US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - US reduces First class fares on select routes

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031029/dcw063_1.html

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways has dramatically reduced First Class fares on flights to Las Vegas, Montego Bay and Grand Bahama Island, for travel through Jan. 31, 2004.
"First Class customers can check in at exclusive counters, enjoy priority boarding, relax in roomy leather seats and enjoy complimentary cocktails and other amenities," said Steve Tracas, US Airways vice president of sales and marketing. "Whether headed to the Caribbean or the casinos, customers can now make their entire vacation extraordinary by flying First Class for less."

For more information on these discounts, call US Airways toll-free at 866- 204-7804 or visit usairways.com/firstclass.

Roundtrip
Destination First Class Fares
Las Vegas $498
Grand Bahama Island $400-$500
Montego Bay $500-$600


Fares are based on required roundtrip First Class travel through Jan. 31, 2004. Depending upon travel needs, part of the service may be provided at the same fare in coach class on regional aircraft operated by US Airways Express carriers Allegheny, Air Midwest, Chautauqua, Colgan, Mesa, Midway, Piedmont, PSA, Shuttle America or Trans States. Depending on the itinerary, some or all flight segments may be operated by United Airlines®. Fares to international destinations not valid on codeshare flights.

Tickets must be purchased at least seven days in advance of travel and within 24 hours of making the reservation. Tickets become non-refundable 24 hours after making initial reservation. Wholly unused tickets may be changed for one year after the original issue date of the ticket for a minimum $100 fee, if they are cancelled on or before the departure date of each flight segment. If changes are not made on or before the departure date of each flight, the entire remaining ticket will have no further value. For Las Vegas travel, a minimum one night stay is required. For Grand Bahama Island and Montego Bay, a minimum three-night or Saturday night-stay is required and maximum 30-day stay allowed. Travel must be completed by Jan. 31, 2004. Seats are limited and may be sold out on some flights or dates. Fares are not available in all markets.

Fares do not include a federal excise tax of $3, which will be imposed on each flight segment of the itinerary. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Fares are subject to the September Security Fee of up to $10 per itinerary, and up to $18 in airport passenger facility charges where applicable. International fares do not include government-imposed taxes, fees and surcharges of up to $65.

Looks like NW has matched - at least in PVD-LAS.

This announcement makes some sense in light of the USAirways survey making the rounds lately. The survey includes questions regarding your Carribbean travel in the past 12 months, what Carribbean destination you might consider traveling to in the upcoming 24 months, and then one of the drestinations you've selected is offered with the question "would you be interested in upgrading to First Class at the time of purchase if the First Class fare was $XXX more?", with XXX being some variable amount between very cheap and very expensive. US is/was apparently trying to determine the sweet spot price for selling First Class leisure tickets to holiday destinations.

When "my wife" took the survey today the hypotheical upgrade was $200 for First Class to Aruba. Given that Coach tickets to Aruba aren't cheap, $200 would seem fairly reasonable for a confirmed upgrade.

But unless the plane is larger than the standard 737/319, First Class would seemto be too small to be of any significant advantage to US.

Edited because I can't type worth crap.

[This message has been edited by pdhenry (edited 10-29-2003).]

Guess nobody is buying those $2000+ seats. I think this is just an attempt to squeeze the true cockroach out of upgrade opportunities.

"First Class customers can check in at exclusive counters, enjoy priority boarding, relax in roomy leather seats and enjoy complimentary cocktails and other amenities"

Exclusive Counters - already get that
Priority boarding - already get that
Other amenities - half portion of lower quality IFC

Notice the special phone number and that these are not available online. interesting

While this won't benefit upgraders.. . .

Holy Smokes!! These Einsteins are actually out there trying to raise revenue. Sound the horns and ring the bells. . .US is trying to sell its product!!

Is this dare I say it. . .fare rationalization???

On the other hand. . .that is the most expensive plastic glass anyone could ever sell!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NeoOfTheCRS:
Holy Smokes!! These Einsteins are actually out there trying to raise revenue. Sound the horns and ring the bells. . .US is trying to sell its product!!</font>

While I think this is a positive development, you have to ask the question: Is US F (in it's current state) worth a $200 premium on a $300 fare?

Two years ago, I would have jumped on this. Now, I'm not so sure.


------------------
Don't feed the trolls.

"As a First Class customer you will enjoy:
- Check-in at our exclusive First Class ticket counter;
- Priority boarding;
- The comfort of roomy leather seats;
- Complimentary cocktails and other amenities.

These low First Class fares will take your breath away, as will the destinations to which they will take you."

The condition of these decrepit FC cabins will take your breath away.

They appear to be tinkering with First Class, to see what its limits are. Case in point, the day in which, until yesterday, all the upgrade and First Class award inventory to Florida had been removed (11/22). I have referred to that numerous times on other threads.

i think you are a lil slow with this topic, us air's drop in first class fares are only in response to the first class airfare sale that america west started two weeks ago nationwide

America West has had special low First Class fares for months. They have one flight a day from PHL to LAS, and it's at night. USAirways flys several, at all hours, and has extended much of the discount F structure to the Islands, where HP has no presence. While you may have to be slow to fly US, I figure you gotta be a Vampire to fly America West. Seems most of what it does goes on after dark.

I agree with you Clue--I would not buy it for a free upgrade. But the point is--they are trying to sell product and generate revenue. It's amazing--although 18 months late.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ClueByFour:
While I think this is a positive development, you have to ask the question: Is US F (in it's current state) worth a $200 premium on a $300 fare?

Two years ago, I would have jumped on this. Now, I'm not so sure.


</font>

One wrinkle here is it is booked in F - so I get my corporate discount which does not apply to roach fares.

So for me PHL-LAS in confirmed F is $367 vs maybe $300 for a non-discounted roach fare. 7 day AP vs 14 day AP. And wouldn't I get the 50% COS bonus? An extra 2210 Q miles for $67 is not a bad deal...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by gardener:
One wrinkle here is it is booked in F - so I get my corporate discount which does not apply to roach fares.

So for me PHL-LAS in confirmed F is $367 vs maybe $300 for a non-discounted roach fare. 7 day AP vs 14 day AP. And wouldn't I get the 50% COS bonus? An extra 2210 Q miles for $67 is not a bad deal...</font>

OTOH being booked in F is a big hurdle with corporate travel groups -- they don't care what the $$$ are that one little letter brands you as a spendthrift. A Y fare would be better.

Y-UP or some other letter.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TomBascom:
OTOH being booked in F is a big hurdle with corporate travel groups -- they don't care what the $$$ are that one little letter brands you as a spendthrift. A Y fare would be better.</font>

Agreed, the "F-word" is a flag on the expense report, but I was thinking about a MR booked thru my corporate engine - we are allowed to do that and charge to a personal card.

My wife and I were planning a trip to LAS over the MLK weekend when this fare was announced. As of yesterday, the best coach fare on RIC-LAS was $486 and the first was $463. $23 less and 4,700 preferred miles to the good.

In the interest of full disclosure, there was a two connection outbound/red eye return for $447, but I just couldn't do it.

These farez (FE71SN) are starting to show up on PHL-SAN now also.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NeoOfTheCRS:
While this won't benefit upgraders.. . .
</font>

I'm doing a DCA-PHX with a LAS-DCA return in March (Southwest or America West for the short PHX-LAS), and LAS-any hub is F0 for all Sunday flights in mid-March. Obviously a function of this sale.

However, most flights are on 757s so they probably only sold 8 F seats ... will they have finished the seat conversions by then? This will help determine whether I fly US or UA.