J, P and C = Envoy Class
Y, B, M, H, K, Q, V and L = Coach

OK, I understand that there are different fare codes. I booked PHL - FRA RT from the web site. Two coach options: Coach = $ 349 and Unrestricted Coach = $ 2200. I booked $ 349. When I called today to use mile to upgrade to Envoy (done it many times b4) they told me that it was a 'V' fare and is not upgradeable. But there is a $ 469 fare available that if I buy it will let me upgrade. This I did, hoping the company will not mind the price diff plus $ 200 change fee. How could I have found that $ 469 fare to start with? Should I use the web site only for flt info and call the 800 number to ask for the lowest priced upgradeable ticket?

Sorry for the length. thanks

Ps. I'm Gold and can smell CP.

It is virtually impossible to deliberately purchase anything other than the cheapest available fare on the website.

At every click of the mouse they steer you to the cheapest fare.

And then they complain that we don't buy the others...

If you'd like to try you need to first go to "more options". Then find the "class of service" dropdown. Select "coach/economy without restrictions". This will give you access to unrestricted fares. These usually cause people to flee in terror -- they tend to be outrageously priced...

There are also fares in the middle. Some of which are restricted but allow upgrades. I think the only way that you can find these is to select flexible travel dates. Then they show you a list of fares (but no fare codes) and you can guess which ones might be what you're looking for. Naturally you get to start all over again if you guess wrong.

Don't hit the back button. If you do hit the back button or otherwise confuse the site you probably only need to close the browser. You shouldn't have to reboot your PC. Although... I think I might have crashed the whole system a couple of days ago trying to apply upgrades to a "rule buster" award http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

To see how an airline website should be designed visit Southwest.com.

If your looking for different fare classes on USairways I recommend this usefull link

http://fs.usairways.com/abs/fareQuote.do

It's a real quick and easy way to see all the fare classes. FYI the first letter under the fare code is the code your looking for.

[This message has been edited by klawansky (edited 01-31-2003).]

I agree but as you can tell from my user name I live in Philly and fly once a week so that means - US Airways!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TomBascom:
It is virtually impossible to deliberately purchase anything other than the cheapest available fare on the website.

At every click of the mouse they steer you to the cheapest fare.

And then they complain that we don't buy the others...

If you'd like to try you need to first go to "more options". Then find the "class of service" dropdown. Select "coach/economy without restrictions". This will give you access to unrestricted fares. These usually cause people to flee in terror -- they tend to be outrageously priced...

There are also fares in the middle. Some of which are restricted but allow upgrades. I think the only way that you can find these is to select flexible travel dates. Then they show you a list of fares (but no fare codes) and you can guess which ones might be what you're looking for. Naturally you get to start all over again if you guess wrong.

Don't hit the back button. If you do hit the back button or otherwise confuse the site you probably only need to close the browser. You shouldn't have to reboot your PC. Although... I think I might have crashed the whole system a couple of days ago trying to apply upgrades to a "rule buster" award http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

To see how an airline website should be designed visit Southwest.com.</font>

Thanks - I actually have seen the same - you can get there from their home page, I just need to know how to book other than the cheapest fair.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by klawansky:
If your looking for different fare classes on USairways I recommend this usefull link

http://fs.usairways.com/abs/fareQuote.do

It's a real quick and easy way to see all the fare classes. FYI the first letter under the fare code is the code your looking for.

[This message has been edited by klawansky (edited 01-31-2003).]</font>

Go to flexible dates. Click on the fare you want to see. (you can look on the right under "Rules !" and click there so see what the fare basis is). Click on the outbound date & if available, you will be taken to a screen. Click on an available return date, then click. If the return is available, it will fare out. Then click purchase & go from there.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chemist661:
Go to flexible dates. Click on the fare you want to see. (you can look on the right under "Rules !" and click there so see what the fare basis is). Click on the outbound date & if available, you will be taken to a screen. Click on an available return date, then click. If the return is available, it will fare out. Then click purchase & go from there. </font>

the problem with this method is that it will not allow you to buy a roundtrip where the return is on a different fare basis than the outbound. this might be useful for example if you want to upgrade only on the way to europe but not on the way back, or if the cheaper fare is sold out in one direction but not the other.

I would give a friendly call to consumer affairs. Tell them you are a preferred customer and would like an exception made this one time. Most likely they will wave the fee and do it right there or issue you a $200 voucher to "offset" the cost of changing fare.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chemist661:
Go to flexible dates. Click on the fare you want to see. (you can look on the right under "Rules !" and click there so see what the fare basis is). Click on the outbound date & if available, you will be taken to a screen. Click on an available return date, then click. If the return is available, it will fare out. Then click purchase & go from there. </font>

I rest my case.

It is actually much easier. Select flexible dates. Place your pointer over any of the "i" symbols under the Fare Rules colunm. Do not click. Look down to your status bar (bottom of browser window) and you will see a lengthy URL. Towards the end of the URL you will find the fare basis code.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chemist661:
Go to flexible dates. Click on the fare you want to see. (you can look on the right under "Rules !" and click there so see what the fare basis is). Click on the outbound date & if available, you will be taken to a screen. Click on an available return date, then click. If the return is available, it will fare out. Then click purchase & go from there. </font>

Several times I have used the method that chemist661 suggested. It's odd that there can be several different fares that are all V fares (which you want to avoid if you want an upgradeable ticket). The lowest upgradeable fare is a Q fare. Click on the blue buttons to the right of the various fares and a window with the different fare rules will appear.

You guys all need to visit Southwest's website. No need to actually purchase a ticket -- just pretend. The process is incredibly simpler than US'. And it isn't because of "fewer destinations" or any other bunk. It's plain old good design.

There's no reason at all that US couldn't do the same. It's a culture of simplicity vs a cult of obscurity.