Originally Posted by
NikoGoutakolis
Yes, unlike the report, I think that there is an algorithm that determines when to stop selling BE. However, it should be noted that any flight with “one seat left” is not selling BE, at least as far as I can see, which is a reversal.
It is not an algorithm so much as a change in the way fares are published in many markets. For SAN-SFO mentioned above UA used to have BE fares filed up to the H bucket. Now S is the most expensive bucket where they will sell. In many cases there are filed BE fares in the higher buckets but only for round-trip fares and priced at 2x the non-BE o/w fare so the BE fare will never be sold. In the EWR-LAX market that TPG focused on it is a very similar situation.
In ORD-LGA, however, BE fares are still for sale all the way up the alphabet. It is a
selective retreat for United from the original Basic Economy plan for now.
Link is to my additional analysis of the data.