Originally Posted by
WakeTurbulence
A lot of Australia flights are weight restricted right now due to heavy cargo loads (especially Sydney). 200lbs of cargo pays a lot more than a K fare would which is why UA isn’t interested in filling the seats as long as the cargo demand is there at the right price.
This is a valid point, but it doesn't quite explain the dramatic variance from $2,500+ to sub-$1,500 to $3,000+, all in a matter of days. If what you described is indeed a factor, I wouldn't have expected to see them drop fares to sub-$1,500 for a day or two. A "flash sale" or similar seems quite odd in this and the broader seasonal demand context.