‘I thought you could only take flights at like 6 in the morning’: Man flies from Atlanta to L.A. Then he reveals the cost to fly during peak hours
If you’ve ever dragged yourself to the airport for a 6 a.m. flight and wondered, “Why does no one just fly later?” the answer might be sitting in your bank account. One traveler decided to test the theory by booking a perfectly reasonable 4 p.m. flight from Atlanta to L.A. No alarms, no sunrise sprint to the gate. Just vibes and a leisurely walk in the airport.
The catch? The price tag came in at a jaw-dropping $5,000. Suddenly, those early morning departures don’t look so brutal.
TikTok influencer Andrew (@andrews_garage) has taken one for the team and exposed the truth about afternoon flights.
His clip begins at the Atlanta Airport and has almost 19,000 views in just a couple of days.
“Up until a year ago,” he says, “I thought that you could only take flights at like six in the morning,” he says.
Andrew admits that he knew those flights existed, but he always thought there was a reason not many people were taking them. Lo and behold, he did find out what that reason was. He was already used to waking up at 3 a.m. to catch his early flights, but now finally got the opportunity to try out a 4:30 p.m. flight.
The difference? $5,000.
Are Afternoon Flights More Expensive?
Andrew shares that “if you wanna fly at a reasonable time, it’s like five times the price.” One thing to note is that Andrew is flying first class to Los Angeles and then to New York, which would have an expensive price tag anyway.
However, he might be right about the time raising the price. Naturally, not many people would like to wake up early in the morning for a flight. This causes the demands to be higher during the day rather than at dawn or midnight. Therefore, the reason the flights are cheaper at those times is that the demand is lower.
Kiwi.com studied this exact claim and found that with American Airlines, “a flight on September 10 from New York to San Francisco costs $129 at 6 a.m., but $199 at 7:30 a.m. and $279 at 5 p.m.” As Andrew says, if you’re wondering why you’re having to wake up at 3 a.m. for an early flight, it might be because your parents were trying to save money.
More Advantages to Early Morning Flights
The same article also revealed more advantages to early morning flights than just their cheaper price tag. Not only is it better for your wallet, but it’s also better for your peace of mind when it comes to delays and punctuality. Apparently, flights during the day are more prone to delays because of “increased traffic volume.” Since daytime flights depend on incoming planes from different cities, there could be delays due to weather and the journey’s own travel time. When catching a flight in the morning, the planes have already been there overnight, so there are fewer chances of a delay due to clean-up or maintenance.
It also noted that there is less turbulence in the early morning compared to during the day, leading to smoother flights. Another benefit would be an easier upgrade to first class. Kiwi.com notes that “elite travelers don’t usually fly early mornings because they can afford not to. This means shorter upgrade lists and a better chance of obtaining an upgrade.”
You might have to rise earlier, but you can have a last-minute luxury if needed.
Viewers are Shocked at the Price
One of Andrew’s viewers says, “Where could you possibly be going for a $5000 plane ticket bro.” Andrew then replies, “Headed to LA then New York first class.”
One viewer shares that such a steep price for a domestic flight is not worth it, but another replies, “After 2 hours it hurts ESPECIALLY if you’re tall.”
Another viewer shares their thoughts, “My parents told me it’s because everyone usually leaves for flights before work/school or after work/school… so like 11-2 it’s like prime time to fly…”
Lastly, one viewer shares what could be another advantage to some people. “Also early flight early arrive. Maximize travel time,” they say.
@andrews_garage Did you know this about flying? #flying #travel #airport #funfact ♬ original sound – andrews_garage
The Mary Sue reached out to the creator via email.
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