<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by EWR-COflyer:
In all honesty couldn't those be Gold/Plat Y-fare purchases, then pulling the FC seat from the A bucket?
Doesn't seem that unreasonable for that route... I'm in the same boat next week with trips to ATL & IAH. F0 all the way, but I'm 100% sure that some Gold/Plats will purchase Y-fare EWR/ATL seats... I think that's why they hold 'em in A.
Personally since I buy the lowest fare possible, I don't like it, but it does make sense for high volume corporate/Y-fare routes.
You know, for every one of "us" that buys the low-fare tix waiting for EUA there's a guy buying Y-fare and *****ing that EUA gave up the seats that he was counting on... I'd be willing to bet that CO's corporate customers harped on them about availability of last minute FC seats from Y-Fare... you can bet your a$$ that if I was paying $1,200+ from IAH/EWR and didn't get a FC seat I'd be going ballistic.</font>
Agreed. But I'm going to throw in some interesting data on this one.. Mr Fish has recently begun flying EWR-ATL a few times a week, and I have made an curious discovery (this may be old news, but it's new to me).. Mr Fish IS one of those last minute business flyers; he books 1-3 days in advance (and often day of travel). These are the fares available for midweek travel EWR-ATL with return on same day (8am departure/5pm return):
3 day adv.purch-B fare-non-ref,$100change$385
NO adv. - K fare - non-ref,$100 change $491
NO adv. - Y8 fare - fully refundable $631
(None of these fares have a time or min stay restriction...)
Now, his corp travel will only allow lowest fare (isn't this typical policy??? We are lucky that they allow CO at all on some of their overpriced routes). Booking a day in advance means it is unlikely that he will cancel, but if it happens, the company will eat the $100 change fee and re-use the ticket (for less than the original Y fare). If he misses his return (which he often does) he has no problem standing by for later (or even earlier) flight. So who is actually PURCHASING these Y fares, when you can book same flight, at the same time, in K for less $$? I looked at tomorrows morning/evening non-stops and they are all wide open EXCEPT in A/D/F.. Obviously, someone is paying that Y (or even A) fare (or they have released all to EUA), but who and why? This pricing is great for corp travel (lower $$$) but I just find it odd! On this fairly short flt, Mr Fish has little complaint sitting in back. As for longer flts....
Looking at CO EWR-LAX, same day travel, you MUST book a Y fare no matter how far out you book (no Sat nt stay), so obviously, this is where the A/F seats go.. This explains the dismal F chances for this flight on either EUA OR last-minute purchase.. So, if you need to go to LAX tomorrow, you can pay about the same price on numerous airlines, and possibly get to A/F IF available. So why would you choose CO when no A/F is available over another airline with a confirmed F seat? LOYALTY! Now here comes the kicker!
In this flying family, Mr Fish's business travel causes hardship, AND supplies lot of perks.. The perks are what he gets for missing so many birthdays (lol). So, he chooses his BUSINESS travel partner not only for the perks while flying on business, but ALSO the use of those perks when flying leisure (and NEVER on full fare leisure).. This includes everything from FC checkin to using earned mileage (using miles for upgrades is the biggie for us). EUA is not a big issue for US (I know it is for others who secure EUA, and I truly do appreciate that!). So, if his business butt is going to be in a Y seat on CO or AA or UA, at least he has the consolation of using the miles at a later time.. His choices going EWR-LAX tomorrow? Likely Y on CO, with earned priveleges and miles that are getting effectively difficult to redeem. OR Y (possibly upgraded to F or at least a better Y seat) on another carrier, with the possibility of being able to use those miles more easily for future leisure travel. By alienating THIS leisure traveler, CO has alientated a profitable business traveler!! I am certainly not saying that any airline program is perfect, that is FAR from true. CO has had the edge for a long time, but they are slipping (in MY opinion only). If EUA works for you, and your most important need is sitting in F for all the short hauls, then you have every right to be ecstatic with CO. If you are flying CO in the hopes of someday being able to use your miles for leisure, you will be a little disappointed (unless things improve). All those bonuses were fantastic, until we tried to redeem them.. I am sticking, at least partially, with CO because I HOPE they will make a little comeback.. I feel somewhat attached to them after all these years.. As far as keeping the other Fishs' Gold status, that's 3 more leisure travelers they have alienated! We will remain Gold for at least one more year (TY Amex Centurion - $1500 for 2, much less than what we spent to earn Gold each year). And we shall see where this is leading...