By Rob Wile -
NBC News
As this week's wave of flight cancellations continues, led by Southwest Airlines, other major carriers have announced that they will set price caps — especially in cities Southwest serves — to ease the financial burden on passengers trying to arrive. to their destinations.
Among the airlines that will implement the measure until January 2 are American, United and Delta Air Lines.
Despite the announcement, data on airfares shows that
prices to and from many of the affected destinations remain through the roof.
["I will not fly Southwest again." Thousands of stranded passengers seek flights and travel alternatives]
Google's flight database reflects one-way travel from points such as Nashville International Airport in Tennessee, Ronald Reagan International Airport in Washington DC, and Chicago Midway International Airport, all Southwest hubs. ,
will experience a price escalation in the coming days.
For example, a one-way ticket from Nashville to Denver International Airport—two hubs hit by this week's cancellations—departing Thursday starts at $899.
A one-way flight from Washington DC to Los Angeles International Airport departing Thursday is around $1,527.
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On social networks, many passengers have shown their frustration at the excessively high rates.
Suzanne Durham, a Nashville-based music industry professional, spent Christmas in Boston and was scheduled to return home to Southwest on Monday.
After her original flight was cancelled, she was able to book another one that left later that week, but she had a feeling that one would be canceled as well.
[Department of Transportation to Investigate Southwest for Flight Cancellations, Says Secretary Buttigieg]
He decided to buy a ticket with American Airlines for more than $900, he said.
“When I booked the flight, I couldn't believe it was so expensive,”
Durham said in an interview.
According to her, American did not specify what class the ticket that turned out to be economy was in.
“It wasn't even first class,” Durham said.
"It seems to me that they are abusing the prices."
Flight schedules at Los Angeles International Airport, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.Damian Dovarganes / AP
On Monday, Durham aired his frustrations on Twitter, saying an American Airlines representative responded by saying "fares are going up to some destinations."
An American Airlines representative referred NBC News, Noticias Telemundo's sister network, to a tweet posted in response to a user stating that prices would be capped in certain cities.
He did not want to give more details.
On Twitter, other passengers shared similar stories about much higher fares.
A Department of Transportation spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Tuesday in an interview with NextStar Media, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg applauded airlines for setting price caps.
[Your flight was canceled during the winter storm? These tips can help you get to your destination faster]
"No one should take advantage of the situation
," Buttigieg said, though he acknowledged that the agency may have limited legal authority to address the situation.
“We expect the airlines to go beyond the legal minimum and do the right thing,” he said.
"It shouldn't take enforcement action from our department to get people served or paid back."
