B fares being phased out in 2016 (consolidated)
Jan 17, 2016, 12:22 pm
#16
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Jan 17, 2016, 3:36 pm
#18
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I think "B" was removed now because how many people purchase a B-fare that far out in advance? And they can't really remove "Y" from the inventory (the other last-minute fare). I have a feeling it will be used for the new "BASIC" type of coach fare. And not for PE.
Jan 18, 2016, 11:45 am
#19
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But perhaps that other code will just be one of the zillions of discount Y codes, and will not be very much noticed. Does AA really need so many different discount Y codes, given that they can have variations on each with different rules and pricing anyhow?
Jan 19, 2016, 11:55 am
#20
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If so, that implies they will need another code for PE discount.
But perhaps that other code will just be one of the zillions of discount Y codes, and will not be very much noticed. Does AA really need so many different discount Y codes, given that they can have variations on each with different rules and pricing anyhow?
But perhaps that other code will just be one of the zillions of discount Y codes, and will not be very much noticed. Does AA really need so many different discount Y codes, given that they can have variations on each with different rules and pricing anyhow?
It's interesting that in the not-too-distant past, there were maybe one or two booking codes for premium cabins. Now there can be as many as six (e.g., JCRDIU on BA, including awards), and there are four classes of service. Being stuck with only 26 letters definitely seems problematic to me!
Jan 19, 2016, 12:35 pm
#22
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And yes, I bought them - in advance - as our travel is subject to change and cancellation.
Even in my time with AA, the B fares were often a good bit cheaper than the Y fares yet still considered full fare. I wonder if another bucket will take it's place, or will we be screwed into buying Y fares more now for that same flexibility?
2 letter fare codes would have solved their problems. UA has been doing that for years.
Jan 19, 2016, 2:29 pm
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Jan 19, 2016, 2:42 pm
#24
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Jan 20, 2016, 8:45 am
#25
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I just wonder why UA was able to implement it on 2 different systems more than 10 years ago while Sabre, one of the most advanced platforms out there, hasn't.
I mean, come on ... if SHARES can do it ...
Jan 20, 2016, 9:09 am
#26
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BA's order is YBH, with H often having penalties and B being second level 'full fare'.
Jan 20, 2016, 10:15 am
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Jan 20, 2016, 10:50 am
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DL also had to make changes when they rolled out the new award tiers because originally their systems could only handle one letter, now they have two, e.g. "O" and "OK".
Jan 20, 2016, 11:16 am
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Jan 20, 2016, 12:56 pm
#30
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I think it's most likely that B will be repurposed as a discount premium economy fare, and that O would be the most likely candidate for a basic fare. It wasn't too long ago that some O fares didn't earn miles, for example.