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Old Sep 8, 2008, 9:26 am
  #1  
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UA's most expensive coach ticket?
Thought to see how much it would be to fly IAD-EZE in February. Astounded to see days when "lowest" (non-refundable) coach fare comes in at $2350. This is just over 10K of flying to this RT, meaning that the cost per mile is almost 23 cents?! Hard for me to believe that UA is selling non-refundable coach tickets for a sum like that, and I wondered if UA charges as much per mile on any other long distance route, let alone more on a cents per mile basis. Anyone aware of as expensive or more expensive UA routes?
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 9:31 am
  #2  
 
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This is an interesting question. It can be very misleading, however, to look just at cent/mile. For example, an L fare (which is cheap!) from CMH-ORD roundtrip works out to about $0.25/mile. Given this I'd think that the short haul flights (and not one of the uber cheap ones like CMH-ORD) would have the highest cost per mile.

As for longhauls, I'm not sure.
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 9:52 am
  #3  
 
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The funny thnig is I flew LAX-IAD-EZE for $606 in July! Off-peak I know, but still a big spread considering an extra transcon.

I doubt $2350 is the most expensive UA coach ticket, but it's probably in the top 10.
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 10:03 am
  #4  
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Originally Posted by CPMaverick
The funny thnig is I flew LAX-IAD-EZE for $606 in July! Off-peak I know, but still a big spread considering an extra transcon.

I doubt $2350 is the most expensive UA coach ticket, but it's probably in the top 10.
I would have done that. It even works out as a not unreasonable MR (just over 4 cpm). But don't know that it ever that cheap starting from this side of the country. (Was it?)

If UA has more expensive longhaul routes in coach, I wait to hear about them.
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 10:10 am
  #5  
 
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Just IMO, but this is too vague of a premise.

For example:

A coach ticket o/w for tomorrow MKE-ORD is 558.00 ($11.87/mi).

A coach ticket o/w for tomorrow MKE-PVG is 1525.90 ($.22/mi).
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 10:11 am
  #6  
 
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Originally Posted by CPMaverick
The funny thnig is I flew LAX-IAD-EZE for $606 in July! Off-peak I know, but still a big spread considering an extra transcon.

I doubt $2350 is the most expensive UA coach ticket, but it's probably in the top 10.
Was that a mistake fare, or just a really good deal? I remember when it surfaced . . . just not sure if it the fuel surcharge conveniently disappeared.
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 10:18 am
  #7  
 
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Exactly, prices change too much. A few months ago prices to Oz were in the 2000s for the cheapest coach ticket, even from LA.

I am pricing out IAD-MEL in Dec/Jan at $2700 and some change.

Code:
 Sun, Jan 04  Mon, Jan 05  Tue, Jan 06  Wed, Jan 07  Thu, Jan 08  
 Tue, Dec 16  2,718.40  2,683.40  2,683.40  2,683.40  2,718.40  
 Wed, Dec 17  2,718.40  2,683.40  2,683.40  2,683.40  2,718.40  
 Thu, Dec 18  2,753.40  2,718.40  2,718.40 2,718.40  2,753.40  
 Fri, Dec 19  2,753.40  2,718.40  2,718.40  2,718.40  2,753.40  
 Sat, Dec 20  2,753.40  2,718.40  2,718.40  2,718.40  2,753.40
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 10:19 am
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Originally Posted by PanHam
Was that a mistake fare, or just a really good deal? I remember when it surfaced . . . just not sure if it the fuel surcharge conveniently disappeared.
It was a legit fare and it was around for 2-3 weeks, then came back after a week hiatus or so, to last another few days.

It was available in the $600s from the east coast as well, i think the LAX fare was the cheapest though.
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 10:21 am
  #9  
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SFO-FRA with upgradeable Y/B fares in October USD 3,987.20 (7-day trip)
LHR-SIN with upgradeable Y/B fares in October USD 3,596.90 (7-day trip)

Many Y fares in the $3K-$4K and higher range more than Z fares
Probably paid by some last minute flyers
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 10:30 am
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Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
SFO-FRA with upgradeable Y/B fares in October USD 3,987.20 (7-day trip)
LHR-SIN with upgradeable Y/B fares in October USD 3,596.90 (7-day trip)

Many Y fares in the $3K-$4K and higher range more than Z fares
Probably paid by some last minute flyers
OP was asking about non-refundable cheapest available tickets.
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 10:30 am
  #11  
 
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Saw a fare that seemed outrageous the other day. ORD-CLT on November 13th, returning the 14th is $770 (all flights), where as US Air is $250.
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 10:47 am
  #12  
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Price a Y fare from LAX-SFO at 337 miles each way.
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 11:16 am
  #13  
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Recently discussed here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ight=expensive

And please also see:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ight=expensive
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ight=expensive
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ight=expensive
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ight=expensive
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 3:01 pm
  #14  
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I looked at two or three of those threads and they all appear to be about same day flights and/or flights over relatively short distances. I had in mind long hauls, so that it wasn't just a high cpm, but it was a pretty astounding overall cost. And maybe we should further qualify it by putting aside taxes and fees, since those don't go into the airline's pocket.
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Old Sep 8, 2008, 3:47 pm
  #15  
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even more expensive WAS-EZE
Now, if you really want wackiness, you can fly out of DCA rather than IAD, connecting through LGA (DCA-LAG-EZE). That will be $4380.80 1/31 -
2/8/09, almost all of it in base fare ($4292). Just under 40cpm routing the way united.com suggests. [Or go LGA-EZE for only $2029.80, or only $2165.80.]

So, are there more expensive advance purchase fares on long-haul UA routes? And any thoughts about why such outrageous fares to EZE? If UA can sell tickets for that much, why don't they put extra planes and crew on that route and make a bundle?
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