FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - TATL Basic Economy (renamed Dec 2018); all BE to earn 50% PQMs, earn 100% PQDs
Old Apr 20, 2019, 3:59 am
  #410  
FlyerTalker70
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Originally Posted by jsloan
W is a relatively high fare; you're running into an inventory issue.

That said, I found a construction that will give me a fare of $1127, which I think is what you were seeing: a light L fare out and a light W fare back.

I put in a search to avoid the light fares. (ITA Matrix f !..-lgt)

The non-light fare is... $1247.

I have no idea what you did to get a price of $2249, but the implication that there is a $1000 fare difference for TATL BE vs non-BE is flat-out wrong.
If you have to resort to fare construction on Matrix to find the non-BE fare that should be indicative of LH not providing passengers with the warning/tools to get out of BBE.Heck, UAmakes you click a box and sign away your first born child before they even give you the privilege of booking BE. In addition it's also unclear if the non BE option is available for a party of 4 at thattprice as the OP mentioned.

One thing the OP should consider whenever buying groups of tickets is to purchase them one at a time. If you try ordering 4 tickets the booking engine will look for whatever fare bucket has 4 seats available which may not be the lowest. Buying one seat at a time ensures you always book from the lowest bucket.

One question I do have for the FAQ is how do partners determine what should be Basic Economy or not? Clearly price wasn't the only factor in this instance. Is it possible to have only say 5 seats left in Y with UA still selling Basic Economy fares?

As for BE vs normal Y fare I will consider looking at normal fares the moment TPACS go that way. Currently AC is phasing that in and I suspect UA and the LH Group will follow suit.

-James
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