Multicity cheaper than roundtrip
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
Multicity cheaper than roundtrip
Was looking at this roundtrip RDU-DTW:
But when pricing the same four flights in a multicity RDU-DTW-ORD-RDU:
Granted the inventory classes are different (M for $473, S for $332) but why doesn't the roundtrip search find the cheaper fare?
But when pricing the same four flights in a multicity RDU-DTW-ORD-RDU:
Granted the inventory classes are different (M for $473, S for $332) but why doesn't the roundtrip search find the cheaper fare?
#2
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
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As American Airlines and US Airways are still operating as distinct airlines, this question is being moved to the appropriate pre-merger airline forum.
Please note the sticky at the top of the consolidated thread which is titled PLEASE READ ME BEFORE POSTING! Welcome to the New American Airlines Forum!. With all of the changes about, it is important to know where to post, and reading that thread before posting (as the title suggests ) will help get you in the right place.
~Moderator
Please note the sticky at the top of the consolidated thread which is titled PLEASE READ ME BEFORE POSTING! Welcome to the New American Airlines Forum!. With all of the changes about, it is important to know where to post, and reading that thread before posting (as the title suggests ) will help get you in the right place.
~Moderator
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
I don't think the AA site "breaks" fares (nor would I expect it to); it just finds the cheapest fare in the market you asked (e.g. RDU - DTW).
Great work on your part doing it though!
Great work on your part doing it though!
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YQM
Posts: 341
This issue has been exposed already by Seth Miller on the Wandering Aramean blog: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines play dirty with fare construction, too
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
That link implies the airlines are doing something underhand. I am not sure I agree with that (and I never defend the airlines!)
#6
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Honolulu, HI
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 1,240
Not the way I see it. It's just exposing that airlines don't show you the lowest fare available, when lower fares are available. That's certainly not customer friendly. I have encountered tons of such situations and had to go to OTA to book them, just because the AA website will loop.
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
Multicity cheaper than roundtrip
Did any of the search tools like kayak, ita or hipmunk show the lower fare?
Rasheed
Rasheed
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,976
Were you actually able to book the lower fare?
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YQM
Posts: 341
There's a comment on the linked website that tries to explain what AA (or DL or UA) are doing.
Because of married segments, DTW-RDU (via ORD) only has M availability. Even though DTW-ORD and ORD-RDU both have cheaper S availability when searched separately or in multi-city.
Because of married segments, DTW-RDU (via ORD) only has M availability. Even though DTW-ORD and ORD-RDU both have cheaper S availability when searched separately or in multi-city.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
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Thought maybe ORD-CLE portion being Envoy Air had something to do with so I looked my booking further back and last year when I purchased simple IAH-LAS round trip on AA.com the return trip was LAS-DFW on Q fare and DFW-IAH on N fare.
I admit that I pretty much do simple round trip search all the time. Never thought I may find lower fare by doing multi-city search by breaking a trip at hub airports. Now I may start doing that… Wish I do not have to do that to find the lowest fare possible...
Just realized after posting the above, looks like OP was not searching fares on AA.com. Is it possible that search website has something to do with...?
#12
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AA EXP, PriorityClub Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold fivestar
Posts: 486
I have seen similar behavior in the past but wasn't actually able to book the multicity version.
I used to think that the fare buckets were tied to a particular flight. If U was available on 2052 and 2088 I would expect U to be available on a oneway ticket containing both flights. It turns out that I am wrong! See the attached image from EF:
I used to think that the fare buckets were tied to a particular flight. If U was available on 2052 and 2088 I would expect U to be available on a oneway ticket containing both flights. It turns out that I am wrong! See the attached image from EF:
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
My experience is that AA.com will return the lower fare when manually built but wlll not allow me to book it- error messages appear.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Greenville, SC
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 201
#15
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 282
I've done this several times for personal trips and have had no issues. Was concerned AA might cancel them, but IME they haven't.