Jim Fair
The average domestic airfare from Greenville-Spartanburg Airport was $401.99 in the fourth quarter of 2014, according to USDOT.
The average domestic fare from GSP was $401.99 in the fourth quarter of 2014, according to USDOT. However, that represented an increase of $27.19, its lowest airfare ($374.80) recorded in the 4th quarter of 2013.
The USDOT ranks the top 100 airports based on average domestic fare. In the fourth quarter of 2014, the average domestic fare out of GSP was 7.3 percent lower ($31.26) than Charlotte ($433.25) and 4 percent lower ($16.76) than Atlanta ($418.75.).
In the same report, GSP was credited with a 38.1 percent drop ($247.10) since 2000 ($649.09).
Regional airports and their average domestic fares. For a complete list of the top 100 airports click here.
|
Rank |
Airport |
Inflation-Adjusted Average Domestic Itinerary Fares (2014$) |
||||||
|
4Q 2000 |
4Q 2011 |
4Q 2012 |
4Q 2013 |
4Q 2014 |
2000-2014 |
2013-2014 |
||
|
14 |
Greensboro/High Point, NC |
469.90 | 417.49 | 420.30 | 426.60 | 443.91 |
-5.5 |
4.1 |
|
22 |
Charlotte, NC |
668.56 | 412.84 | 406.56 | 408.57 | 433.25 |
-35.2 |
6.0 |
|
34 |
Atlanta, GA |
478.09 | 393.39 | 368.96 | 402.12 | 418.75 |
-12.4 |
4.1 |
|
48 |
Greenville-Spartanburg |
649.09 | 395.65 | 402.99 | 374.80 | 401.99 |
-38.1 |
7.3 |
|
56 |
Raleigh/Durham, NC |
404.68 | 360.73 | 356.92 | 375.15 | 390.89 |
-3.4 |
4.2 |
|
57 |
Charleston, SC |
581.94 | 427.50 | 428.32 | 399.91 | 390.86 |
-32.8 |
-2.3 |
Meanwhile, the DOT reported that airlines collected $3.5 billion in baggage fees last year, a 5 percent increase over 2013, and $3 billion in reservation-change fees, a 6 percent hike.
Fees began escalating in 2008, when airlines were losing money and facing a sharp rise in fuel prices. Today, they make up a growing share of airline revenue.
Southwest still lets customers check two bags or change a reservation for free. It gets 95 percent of revenue from the ticket price.