cover costs while keeping costs low enough that people that otherwise would tell the airlines to go stuff themselves will fly.