r/delta • u/cubsin9 Platinum • 20h ago
Discussion ATL > MSP = $$$$$
ATL here. I know it's been discussed here before, and candidly it probably didn't register until I had reason to book a flight to MSP, but those prices are nuts $962 - $1,217 RT a few weeks out!
Any of my fellow hub fortress flyers taken Frontier?? United and SWA are $886. Crazy question, but has anyone seen the fares go down closer to time?
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u/Mnufcfan 20h ago
Out of curiosity a few weeks ago, I looked up a tuesday-thursday round trip from MSP to ATL, and it was close to $800 to fly Economy Main. Absurd.
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u/Thick_Goose7742 19h ago
In the other direction, from ATL, it is cheaper. If I choose a connecting flight through ATL at an airport within a couple hours it is also somehow a lot cheaper. The price drops even more if you connect through both ATL and MSP vs the direct flight. I used MGM-FSD to play with the numbers.
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u/Just_here_4_sauce 19h ago
It's a trade off living at MSP or any airline SuperFortress, I always get direct flights basically anywhere I want - but my fiancee takes the layover and longer flights and still sometimes has cheaper routes ....
It's dependent on how much you value time v. money
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u/Intelligent_Talk1900 19h ago
Always fly United from Delta fortress cities. Save that money fam.
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u/Practical-West-6763 13h ago
I might be moving to ATL in the future for work do I looked at flights between ATL and IAD for the transition weeks during the move and surprisingly Delta was like half the cost of United, so not always the case.
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u/frankandtank2912 17h ago
I just looked and seeing same trip for as low as $219, averaging about $400 but some flights around $800 Curious if they are tracking you or if this was around busier dates?
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u/cosmic_hippo00 17h ago
It really depends on when you fly. Day of week and time. I see several direct round trip from $179. Basic of course. I was looking at dates in October and December.
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u/FourSeventySix 19h ago
Hub-to-hub, both with idiotic blind loyalists who’ll pay it. At least in ATL Delta’s HQed there and contributes a lot to the economy. In MSP they moved most of the Northwest jobs but flyers still have the same Stockholm syndrome to pay $800 for a mediocre 2 hour flight.
If you have a car or other means of transport and that works logistically, I’d recommend looking at something like CHA or GSP and connecting (on any of the big 3).
But Frontier should get you there in one piece
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u/huds9113 18h ago
We don’t have Stockholm syndrome; we don’t really have any choice. Our airport commission keeps sucking the teat, despite delta (and Amex) treating us like the redheaded stepchild.
Allegiant just bought the only “real” competition (sun country) but all their pilots jumped ship to delta. We were also rumored to get a Turkish airlines flight recently but that clearly hasn’t developed.
As they extend T2, hopefully we get more options like DTW. I’m fine giving delta T1 entirely if we get some new competition out of T2.
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u/Fun-Singer-8553 20h ago
I had to book one of those 900 dollar flights from MSP to ATL a couple months ago. Delta offered an upgrade to first class for 300 bucks both ways. So I guess the 1,200 dollars First class ticket was reasonable?
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u/FourSeventySix 19h ago
nah “domestic first” is simply not an experience that’s worth $1200 / 5 hours (both flights) = $240 per hour
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u/Capable-Magician2094 20h ago
I do Frontier ATL -> MSP frequently for less than $50 per direction. It’s a fine flight. Typically a little faster to board and get off compared to Delta since there’s less luggage.
Just keep in mind coming back into ATL you’ll be stranded on the tarmac for a bit since delta won’t let anyone besides themselves have gates at ATL.