ual.com Not Returning Economy Fares When Y Bucket Shows Availability?
Mar 20, 2015, 10:58 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: Hyatt Globalist (2020:Exp), United Gold
Posts: 1,525
Another way to approach this...document the fare rules. I have never seen a true A-fare on UA, and this is no exception. I see the fare as:
Could this be sufficient to meet your company policy? Especially with documentation that this really is the lowest fare.
PHL-HOU H H2UPY3
So this is an H-fare, which is an Economy fare, but upgrades into First. The fare rules in ITA and routing rules in ExpertFlyer both show this as Economy.Could this be sufficient to meet your company policy? Especially with documentation that this really is the lowest fare.
Mar 21, 2015, 8:42 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Radisson Rewards Gold, Best Western Diamond Select
Posts: 1,856
Another way to approach this...document the fare rules. I have never seen a true A-fare on UA, and this is no exception. I see the fare as:
Could this be sufficient to meet your company policy? Especially with documentation that this really is the lowest fare.
PHL-HOU H H2UPY3
So this is an H-fare, which is an Economy fare, but upgrades into First. The fare rules in ITA and routing rules in ExpertFlyer both show this as Economy.Could this be sufficient to meet your company policy? Especially with documentation that this really is the lowest fare.
Mar 21, 2015, 9:06 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
You could probably do that online ("Change Flights") after the ticket issues. I've done it. Good idea to book one of the other return flights that would cause the Economy ticket to match the AA price.
Mar 21, 2015, 9:22 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
I may not be following this accurately—I'm rather preoccupied while attending a conference on Venusian disarmament—but can't the OP buy both an AA ticket and a UA ticket? Then he may print out the AA receipt, cancel the AA reservation and fly the more expensive UA booking. He may then turn in the AA receipt and get reimbursed with a clear conscience. His employer isn't out a penny more than it would have been had he actually flown the AA booking.
Mar 21, 2015, 9:42 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
I may not be following this accurately—I'm rather preoccupied while attending a conference on Venusian disarmament—but can't the OP buy both an AA ticket and a UA ticket? Then he may print out the AA receipt, cancel the AA reservation and fly the more expensive UA booking. He may then turn in the AA receipt and get reimbursed with a clear conscience. His employer isn't out a penny more than it would have been had he actually flown the AA booking.
Mar 21, 2015, 12:05 pm
#21
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,834
... but can't the OP buy both an AA ticket and a UA ticket? Then he may print out the AA receipt, cancel the AA reservation and fly the more expensive UA booking. He may then turn in the AA receipt and get reimbursed with a clear conscience. His employer isn't out a penny more than it would have been had he actually flown the AA booking.
Submitting both receipts and clearly stating the OP optionally chose the more expensive but is request only the lower amount would be a possible options -- the worst would be being told not to do it again.
Mar 21, 2015, 12:49 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Honolulu / DC
Programs: UA 1K /2mm / Marriott Lifetime Titanium , Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,051
And remember, just because you see a fare bucket available, it doesn't mean there is a published fare associated with it. For instance, if you searched for PHL-MCO connecting through IAD, it might return an M.
Mar 21, 2015, 1:11 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Radisson Rewards Gold, Best Western Diamond Select
Posts: 1,856
Another wrinkle our travel site gets a 6% discount so to change flights would mean I would have to pay that amount also. So my best option at this point is to probably just fly back via Chicago or sacrifice some miles and stay the rest of the week in NYC with my brother and come back from LGA