Pricing anomalies F and Y cabins, etc. (consolidated)
Jun 15, 2013, 5:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ORD and RSW
Programs: Former long time AA EXP and CK - 4 MM; Now LTPL; Hilton Diamond; UA Platinum
Posts: 380
Pricing anomalies F and Y cabins, etc. (consolidated)
The pricing routines in the system seem to be going haywire. How do you run an airline with this kind of pricing? Or are they smart as a fox?
Looking at ORD/RSW for June 29. One way.
First flexible, refundable is $606.
Non-refundable discount First is $720! More than refundable First.
But it gets better.
Choice plus economy is $615. More than refundable First.
Choice essential is $605 - just $1 less than refundable First.
There are 12 first seats showing on AA.com and F7 A7 on Amex travel. A lot of seats available in Y too. Two weeks out with that much availability A fares are usually around $370. I wonder if this is a new strategy to monetize first by making Y so expensive that someone grabbing F for about the same price (or even less) might think they are getting a good deal, whereas if they waited a few more days, A fares will likely be below $400.
What do you think?
Looking at ORD/RSW for June 29. One way.
First flexible, refundable is $606.
Non-refundable discount First is $720! More than refundable First.
But it gets better.
Choice plus economy is $615. More than refundable First.
Choice essential is $605 - just $1 less than refundable First.
There are 12 first seats showing on AA.com and F7 A7 on Amex travel. A lot of seats available in Y too. Two weeks out with that much availability A fares are usually around $370. I wonder if this is a new strategy to monetize first by making Y so expensive that someone grabbing F for about the same price (or even less) might think they are getting a good deal, whereas if they waited a few more days, A fares will likely be below $400.
What do you think?
Jun 15, 2013, 5:25 pm
#2
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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Posts: 62,948
I think high demand, high prices and the lowest priced seats / fare buckets have been taken some time ago. RM knows what they are doing pretty well; .
Jun 15, 2013, 5:41 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ORD and RSW
Programs: Former long time AA EXP and CK - 4 MM; Now LTPL; Hilton Diamond; UA Platinum
Posts: 380
I suspect that by next week these fares will drop like a rock - unless they fool some people into buying over-priced first.
Jun 15, 2013, 5:44 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
I love the idea of AA making $$ off of the corporate policies, many of which are so narrow-minded that dictate Y-cabin no matter what!
Completely rational. What would be irrational is for someone paying for this not to buy F-cabin!
Completely rational. What would be irrational is for someone paying for this not to buy F-cabin!
Jun 15, 2013, 5:46 pm
#5
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
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It'll be interesting for the OP to keep an eye on these and let us know. Sometimes these anomalies can be caused by a convention, etc. and will be restricted to a few days around that. (Translation: I am too lazy to check these out personally 
.)
.)Maybe, but demand is not that high to RSW this time of year. There are 4 daily flights ORD/RSW in the spring, then they scale it down as demand drops all the way to a single flight right now. Flights will start getting added in the fall.
I suspect that by next week these fares will drop like a rock - unless they fool some people into buying over-priced first.
I suspect that by next week these fares will drop like a rock - unless they fool some people into buying over-priced first.
Jun 15, 2013, 6:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: USA
Programs: UA Plat, Hilton ◆
Posts: 89
Either that or it was a glitch in the system.
Jun 15, 2013, 7:24 pm
#7
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
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In that case, I will write a short prayer: "AA IT, please be ever so merciful and give us more such glitches." 
Jun 15, 2013, 7:34 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
All of the evidence in this thread points to the contrary. The over-all proof would be if AA were making resounding profits. That hasn't happened for years. There are many reasons for the USAir take over, but AA RM incompetence is probably one of them.
Jun 15, 2013, 9:40 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP,2MM, DL Gold,Starwood PLT
Posts: 3,876
The pricing routines in the system seem to be going haywire. How do you run an airline with this kind of pricing? Or are they smart as a fox?
Looking at ORD/RSW for June 29. One way.
First flexible, refundable is $606.
Non-refundable discount First is $720! More than refundable First.
But it gets better.
Choice plus economy is $615. More than refundable First.
Choice essential is $605 - just $1 less than refundable First.
There are 12 first seats showing on AA.com and F7 A7 on Amex travel. A lot of seats available in Y too. Two weeks out with that much availability A fares are usually around $370. I wonder if this is a new strategy to monetize first by making Y so expensive that someone grabbing F for about the same price (or even less) might think they are getting a good deal, whereas if they waited a few more days, A fares will likely be below $400.
What do you think?
Looking at ORD/RSW for June 29. One way.
First flexible, refundable is $606.
Non-refundable discount First is $720! More than refundable First.
But it gets better.
Choice plus economy is $615. More than refundable First.
Choice essential is $605 - just $1 less than refundable First.
There are 12 first seats showing on AA.com and F7 A7 on Amex travel. A lot of seats available in Y too. Two weeks out with that much availability A fares are usually around $370. I wonder if this is a new strategy to monetize first by making Y so expensive that someone grabbing F for about the same price (or even less) might think they are getting a good deal, whereas if they waited a few more days, A fares will likely be below $400.
What do you think?
If you actually dive into the fare rules on many fares, you will find these refundable fares actually are not by the rule. The matrix is not displaying properly. Time to get it fixed.
Last edited by grahampros; Jun 16, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Jun 16, 2013, 6:18 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ORD and RSW
Programs: Former long time AA EXP and CK - 4 MM; Now LTPL; Hilton Diamond; UA Platinum
Posts: 380
Well today the prices changed at least twice. Right now in the evening First flexible is still $606 but now First non refundable is down to $447. Y is now all the way down to $298 to $342 depending on the option chosen. These are rather dramatic swings in price over a day. And I am sure they will change again. Anyone who yesterday grabbed a non refundable F ticket thinking they were getting a deal, must be pretty irritated right now.
Jun 16, 2013, 6:36 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2013
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Posts: 1,995
Company policy at my previous employer was NO F even if CHEAPER than Y. Really stupid and AA seems to understand this.
Jun 16, 2013, 6:39 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 542
Well today the prices changed at least twice. Right now in the evening First flexible is still $606 but now First non refundable is down to $447. Y is now all the way down to $298 to $342 depending on the option chosen. These are rather dramatic swings in price over a day. And I am sure they will change again. Anyone who yesterday grabbed a non refundable F ticket thinking they were getting a deal, must be pretty irritated right now.
At 13 days out, suddenly raising/lowering the fare creates panic/relief for anyone monitoring and many will act accordingly.
Jun 16, 2013, 6:48 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,145
Same issue
I was watching a flight for more than two weeks, well over a month out (OMA-SAN). For those two weeks, I watched the price go from around $500 to $850 (and on some days, it was showing over $1k for about 12 hours). For the most part, it tracked right at $850, with first being about $879. I didn't compare the choices, but this is an insane price, considering you could fly almost all other airlines for about $450 or so. I didn't understand it either.
Jun 17, 2013, 8:56 am
#14
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
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I'm not so sure it's actually RM who is to blame for the debAAcle.
Nov 4, 2013, 9:36 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: LAX, PHL, SAF
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 301
First class close in pricing
What is the business model for pricing first lower than coach when the travel date gets close?
I have seen this on the AA website . I would think there are more coach seats available to sell and just a few first to sell. Thenthey would have to adjust the pricing again when first is sold out ( even with a percentage of oversell built in)
Any ideas?
I have seen this on the AA website . I would think there are more coach seats available to sell and just a few first to sell. Thenthey would have to adjust the pricing again when first is sold out ( even with a percentage of oversell built in)
Any ideas?