Premium Fares "Super Low $ "
Feb 3, 2014, 8:58 pm
#31
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 117
Exactly! A subforum not only make it easier for us passengers to learn of discount fares, it also makes it much easier for airline reps to monitor developments in the forum. So, it's a double-edged sword . . .
Feb 3, 2014, 9:46 pm
#32
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London (~75% of the year).
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 474
a) Some people are happy to share widely without a trust agreement strongly in place to prevent wider dissemination.
b) Some people want a sense that it won't spread and are willing to hope that in a public forum with a tight community such as here nobody will spread the word. These are the people who feel there is a clear agreement and then get very frustrated when people break it (calling airlines to ticket, blogging etc.).
c) Others are only willing to share certain things unless where this is a strong trust agreement in place and don't view the public FT forums as providing this.
Options:
* as many have said: build up personal connections and earn trust/respect by being helpful. Then you are likely to get access to more of the chatter in category (c) above.
* enforce the sense of agreement on public FT forums. E.g. require people to read and OK an agreement on expected behaviour before gaining access to a forum, or limit it to people with a certain number of posts etc.
* Just be OK that the world is imperfect and this area is OK in it's current state of imperfection
.
Feb 3, 2014, 9:55 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London (~75% of the year).
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 474
Ethics?
On a separate point: is anyone else troubled by the ethics of booking a massively unprofitable mistake fare?
I'd like to live in a world where I'm treated fairly regardless of rules, and fiure that means I should do likewise! I dislike the idea that faceless organisations often struggle to do this (or don't try) and note I then start to be feel like descending to their level.
E.g. I'm slightly ashamed to admit I like that Etihad might loose a tonne of money on mistake F fares given two staff (one a manager) recently treated a friend in a manner I frankly consider evil (gloating they'd make sure he was deported to Syria rather than let him board despite likely knowing it's a death sentence for him: fortunately it worked out after some legal bribing in the office).
I'd like to live in a world where I'm treated fairly regardless of rules, and fiure that means I should do likewise! I dislike the idea that faceless organisations often struggle to do this (or don't try) and note I then start to be feel like descending to their level.
E.g. I'm slightly ashamed to admit I like that Etihad might loose a tonne of money on mistake F fares given two staff (one a manager) recently treated a friend in a manner I frankly consider evil (gloating they'd make sure he was deported to Syria rather than let him board despite likely knowing it's a death sentence for him: fortunately it worked out after some legal bribing in the office).
Feb 3, 2014, 10:23 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Democratic People's Republic of Victoria
Programs: First Time Flyer
Posts: 833
Do you all realise that there is already a Good Deal Premium Fares thread that covers "Good Deal Premium Fares"? Over the past few years those threads have been among the best on FT, especially reading between the lines.
Good Deal Premium Fares 2014
Good Deal Premium Fares 2014
Feb 3, 2014, 10:33 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Democratic People's Republic of Victoria
Programs: First Time Flyer
Posts: 833
Regarding information sharing: I think it is a delicate balancing act of "sharing the love" with the community, and keeping it on the down low, so it doesn't get shut down [too quickly].
There are some who are very secretive and some who want to repost deals and yell from the rooftops. In the past I have found that being crypic and sending PMs can achieve the "best of both worlds" with many of these things. There are some things which I know that I do not discuss online at all.
At the end of the day, do your own research. I have been "around" for a little while, but I am still learning all the time.
I will also add that if you contribute positively to the community and attend events you tend to get more out of this forum (and it's cousins)...
There are some who are very secretive and some who want to repost deals and yell from the rooftops. In the past I have found that being crypic and sending PMs can achieve the "best of both worlds" with many of these things. There are some things which I know that I do not discuss online at all.
At the end of the day, do your own research. I have been "around" for a little while, but I am still learning all the time.
I will also add that if you contribute positively to the community and attend events you tend to get more out of this forum (and it's cousins)...
Feb 3, 2014, 11:02 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
On a separate point: is anyone else troubled by the ethics of booking a massively unprofitable mistake fare?
I'd like to live in a world where I'm treated fairly regardless of rules, and fiure that means I should do likewise! I dislike the idea that faceless organisations often struggle to do this (or don't try) and note I then start to be feel like descending to their level.
E.g. I'm slightly ashamed to admit I like that Etihad might loose a tonne of money on mistake F fares given two staff (one a manager) recently treated a friend in a manner I frankly consider evil (gloating they'd make sure he was deported to Syria rather than let him board despite likely knowing it's a death sentence for him: fortunately it worked out after some legal bribing in the office).
I'd like to live in a world where I'm treated fairly regardless of rules, and fiure that means I should do likewise! I dislike the idea that faceless organisations often struggle to do this (or don't try) and note I then start to be feel like descending to their level.
E.g. I'm slightly ashamed to admit I like that Etihad might loose a tonne of money on mistake F fares given two staff (one a manager) recently treated a friend in a manner I frankly consider evil (gloating they'd make sure he was deported to Syria rather than let him board despite likely knowing it's a death sentence for him: fortunately it worked out after some legal bribing in the office).
See this blog post: http://boardingarea.com/onemileatati...cost-airlines/
Feb 3, 2014, 11:51 pm
#37
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Here, there … you know how it goes.
Posts: 1,518
I can't comment on whether or nor there was a breach of etiquette, without slogging back through the thread. But when everyone is in the middle of trying to book a great deal, I call it 'the shark tank'. Not many people are going to take time before their own bookings are complete to give pointers to strangers over the internet. It's survival of the fittest. The best thing is to jump in and learn how to swim so that you will be ready for the next time.
I'm not so sure we need a sub-forum for Premium fares. Moderators are capable of splitting out posted fares that result in numerous posts - like this, though this one was posted in it's own, dedicated thread - and the Premium Fare thread is valuable to sift through when making other bookings.
My only complaint is with myself; so many people here are so wonderful (e.g. FarSiren) in sharing, I just really hope I discover something like this one day so that I may share with the board.
Feb 3, 2014, 11:54 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
Part of the problem with this particular fare is that it occurred mostly overnight (U.S. time). I'm in Thailand right now, 12 hours ahead of the U.S. East Coast, so overnight for Boston is daytime for Thailand. That certainly made it much easier for me to get on this.
Feb 3, 2014, 11:58 pm
#39
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Democratic People's Republic of Victoria
Programs: First Time Flyer
Posts: 833
But for many fares I find myself sleeping (or flying, or even working) during the US daytime / evening when many fares are "found", so I miss out and only notice posts after the fare is dead.
Feb 4, 2014, 1:37 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
Super Bowl Special
I don't usually go through these messages,but this one caught my eye.Since the game was a blowout, I had a chance to play travel agent all day, using the ITA website for fare comparisons.Since I was looking to book a flight to Australia for November, I have been looking at the different fares for a couple of weeks now. From my point of view, it looks like Emerites is pushing the prices down to attract business and first passengers away, and carriers like Singapore and Cathay have been sitting quietly watching and losing . Well on Sunday, action started, as Singapore lowered its business fares,and then came Thai due its baht issues,followed by Vietnam and the fun went on.Then from left field,here comes Etihad to the rescue and lowered its prices $500 under Emerites.
First class is a bit different, but Emerites has dropped it's price enough to go east not west.I simply called Etihad and against all sense booked a first class ticket for just under $8000 roundtrip london-syd sin-lon. With all those planes those guys are buying,it should be interesting watching how friendly the legacy carriers are with the guys cutting first and business fares in half.
First class is a bit different, but Emerites has dropped it's price enough to go east not west.I simply called Etihad and against all sense booked a first class ticket for just under $8000 roundtrip london-syd sin-lon. With all those planes those guys are buying,it should be interesting watching how friendly the legacy carriers are with the guys cutting first and business fares in half.
Feb 4, 2014, 2:11 am
#41
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
If people would like FT to consider the possibility of a separate sub forum for good premium fares, someone should start a thread to discuss this in the TalkBoard Topics forum. The arguments here in this forum to advocate this change won't get any attention here, but they will if you can make a case for a new sub forum in TalkBoard Topics.
It seems to me that there could be a case for this now, given that both DL (MQDs) and UA (PQDs?) now have some minimum revenue requirement for all of their elite status levels. Other FF programs might follow this trend in the near future. In a certain sense, AA has something like this for those who qualify using EQPs, although this isn't a lot different from all of the airline programs that give more status miles for premium cabin fares and sometimes even more expensive or full coach fare class tickets.
It seems to me that there could be a case for this now, given that both DL (MQDs) and UA (PQDs?) now have some minimum revenue requirement for all of their elite status levels. Other FF programs might follow this trend in the near future. In a certain sense, AA has something like this for those who qualify using EQPs, although this isn't a lot different from all of the airline programs that give more status miles for premium cabin fares and sometimes even more expensive or full coach fare class tickets.
Feb 4, 2014, 7:59 am
#42
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London (~75% of the year).
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 474
Feb 4, 2014, 9:14 am
#43
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: C1, C1.5 C2
Programs: aa ua dl jb starwood marriott hyatt
Posts: 442
I don't feel bad using these error flights because day in and day out airlines charge more for short distance flights than longer distance flights.
For finding them contribute, help others and when you find something great pm your
circle in case someone misses it.
I also have FT as my homepage but unfortunately for this latest US I recently changed to Chrome to easy translate the blogs and it homepages to google.
For finding them contribute, help others and when you find something great pm your
circle in case someone misses it.
I also have FT as my homepage but unfortunately for this latest US I recently changed to Chrome to easy translate the blogs and it homepages to google.
Feb 4, 2014, 12:52 pm
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Actually i think it's more about trust than numbers There is a modicum of connection between the two of course.
a) Some people are happy to share widely without a trust agreement strongly in place to prevent wider dissemination.
Some people want a sense that it won't spread and are willing to hope that in a public forum with a tight community such as here nobody will spread the word. These are the people who feel there is a clear agreement and then get very frustrated when people break it (calling airlines to ticket, blogging etc.).
c) Others are only willing to share certain things unless where this is a strong trust agreement in place and don't view the public FT forums as providing this.
Options:
* as many have said: build up personal connections and earn trust/respect by being helpful. Then you are likely to get access to more of the chatter in category (c) above.
* enforce the sense of agreement on public FT forums. E.g. require people to read and OK an agreement on expected behaviour before gaining access to a forum, or limit it to people with a certain number of posts etc.
* Just be OK that the world is imperfect and this area is OK in it's current state of imperfection.
a) Some people are happy to share widely without a trust agreement strongly in place to prevent wider dissemination.
Some people want a sense that it won't spread and are willing to hope that in a public forum with a tight community such as here nobody will spread the word. These are the people who feel there is a clear agreement and then get very frustrated when people break it (calling airlines to ticket, blogging etc.).
c) Others are only willing to share certain things unless where this is a strong trust agreement in place and don't view the public FT forums as providing this.
Options:
* as many have said: build up personal connections and earn trust/respect by being helpful. Then you are likely to get access to more of the chatter in category (c) above.
* enforce the sense of agreement on public FT forums. E.g. require people to read and OK an agreement on expected behaviour before gaining access to a forum, or limit it to people with a certain number of posts etc.
* Just be OK that the world is imperfect and this area is OK in it's current state of imperfection
.So if some of th ecognoscenti "adopt" another (say me ? ) after some PMs where I swear that I will not dissiminate this info 'Until _____date & _____ time .