Is TK married segment control out of control?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: IST - NYC
Posts: 776
Is TK married segment control out of control?
I just returned from my travel agent and I am very confused.
I do understand that airlines use married segment control to target certain markets with special offers, however in TK's case I can't understand the logic.
For February I wanted to book ZRH CPT / JNB ZRH in "J" or "K".
Checking availability for the single segments the system shows:
JNB IST C9 D9 K9 J9
IST ZRH C9 D9 K9 J4
Requesting JNB ZRH, the system returns:
C2 D0 K0 J0
Since TK couldn't even confirm "K" class, I purchased the biz partner special on SAA ex FRA.
Next example is even stranger for a trip in May:
CDG BKK shows C9 D9 K7 J4 and I reserved 2 "J" seats.
BKK CDG shows C9 D9 K9 J9
Once my travel agent reserved the 2 "J" seats
for the outbound, he requested availability for the return flights.
With the reserved outbound flight, availability for the return portion suddenly changed to C5 D0 K0 J0.
He ignored my booking and checked availability again for BKK CDG.
The system returned: C9 D9 K9 J9.
My TA called TK and they said they have a married segment control
where the availability of the return flight depends on the day of travel for the outbound?
I thought this is what minimum and maximum stay rules are for?
Very confusing. Since they couldn't get me a confirmed seat in "J" or "K", I purchased the LX "P" special for 1.980, which is the same amount that TK charges in "J".
I do understand that airlines use married segment control to target certain markets with special offers, however in TK's case I can't understand the logic.
For February I wanted to book ZRH CPT / JNB ZRH in "J" or "K".
Checking availability for the single segments the system shows:
JNB IST C9 D9 K9 J9
IST ZRH C9 D9 K9 J4
Requesting JNB ZRH, the system returns:
C2 D0 K0 J0
Since TK couldn't even confirm "K" class, I purchased the biz partner special on SAA ex FRA.
Next example is even stranger for a trip in May:
CDG BKK shows C9 D9 K7 J4 and I reserved 2 "J" seats.
BKK CDG shows C9 D9 K9 J9
Once my travel agent reserved the 2 "J" seats
for the outbound, he requested availability for the return flights.
With the reserved outbound flight, availability for the return portion suddenly changed to C5 D0 K0 J0.
He ignored my booking and checked availability again for BKK CDG.
The system returned: C9 D9 K9 J9.
My TA called TK and they said they have a married segment control
where the availability of the return flight depends on the day of travel for the outbound?
I thought this is what minimum and maximum stay rules are for?
Very confusing. Since they couldn't get me a confirmed seat in "J" or "K", I purchased the LX "P" special for 1.980, which is the same amount that TK charges in "J".
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: *G, used to be with TK but left due to their corruption and political ties
Posts: 4,404
I've noticed the same thing. With TK, outbound segments will affect inbound segments, even though there are days apart. Once with a multi-city booking spanning over two eeks I could get the right availability only by booking in this order:
1. 3rd+4th segment
2. 1st segment
3. 2nd segment
That ZRH-CPT shows much less availability than the flights individually is another matter thought, that is TK business decision. If they don't want to sell cheap tickets on that market then we just go somewhere else (or pay the premium).
1. 3rd+4th segment
2. 1st segment
3. 2nd segment
That ZRH-CPT shows much less availability than the flights individually is another matter thought, that is TK business decision. If they don't want to sell cheap tickets on that market then we just go somewhere else (or pay the premium).
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 705
I just returned from my travel agent and I am very confused.
I do understand that airlines use married segment control to target certain markets with special offers, however in TK's case I can't understand the logic.
For February I wanted to book ZRH CPT / JNB ZRH in "J" or "K".
Checking availability for the single segments the system shows:
JNB IST C9 D9 K9 J9
IST ZRH C9 D9 K9 J4
Requesting JNB ZRH, the system returns:
C2 D0 K0 J0
Since TK couldn't even confirm "K" class, I purchased the biz partner special on SAA ex FRA.
Next example is even stranger for a trip in May:
CDG BKK shows C9 D9 K7 J4 and I reserved 2 "J" seats.
BKK CDG shows C9 D9 K9 J9
Once my travel agent reserved the 2 "J" seats
for the outbound, he requested availability for the return flights.
With the reserved outbound flight, availability for the return portion suddenly changed to C5 D0 K0 J0.
He ignored my booking and checked availability again for BKK CDG.
The system returned: C9 D9 K9 J9.
My TA called TK and they said they have a married segment control
where the availability of the return flight depends on the day of travel for the outbound?
I thought this is what minimum and maximum stay rules are for?
Very confusing. Since they couldn't get me a confirmed seat in "J" or "K", I purchased the LX "P" special for €1.980, which is the same amount that TK charges in "J".
I do understand that airlines use married segment control to target certain markets with special offers, however in TK's case I can't understand the logic.
For February I wanted to book ZRH CPT / JNB ZRH in "J" or "K".
Checking availability for the single segments the system shows:
JNB IST C9 D9 K9 J9
IST ZRH C9 D9 K9 J4
Requesting JNB ZRH, the system returns:
C2 D0 K0 J0
Since TK couldn't even confirm "K" class, I purchased the biz partner special on SAA ex FRA.
Next example is even stranger for a trip in May:
CDG BKK shows C9 D9 K7 J4 and I reserved 2 "J" seats.
BKK CDG shows C9 D9 K9 J9
Once my travel agent reserved the 2 "J" seats
for the outbound, he requested availability for the return flights.
With the reserved outbound flight, availability for the return portion suddenly changed to C5 D0 K0 J0.
He ignored my booking and checked availability again for BKK CDG.
The system returned: C9 D9 K9 J9.
My TA called TK and they said they have a married segment control
where the availability of the return flight depends on the day of travel for the outbound?
I thought this is what minimum and maximum stay rules are for?
Very confusing. Since they couldn't get me a confirmed seat in "J" or "K", I purchased the LX "P" special for €1.980, which is the same amount that TK charges in "J".
GIVE TK CREDIT WHEN ITS DUE,THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS,PROBABLY BCS MR FREDDY DID NOT TELLEM!!
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,103
Agree, TK married segment issue seems excessive. I haven't encountered it so much with any other airline. Used to fly ATH-IST-JFK r/t but because of so many problems with married segment availability have given up on TK on that route and now fly other airlines.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
I agree - IT IS ANNOYING, but... I understand why they do this: for now there is a very small number of C seats e.g. on 77W they have only 28 seats (same on A333). They simply have to try to sell at the highest possible price. It might change with new 77W's as I believe C config will then be in the range of 40-50 seats. Please also remember that from may secondary airports (like FRU) TK is the only carrier offering logical connections to many parts of the world, so they do not always have to compete on price.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: IST - NYC
Posts: 776
I agree - IT IS ANNOYING, but... I understand why they do this: for now there is a very small number of C seats e.g. on 77W they have only 28 seats (same on A333). They simply have to try to sell at the highest possible price. It might change with new 77W's as I believe C config will then be in the range of 40-50 seats. Please also remember that from may secondary airports (like FRU) TK is the only carrier offering logical connections to many parts of the world, so they do not always have to compete on price.
My most recent experiences are for popular routes.
E.g. CDG BKK in J is 1,980, K 2,600, D 3,600, C 5,090
While BKK IST and IST CDG show separately C9 D9 K9 J9
BKK CDG as through connection shows as C5 D0 K0 J0.
So their system is only willing to sell the 5,090 fare on the CDG BKK rt route for certain days and connections.
Not only that, C shows 9 on the flights separately, yet as through connection the system is only willing to sell 5 seats @ 5,090.
This logic is true for many flights I wanted to purchase but ended up with TK's competition. I usually only buy J and K. Very high season, like Christmas to BKK or CPT I am ready to pay D. But only making D or C available on a random weekday, off season, 6 months out while the flights are wide open, is a strange decision.