United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - United.com Now Showing All-In Fares

As of this afternoon, united.com is now showing fares INCLUDING taxes. ^

Was looking at fares yesterday and figured I'd just book today, but was surprised to see everything go up sharply overnight...After clicking through, I saw that the fares displayed in the search area are the same as the final total when you go to check out.

I checked similar on continental.com, and they're NOT showing things all-in yet. A EWR-LGA search showed $331, then another $20 in taxes on top of it.

I recall reading where this was becoming law at some point...But it's nice to see it without having to go through the extra steps to see what the ticket will truly cost--especially on international tix where the taxes vary so greatly.

^ ^ If this sticks it would be great.

I believe they now (or starting sometime this month) are required to do so by the US Gov't. I remember UA's marketing campaign a few years back about quoting UA insisting that they would advertise their fares as roundtrips (rather than "one-way based on r/t basis") as they told consumers it wasn't fair to quote something misleading. Since other airlines didn't follow suit, UA went back to their old ways unfort.

Correct, the new DOT rules go into enforcement next week, UA is just ahead of the game. While I understand both sides of the argument and see the airlines' point of view, this is still a change that I am very happy about.

Understanding airfares no longer up in the air (http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/18/travel/airlines-prices/index.html?hpt=tr_c2)

This confused me for a minute as well. Although I initially just thought that there was an overnight jump in the fare I was looking at. Good thing it was not a jump, just a change to include taxes. ^

This is one "interference" by the government I fully agree with. Thanks to UA for implementing it a little early even though UA.bomb is going away soon.

CO.com has not been updated yet.

-RM

Correct, the new DOT rules go into enforcement next week, UA is just ahead of the game. While I understand both sides of the argument and see the airlines' point of view, this is still a change that I am very happy about.

Understanding airfares no longer up in the air (http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/18/travel/airlines-prices/index.html?hpt=tr_c2)Yup ^ (and I'm amazed that the Bomb programmers not only got it right but got it in ahead of time ;))

AFAIK, the united.com award booking engine has shown all-in prices for quite a while now. I remember the mileage price points coming up as "25,000 miles & 5.00" even for a Miles award (not Miles & Money).

This is one "interference" by the government I fully agree with. Thanks to UA for implementing it a little early even though UA.bomb is going away soon.

CO.com has not been updated yet.

-RM

Just wondering, do you think restaurants should include sales tax prices in their menu items?

Just wondering, do you think restaurants should include sales tax prices in their menu items?

No, but they should include their 9/11 fees.

And their cooking oil surcharges.

And their cooking oil surcharges.

+ 1 -- the issue with air travel is there was no common rule for the delta between the price with or without "taxes & fees."

Traditionally most purchases such as restaurants, etcetera, were clear -- Sales tax is add. Service charge / tip (in the USA) usually is optional except for large groups.

On the internet it is getting fuzzy since sales taxes may or may not be included and there may or may not be a shipping fee.

Just wondering, do you think restaurants should include sales tax prices in their menu items?


Maybe, maybe not. But I know when I look at the menu, that $10 sandwich is going to cost me $10.60 in Michigan, with a flat 6% added on.

With the airlines, who knows...Some tix are $40-ish, some are $20-ish. Tix to London have this amount, tix to Shanghai have that amount.

I've gotta agree, I don't like the government sticking their snouts in much, but this one is good.

I've gotta agree, I don't like the government sticking their snouts in much, but this one is good.
+1

And strangely some tickets at Co.com and United.com recently would have different fares, different fees, and the same all-in cost. All the games did was waste my time.

I personally am glad to see all in pricing back. If I do remember correctly, United.com used to display pricing like this a few years ago, and was one of the last major carriers to show it like this.

Just wondering, do you think restaurants should include sales tax prices in their menu items?

I know that query was directed at somebody else, but...hey, public board. :). So I'll chime in.

Yes, I would like to see restaurants and all other stores list all-in prices. I'd also like to eliminate the minimum-wage exemption for restaurant staff and eliminate mandatory tipping. I'm an American (USian?) since birth, and I understand the system perfectly well... but one of the things I like about traveling to Europe is price transparency. You pay the price on the tag. For groceries, beer, restaurant meals, whatever.

And, for what it's worth, I'm also a big fan of government intervention, but that's a separate issue. :)

I saw that on united.com at 1am this morning and thought the price had gone up $30. I didn't realize it included the taxes and fees until this evening. continental.com is now showing the total price too.

Just wondering, do you think restaurants should include sales tax prices in their menu items?Yes -- and they should arrange to pay their employees directly instead of via the absurd practice :rolleyes:f tipping.

I am VERY happy to see airlines quote all-in prices, particularly when taxes and fees for some itineraries are far more than the actual underlying fare. (At least with sales tax it's a known percentage of a known (via the menu) amount.)

Just did a couple of searches on the iPhone app, and they now are all in, too.

Yay! Glad it's back.

Just wondering, do you think restaurants should include sales tax prices in their menu items?
Some states don't allow this. I think in these states stores are required to list sales tax as a separate line item. An added complication is that sales taxes are computed as a percentage of the total sale (of taxable items) rather than per-item.

As an interesting example if stores were allowed to compute taxes per-item, they could price items so that the tax ended up rounding down every time. In fact, I wonder if I could buy 10x fractional cheeseburgers and pay no tax? :)

At any rate, even in the normal case, the price that appeared on your receipt would differ from the menu price and so that would end up being confusing for everyone.

I remember hearing that a hold feature is required by the new regulations. Any idea if that's coming soon?
Sorely missing Unavaca's tool.

Yes -- and they should arrange to pay their employees directly instead of via the absurd practice :rolleyes:f tipping.

I am VERY happy to see airlines quote all-in prices, particularly when taxes and fees for some itineraries are far more than the actual underlying fare. (At least with sales tax it's a known percentage of a known (via the menu) amount.)

Right now I'm looking at a FRA-CDG fare this summer that's about $114 R/T. $1 is the fare and $113 in taxes.

I remember hearing that a hold feature is required by the new regulations. Any idea if that's coming soon?
Sorely missing Unavaca's tool.
Well, not a hold feature per se. What's required is actually pretty much exactly inline with the current UA policy. Namely, fares purchased more than a week in advance can be refunded within 24 hours. I believe UA will refund your fare anytime within 24 hours.

The law also requires prominent disclosures of all possible fees, etc. And not that it applies to anyone on FT, but if the airline loses your luggage, you get luggage fees refunded.

As for the restaurant comparison, it's even worse here in SF. The restaurants can add a "Healthy SF" fee of a few percent to your total bill to pay for health insurance. Now, I'm all for workers getting health insurance (I'm a good liberal), but this fee in addition to tax and tip just makes it nonsensical. I'm all for seeing menu prices "all-in".

Just wondering, do you think restaurants should include sales tax prices in their menu items?

I absolutely think they should. And stores as well, just like in Europe. It's a well-established fact that most customers do not properly see through tax differences (and differentiations) and therefore are mildly confused about what they're paying. (EG, different pieces of apparel are taxed differently in NYC, but I bet that most of the incentive effect of that is lost because almost nobody understands it.) If you want people to be aware of tax burden, you can mention it on price tags.

Just wondering, do you think restaurants should include sales tax prices in their menu items?Infantile comparison. :td:

I know that query was directed at somebody else, but...hey, public board. :). So I'll chime in.

Yes, I would like to see restaurants and all other stores list all-in prices. I'd also like to eliminate the minimum-wage exemption for restaurant staff and eliminate mandatory tipping. I'm an American (USian?) since birth, and I understand the system perfectly well... but one of the things I like about traveling to Europe is price transparency. You pay the price on the tag. For groceries, beer, restaurant meals, whatever.

And, for what it's worth, I'm also a big fan of government intervention, but that's a separate issue. :)

Personally, I'm against the "all-in" price. I think that this is just another way that the government can roll more taxes into an airline ticket and no one will ever notice. I think the negative energy needs to go into doing something about the absurd taxes in the industry, not the way airlines market their tickets.

Hotel taxes are insane too, when I check-out and see the extra $/ night due to taxes I go "DANG! Those are some high taxes!" I don't blame the hotel and say the were lying to me about their nightly rate (which is always marketed sans tax).

Hotel taxes are insane too, when I check-out and see the extra $/ night due to taxes I go "DANG! Those are some high taxes!" I don't blame the hotel and say the were lying to me about their nightly rate (which is always marketed sans tax).

You would if the "Energy fee" had caught on and stuck.

If the tax is really a tax I don't mind it being seperate. But stuff like what Sprint pulled in the late 90's is over the top. (Real Estate tax recovery fee. )

Well, not a hold feature per se. What's required is actually pretty much exactly inline with the current UA policy. Namely, fares purchased more than a week in advance can be refunded within 24 hours. I believe UA will refund your fare anytime within 24 hours.

What about fares purchased within seven days?

Going nuts waiting for the go/no-go on a trip to EZE where I must be at the customer site the morning of Jan 30, but don't want to risk booking now and then having it scuttled.

What about fares purchased within seven days?


Fares purchased within the seven day window aren't subject to the DOT rule (in effect Jan. 24, IIRC) that requires a refund within 24 hours or a 24-hr hold period. What UA does as policy is a different matter.

Well, not a hold feature per se. What's required is actually pretty much exactly inline with the current UA policy. Namely, fares purchased more than a week in advance can be refunded within 24 hours. I believe UA will refund your fare anytime within 24 hours.


From this (http://news.yahoo.com/airline-specific-dot-rules-effect-next-week-004300644.html) article it seems that there might be some hold without payment requirement as well.

"What is changing about airline reservations?
According to the Kansas City Star, when it comes to airline reservations travelers will be able to make and hold a reservation for 24-hours without being required to pay for the flight. In addition, as the report points out, potential passengers will be able to cancel those reservations without charge within that same 24-hour period."

I guess we'll see in a few days.

EDIT- Sorry- after looking it up at DOT (http://airconsumer.dot.gov/rules/EAPP_2_FAQ_01-11-2012final.pdf) - you are correct, the phraseology is "allowing reservations to be held at the quoted fare without payment, or cancelled without penalty, for at least twentyfour hours after the reservation is made if the reservation is made one week or more prior to a flight’s departure date." So I guess no hold tool:(