The most savvy travelers, said Terry Trippler, the air-fare consultant for Cheapseats.com, "already know that fares are incredible" for many foreign destinations, as are package-trip promotions.
Private ferry operators and transportation consultants, however, warn that without subsidies, fares would exceed $3 and reduce the appeal to middle-class commuters.
Terry Trippler, the Minneapolis-based airline consultant and fare expert who has been highly critical of Northwest in the past, said yesterday that he was impressed by its refusal to join in the most recent fare increase.
One airline consultant and fare expert, Terry Trippler, said that some domestic markets might see an average cut of 10percentt below the previous lowest comparable fare, and some international markets might see a reduction of up to 20percentt.
"I'm just too concerned about the impact this will have on low-income and fixed-income riders". According to a city consultant, the fare increases could result in a loss of up to 40% of the system's 2.5 million annual users, Welch added.
You would not fare well as a consultant if you do not like people!
"It's not about the 20 cents (the amount by which bus fares increased)", says political consultant Bruno Hoffmann, "Brazilians are not only sick and tired of the poor quality of transportation, but also education, and healthcare.
According to Mr. Horan, the airline consultant, trans-Atlantic fares increased 46 percent between 2003 and 2008, versus 15 percent for domestic fares, and he sees other international routes moving in a similar direction.
"Anything that is discouraging to travel, all other things being equal, will put downward pressure on fares," said Bob Harrell, an industry consultant with Harrell Associates in New York.
The new chow fills a historical void, said Ed Schoenfeld, a restaurant consultant, who specializes in Chinese fare.
