AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel An open letter about the cost of airfare

Really? Lack of travelers even Thanksgiving week? Wow - Not a good sign!

These prices are quoted from another thread on the same issue.
'Houston/Cancun all in $279.00
Houston/Costa Rico $500.00 (1 1/2 hr further flying time)
Houston/Cozemel $300.00
Houston/Grand Caymen $500.00
LAX/Cancun $279.00
Houston/Bze $600.00'
also
Toronto to Barbados $680.00CDN
Toronto to Roatan $690.00CDN
Toronto to Belize $820.00CDN
and let's not even list prices to Cancun....
The pattern is obvious. How is it other countries can influence the price per ticket yet Belize can't? I was told by a hotelier in Grenada that the tourism board must guarantee the airlines a certain amount $ per flight so they don't loose money on half full planes. Maybe thats why the tickets to BZE are so high because the planes are not full and the airline increases the price per ticket so they don't take a loss. The GOB along with the tourist board should be able to come up with a way of subsidizing flights to fill the planes and get tourism going.
I don't think ticket prices are necessarily going up, Air Canada just had a 50% off seat sale for flights in Canada and US as well as deals for Europe and sun destinations.

It's the airlines! Look at the Fuel Surcharge: 240.00US$! The airlines implemented this surcharge last summer when oil on the world market was around 150 US$ per barrel. Since then it dropped down to approximately 50 US$ per barrel and the airlines didn't touch the fuel surcharge. Now it's around 75US$ and you'll see - in case the oil would pass the 100 US$ airlines would immediately surcharge the surcharge!

On Wednesday - the No 1 travel day in the US American Airlines cancelled the first of 2 flights from Miami to Belize. Imagine: one of the most important travel days of the year and one out of 2 flights to Belize cancelled - isn't that a shame?

But it's not just the airlines: It's BTB and all the associations who are involved into tourism marketing for our country and it must stop now.

Yes, maybe we must guarantee sold seats now - we cannot continue with the same errors over and over again. I had a call 4 weeks ago of some possible customers for Thanksgiving and they said that flights from Canada were 1250 $ per person and they would not want to come to Belize - they had offers to go to Cancun with flights, accommodation and all inclusive for 999 $.

There's one thing left for me to say: "Have a very nice vacation in Mexico!"

The hotel association has to guarantee and pay the airlines in all cases if the flight does not meet the load factor required by the airlines to make a profit in most cases this would be 60% load factor and over for certain types of aircraft. That is best case scenario.

Pricing is a hard subject. If one were to book a flight 4-6 months in advance they will obtain excellent fares, book it 1-2 months before and the price could be double. Book it last minute and you may get a fare cheaper than the latter.

AA for example even though they have kept their pricing structure has cut a lot of flights, I believe it may be 40% from the peak years, which is a lot. Can you imagine the cost to layoff or keep staff on standby? Take airlines highest cost which are flight crews, AA had over 10,000 flight crew at one time...

It is a hard call, the low cost airlines may stay alive with pax constantly returning, but the day that does not happen they have nothing in the kitty for hard times, hence, close shop...

i'm seeing a bit of a chicken and egg thing going too. like i said, a lot of us who went over t-giving in the past didn't this yr cuz of high airfares. so there were more empty seats. in contrast, the 2 previous years, there were airfare sales, and a whole bunch of us booked. many of us even booked a second or third trip at that same time for use later in the year, to take advantage. thus, using logic, the lower fares tend to fill more seats.

chicken and egg.

fine with me if they make less flights per week if it translates to a more reasonably priced vacation.

ps - i also questioned the fuel surcharges - this has become a common abuse of several industries the past year.

I own a small hotel north of town and am providing information to prospective guests about coming to Belize through Cancun. While it takes two days travel time in each direction, the savings are worthwhile based on current rates. American Airlines tickets are currently over $700 before exit fees from Florida to Belize. All in, with travel through Cancun, I am saving about $400. A couple traveling together can save $800 to $1000, enough to pay for their lodging once they get to Belize. While rates vary from different departure cities, I checked a few sample cities for dates in February and the savings were comparable.

Anyone wanting specific details about my recent trip, including all costs, as well as hotel and transporation information, can email me at info@cocotalbelize.com .

good tip for those who have the luxury of 2 extra travel days. many do like that route, some of my friends included. but for some of us who only have a week or 10 days, time is money, and i only wanna travel 12 hours max.

but - check your fares - today American Air PHL to BZE is still $477 (usually around 700+). today PHL to CUN is $587 - over $100 more, both thru MIA. oddly, i know what you said is so- direct MIA - BZE, half the distance, is over $600. crazy, huh? go figure.

Email blast to the listed associations or persons;

Greeting! I had sent this last week and I figured that with the holidays it may have been overlooked or thrown in spam mail as why I am resending this again. I am in the process of sending this to the airlines to get their stance on this as well as airfare to Belize continues to be the highest ticket in all of Central America.

John & Shawna Robilio

Barb, yes to your question. Absent maybe 10 folks, I had the beach to myself in Placencia. Pure bliss. San Pedro was a ghost town this last week compared to past years. Deals abound for those of us that were there, including discounts on golf carts, food and tours.

cbt, why not send an e-mail to the head honcho at Continental, think it is Larry Keller, CEO. What I was trying to say in my previous post was I do not see how the folks in Belize can control U.S. carrier airfares there. Good intentions and lobbying aside, the price breakdown appears to be mostly U.S. imposed fees. good luck in your efforts anyway.

I just received the net saver fares from AA.
As you can tell below the fare that stands out is Belize, especially versus Aruba.
Personally I would much prefer Belize over a small island like Aruba with endless people on it.
Aruba would have a better load factor than Belize and it may be possible that the government or the hotel association is guaranteeing the loads.

This is for a 9 day roundtrip fare.

Miami, FL (MIA) Washington Reagan Nat'l, DC (DCA) $112*
Miami, FL (MIA) Oranjestad, Aruba (AUA) $114^
Miami, FL (MIA) Nashville, TN (BNA) $120*
Miami, FL (MIA) Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (PLS) $172^
Miami, FL (MIA) Belize City, Belize (BZE) $392^
Boston, MA (BOS) Chicago O'Hare, IL (ORD) $86*
Chicago O'Hare, IL (ORD) Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN (MSP) $49*
Chicago O'Hare, IL (ORD) New York LaGuardia, NY (LGA) $86*
Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX (DFW) Indianapolis, IN (IND) $117*
Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX (DFW) Phoenix, AZ (PHX) $120*

Prices above are each way, based on round-trip purchase.
Taxes, fees and conditions apply.


*U.S. And Canada Fares For Next Weekend
Purchase by Friday, December 4, 2009.
Travel is valid 12/11/09 through 12/15/09.
Taxes, fees and conditions apply.



^International Fares For Next Weekend
Purchase by Sunday, December 6, 2009.
Travel is valid 12/8/09 through 12/16/09.
Taxes, fees and conditions apply