Comments on: What’s 1.4 percent, really? A second look at the Thanksgiving forecast http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-1-4-percent-really-a-second-look-at-the-thanksgiving-forecast/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mary H http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-1-4-percent-really-a-second-look-at-the-thanksgiving-forecast/comment-page-1/#comment-27865 Mary H Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:53:24 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9519#comment-27865 I don't find any deals for my trips. A r/t ticket this month AVL to IAH (just over 2 hrs)cost me very close to $500 and not even over thanksgiving.I went to the UK and back for a bit over $800. in Sept./Oct. Way over 2 hours one way. Make sense to anyone here? I don’t find any deals for my trips. A r/t ticket this month AVL to IAH (just over 2 hrs)cost me very close to $500 and not even over thanksgiving.I went to the UK and back for a bit over $800. in Sept./Oct. Way over 2 hours one way.
Make sense to anyone here?

]]> By: Holiday travel forecasts: “Cautious optimism” — or billion-dollar bloodbath? http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-1-4-percent-really-a-second-look-at-the-thanksgiving-forecast/comment-page-1/#comment-27430 Holiday travel forecasts: “Cautious optimism” — or billion-dollar bloodbath? Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:04:13 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9519#comment-27430 [...] even get me started on yesterday’s AAA Thanksgiving forecast, which basically said nothing was going to happen.) Maritz Travel says the travel industry stands to lose $4.05 billion as holiday travel is [...] [...] even get me started on yesterday’s AAA Thanksgiving forecast, which basically said nothing was going to happen.) Maritz Travel says the travel industry stands to lose $4.05 billion as holiday travel is [...]

]]> By: Annette http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-1-4-percent-really-a-second-look-at-the-thanksgiving-forecast/comment-page-1/#comment-27408 Annette Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:49:13 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9519#comment-27408 Just because fewer people are travelling or booking doesn't automatically mean there will be great sales and lower pricing coming up. Haven't we been seeing reports for months about airlines cutting capacity? Lower capacity means fewer available seats, which might actually mean less seats for sales when it comes right down to it. And while it might seem reasonable to assume hey a hotel already has X number of rooms it's not like they can cut capacity, in reality they can by decreasing their service staff and not opening some of those rooms for sale. I just had a call on the weekend from a mystified bargain shopper who always waits for last minute sales to book her holiday and doesn't understand why this year prices are going UP much earlier than she's seen in previous years. If air travel is down by 6%, but the airlines cut capacity by 10%, then that means fewer seats available for the people that want them. Just because fewer people are travelling or booking doesn’t automatically mean there will be great sales and lower pricing coming up. Haven’t we been seeing reports for months about airlines cutting capacity? Lower capacity means fewer available seats, which might actually mean less seats for sales when it comes right down to it. And while it might seem reasonable to assume hey a hotel already has X number of rooms it’s not like they can cut capacity, in reality they can by decreasing their service staff and not opening some of those rooms for sale. I just had a call on the weekend from a mystified bargain shopper who always waits for last minute sales to book her holiday and doesn’t understand why this year prices are going UP much earlier than she’s seen in previous years. If air travel is down by 6%, but the airlines cut capacity by 10%, then that means fewer seats available for the people that want them.

]]> By: Justin http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-1-4-percent-really-a-second-look-at-the-thanksgiving-forecast/comment-page-1/#comment-27404 Justin Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:19:08 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9519#comment-27404 *Forced to work part time or in some capacity VERSUS a full time position due to the economy. *Forced to work part time or in some capacity VERSUS a full time position due to the economy.

]]> By: Justin http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-1-4-percent-really-a-second-look-at-the-thanksgiving-forecast/comment-page-1/#comment-27403 Justin Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:16:42 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9519#comment-27403 Forgive me from sounding contrite but 10.2% "OFFICIAL" Unemployment rate and 18 percent if you consider those who A) Gave up / discouraged B) Are "Officially" unemployed" C) Are forced to work part time or in some capacity due to the economy. 1 in 5 Americans being in dire circumstances right now IS NOT a recovery. Don't let wall street fool you. When 1 in 5 Americans are suffering, those numbers MEAN NOTHING to the rest of us. Justin Forgive me from sounding contrite but 10.2% “OFFICIAL” Unemployment rate and 18 percent if you consider those who A) Gave up / discouraged B) Are “Officially” unemployed” C) Are forced to work part time or in some capacity due to the economy. 1 in 5 Americans being in dire circumstances right now IS NOT a recovery. Don’t let wall street fool you. When 1 in 5 Americans are suffering, those numbers MEAN NOTHING to the rest of us.

Justin

]]> By: Carver http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-1-4-percent-really-a-second-look-at-the-thanksgiving-forecast/comment-page-1/#comment-27401 Carver Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:26:49 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9519#comment-27401 @frosty You can't use one data point to draw conclusions. I pay as low as $29OW from SFO to LAX with one day advance purchase. I average $39OW for that trip. Different experiences. I find similar deals in hotel and car rental. @frosty

You can’t use one data point to draw conclusions. I pay as low as $29OW from SFO to LAX with one day advance purchase. I average $39OW for that trip. Different experiences.

I find similar deals in hotel and car rental.

]]> By: frostysnowman http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-1-4-percent-really-a-second-look-at-the-thanksgiving-forecast/comment-page-1/#comment-27388 frostysnowman Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:59:09 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9519#comment-27388 Sorry, I still think the idea that all these airfare deals are waiting for the consumer to snap up during the holidays is a big crock of you-know-what. My family and I purchased tickets to fly to the northeast for Christmas three weeks ago, and we didn't think any of the quoted fares were even close to bargains. And trying to fly on "off" days or to different airports in that area didn't affect the prices we were quoted. So I don't consider 2009 to have provided any bargains for me, and I don't believe 2010 will be The Year of the Deal. Sorry, I still think the idea that all these airfare deals are waiting for the consumer to snap up during the holidays is a big crock of you-know-what. My family and I purchased tickets to fly to the northeast for Christmas three weeks ago, and we didn’t think any of the quoted fares were even close to bargains. And trying to fly on “off” days or to different airports in that area didn’t affect the prices we were quoted. So I don’t consider 2009 to have provided any bargains for me, and I don’t believe 2010 will be The Year of the Deal.

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