Int'l First cheaper than Int'l Business?

[jmr50]

I just found (and subsequently purchased) an itinerary on AA metal where the fare in P was lower than the fare in Z. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of getting Int'l first for over $1000 less than business, but is this going to stick? It's shown as "ticketed" on AA.com. Am I worrying over nothing? Doesn't seem like a mistake fare (although just in case, no details). Thoughts?

[Dave Noble]

I am confused. For travel on AA, Z is an award booking class rather than a revenue class

Are you actually in 1st class on AA ?

[GB]

I have seen this several times on promotional First Class fares to PVG and PEK where First is cheaper than Business.

[jmr50]

Originally Posted by Dave Noble

I am confused. For travel on AA, Z is an award booking class rather than a revenue class

Are you actually in 1st class on AA ?

Sorry, I. What I bought was in P and are AA metal flights ticketed on AA.

[Paint Horse]

A couple of years back on BA from CAI to LHR I told the travel agent to book us in J. She put us in F instead as it was significantly cheaper.

[NA-Flyer]

Originally Posted by GB

I have seen this several times on promotional First Class fares to PVG and PEK where First is cheaper than Business.

With a visa free entry for up to 72 hours at both airports, this would make a great MR

[MikeFromTokyo]

Sometimes this happens on AFS three-class transcons. I believe the reason is higher demand for business class because of company travel policies that do not allow F travel.

[abk]

I have also seen this on Pvg and Pek fares as well as some Caribbean fares were business is only slightly more than coach. Lately, I think some of the AA fares lack rationality as they try and figures ways to increase revenue.

[blakepilot]

I've purchased a couple P fares well below I fares between DFW-LHR before with success. I don't know the rhyme or reason, as it seems to happen randomly, but it's completely legitimate.

[NA-Flyer]

Originally Posted by MikeFromTokyo

I believe the reason is higher demand for business class because of company travel policies that do not allow F travel.

It is a strange trend going now in the american corporate environment: travel departments see that F is cheaper but insist on booking J even if it's more expensive

[Sykes]

UA and AA are having a fare war for intl first. AA has F for around $3k from UA hubs (IAD, IAH, and perhaps others) to China and Japan. Likewise, UA has the same fares from MIA, DFW, BOS, and SAN. I wouldn't expect it to last too long (the current iteration goes away after 12/17, and possibly sooner).

[TheAAdmiral]

Originally Posted by NA-Flyer

With a visa free entry for up to 72 hours at both airports, this would make a great MR

Does this mean if my total time in China is less than 72 I don't need a visa?

[izzik]

Originally Posted by NA-Flyer

With a visa free entry for up to 72 hours at both airports, this would make a great MR

Originally Posted by TheAAdmiral

Does this mean if my total time in China is less than 72 I don't need a visa?

It's a visa-free TRANSIT up to 72 hours. Meaning you have to be heading to another country as a final destination. USA-Beijing-USA does not qualify.

[TheAAdmiral]

Originally Posted by izzik

It's a visa-free TRANSIT up to 72 hours. Meaning you have to be heading to another country as a final destination. USA-Beijing-USA does not qualify.

Thanks, we are actually going for less than 72 hours.

[Pucnit]

There is a fare sale in F to China right now I believe.