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Home  >  Hot Deals  >  $31 Transcon Fares: The Beauty Of Competition
Hot Deals

$31 Transcon Fares: The Beauty Of Competition

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 24, 2021February 24, 2021 17 Comments

American Airlines JetBlue Transcon Fares

Right now you can fly between Los Angeles and Miami for only $31 each way…and we are not even talking about basic economy. Thank “frenemies” JetBlue and American Airlines for the fare sale, which underscores just how important competition is.

Hot Deal: $31+ Transcon Fares On American Airlines & JetBlue

On Monday I noticed these fares and put a couple dates on hold. For now, American Airlines is running exclusively 777s (-200s or -300s) between LAX and MIA. As an Executive Platinum on American Airlines, that means I can assign premium economy seats for free during booking (because they are not sold as a separate cabin) and I am eligible for complimentary space-available upgrades.

For $62, I can have an extremely productive work day in the air, eat two decent meals, enjoy lounges on both ends…it’s just a great deal.

Why is it so cheap? Spirit Airlines? Frontier?

Nope. It’s JetBlue.

Although American and JetBlue have announced a comprehensive new partnership, they are still competitors and are competing hard to earn traffic between Los Angeles and Miami.

JetBlue one-way fares start at $45 while American starts at $31. Again, this isn’t even for Basic Economy, but for a regular economy class ticket that earns elite qualifying miles and dollars (yes, I’d need to travel back and forth over 300 times to re-qualify for Executive Platinum status on these fares)!

Are these fares sustainable? Of course not. Do they show the importance of competition? Absolutely.

CONCLUSION

Now is a great time to book tickets between Los Angeles and Miami…widebody service at deeply-discounted prices on American Airlines (and great fares on JetBlue too). If you want go premium, lie-flat beds in American Business Class or JetBlue Mint Class are also available for under $400 each way.

Naturally, exercise caution when traveling…COVID-19 numbers may be dropping, but we are not done yet. Still, we likely won’t see fares like this again.

See you in the air?

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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17 Comments

  1. Pier Lounge Lover Reply
    February 24, 2021 at 3:19 pm

    Love your work in the air concept. So right: just a round trip ticket with strategically booked departure and return can save you a hotel night. While have a working desk in the lounge with food and coffee far better than most offices.
    I remember fondly one of your post where you had like 12 hours layover in a first class lounge (Doha or Hong-Kong?)

  2. Willem Reply
    February 24, 2021 at 3:25 pm

    You must’ve missed the $20 each-way fares on American last April!

    Probably gonna book one myself…

  3. david Reply
    February 24, 2021 at 3:59 pm

    I think competition is only a small part of the picture here. What really makes these low fares possible is an overabundance of supply subsidized by an assload of bailout money.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 24, 2021 at 3:59 pm

      So true. Good point.

    • emercycrite Reply
      February 24, 2021 at 9:00 pm

      @david – Correct, and depressed demand for travel. It would be simplistic to say these fares are a result only because of competition.

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        February 24, 2021 at 9:01 pm

        I disagree. The other two are factors, but the cheap pricing we see now would only be possible if JetBlue and American decided to enter into a fare war.

  4. Jim F. Reply
    February 24, 2021 at 4:43 pm

    Just returned from a run from LAX to SJU and I can tell you that something needs to change in order to “…eat two decent meals (and) enjoy lounges on both ends.” The Admirals club at LAX is pitiful; all you get is a bag (think trick or treat!) with some carrot sticks, cubed cheese and a chocolate chip cookie. And the meals on board (I was in first class all the way) were either AA’s new “protein box” or the old choice of 3 hunks of cheese or the turkey croissant. Hardly meets the threshold for a “decent meal.”

    • SS_Flyer Reply
      February 25, 2021 at 1:24 pm

      @Jim F., I think you must have been flying on the A321 single isle plane on the LAX/MIA legs, because the 777 200s and 300s have “flagship” service, so should include hot meals. The MIA/SJU legs do only get a snack box.

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        February 25, 2021 at 2:08 pm

        Correct. Only 777s get lounge access and meals.

  5. Mr G Reply
    February 24, 2021 at 5:05 pm

    This would be the deal of the century if it weren’t for one thing… we’re still in a pandemic.

    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    • James Reply
      February 24, 2021 at 5:58 pm

      Did you stop flying during the swine flu pandemic? Flying is safer than sitting in a church.

    • UA-NYC Reply
      February 24, 2021 at 6:08 pm

      Along with the fact that this basically earns no dollars for status purposes…you are flying for LT miles + a change of pace

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        February 24, 2021 at 6:17 pm

        I do realize that, but it gets me EQMs and if AA does end up mandating $$$ to re-qualify for EXP (I think they will waive it once more), I can work in a couple Qatar Airways trip, hopefully.

        But $61 for a day of comfort and productivity is well worthwhile to me, even if I earned no points. Even if I don’t get the upgrade, I already have premium economy reserved.

  6. Derek Reply
    February 24, 2021 at 7:12 pm

    Why does AA not sell pe as its own cabin? Seems to be lost revenue.

    UA would be selling that as pp

  7. Stuart Reply
    February 24, 2021 at 7:50 pm

    Just what Florida needs. More people traveling there. The Edition and others are getting $1500 per night rooms actually sold as the demand is so high. Four Seasons Surfside has been at around $2K many nights.

    Rack em and stack em. Pandemic? What pandemic?

  8. Nate nate Reply
    February 24, 2021 at 10:02 pm

    Isn’t it better for you to stay home rather than travel unnecessarily? We are in a pandemic, and we all should do our part if we are responsible members of society.

    Plus remember California has a Travel Advisory, that says as follows:
    – Except in connection with essential travel, Californians should avoid non-essential travel to any part of California more than 120 miles from one’s place of residence, or to other states or countries. Avoiding travel reduces the risk of virus transmission, including by reducing the risk that new sources of infection and, potentially, new virus strains will be introduced to California.
    – All persons arriving in or returning to California from other states or countries, should self-quarantine for 10 days after arrival, except as necessary to meet urgent critical healthcare staffing needs or to otherwise engage in emergency response. Additionally, this recommendation does not apply to individuals who routinely cross state or country borders for essential travel

    There is also a valid argument that everyone in your household that is exposed to you after your return should also quarantine for 10 days. This means your son should not go to school for the 10 days after you return back to California.

    https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx

  9. W Ho Reply
    February 25, 2021 at 3:33 am

    Meh … travel bloggers failing @ logic & reasoning, as usual.

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