I’ve spent the majority of my life hunting cheap fares on aa.com, whether it was for a personal weekend trip, an international flight to Asia, or even as a 6th grader when my parents simply mentioned the idea of taking a family vacation somewhere.
In recent years, I’ve spent a lot of time on American Airlines flights between New York and Boston. Given the flexibility and many options of transportation that exist between the two cities, I’m able to choose whatever the cheapest and/or most convenient option is at the time of booking, whether that’s a flight, Amtrak, or the bus.
Flights typically are the cheapest during the middle of the week, with Basic Economy fares on American Airlines beginning anywhere between $59 and $89. Fares go up the closer you are to departure day, and I’ve found them to typically rise exactly 7 or 14 days prior to departure, depending on the season and demand.
Last night, however, I somehow managed to find and book a $48 ticket, Boston to New York, for next week:
To put this into perspective, a typical bus ticket between the two cities costs $35 to $55.
This is obviously a Basic Economy fare, which has some limitations. But consider these points:
- With elite status and/or an American Airlines credit card, I still get my usual boarding group, free checked bag, etc
- On such a low fare, I’m not missing out on the full amount of miles and loyalty points that I would’ve gotten had I booked a Main Cabin fare
- Who cares about seat selection on a 45-minute flight, especially on an Embraer 175 with a 2-2 configuration? (and having elite status allows you to select preferred seats or Main Cabin Extra anyway)
I always go with a regular Main Cabin fare for trips further in advance, large international bookings, or when I need the flexibility of a refundable ticket. For a short 45-minute flight a week in advance, however, Basic Economy is enough.
Interestingly, multiple flights on Saturday, November 1, which is the date I booked, are still going for $49, but with Main Cabin starting at $119. It’s the same case for flights later in the week.
Over the past year or so flying back and forth between New York and Boston, $59 had been the cheapest ticket I’ve come across and booked. I’d say $89 was what I would see most of the time (I typically book 1-2 weeks in advance), with Main Cabin going for about $119. I’d happily welcome $49 fares if this is the new norm on this route.
All of this is not to say I’ve never come across any cheaper fares in the past with certainty. I may have come across fares like this many years ago, and it had just faded from memory. In recent times, however, this is undoubtedly some of the cheapest I’ve seen in the entirety of the American Airlines booking system.
Having more cheap selections for flights really expands my options for traveling between the two cities, and helps me maximize my time in each city. At the end of the day, the less time I’m spending traveling between New York and Boston, the better, since it’s not for vacation.
Let me know in the comments, what’s the cheapest airfare you’ve seen/booked on a legacy US carrier?
Featured image by the author.
