For around 2 weeks, I've been tracking several IAH-SFO flights during the summer for $327 RT. Went to buy today because it didn't seem like the price was going down and $327 is now the BE price. $40 overnight price increase for this route
The schedule of UA 385/UA 2405 is in direct competition with F9 1435/F9 1430 which currently goes for $197. Similarly, Spirit has late morning departure/early afternoon return flights for $232 that compete with flights that United offers in BE for...$541.
Basic Economy is a complete disgrace. This only makes ULCCs more competitive without any benefit for customers. Non-elites have no reason to choose United over ULCCs and elites are being penalized for loyalty. At least on Delta you still earn MQMs, MQDs, and SkyMiles. Hell you even earn miles on Spirit and Frontier. United managed to make BE worse than anything else out there.
