When WT+ costs more than CW?
Feb 4, 2020, 4:13 am
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 93
When WT+ costs more than CW?
Currently doing some preemptive browsing. On a long haul return flight from South America, I can see several occasions where WT+ costs more than CW on the return leg.
What causes this? Would someone who paid say £2500 for the WT+ leg be more likely to get upgraded to CW? (if they were silly enough to pay more for WT+ over CW that is!)
Would this suggest that WT+ is 'full' but there is space in CW?
What causes this? Would someone who paid say £2500 for the WT+ leg be more likely to get upgraded to CW? (if they were silly enough to pay more for WT+ over CW that is!)
Would this suggest that WT+ is 'full' but there is space in CW?
Feb 4, 2020, 4:24 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2014
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Typically the restrictive low cost non flexible tickets in WT+ will no longer be available leaving only higher cost more flexible tickets,while in CW the lower cost more restrictive tickets are still available.
you also see this sometimes on SH where it is cheaoer to buy CE then ET
you also see this sometimes on SH where it is cheaoer to buy CE then ET
Feb 4, 2020, 4:24 am
#4
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Why is that necessarily silly? The available CW tickets may come with conditions that are unacceptable to the WT+ passenger, and CW tickets that have acceptable conditions may be unaffordable or out of travel policy. For some people, price is not the only criterion.
Feb 4, 2020, 4:26 am
#5
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Anomalies like this do occur from time to time. I recall booking a flight to KIN in CW, and noticing that WT+ was the same price. 
As others have already said, fare buckets quietly come in to play.
As others have already said, fare buckets quietly come in to play.
Feb 4, 2020, 4:32 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Worth pointing out that there's no guarantee that different points of sale will have equivalent fares or availability.
Let's say one leg of a return booking LHR-SIN is £1,100 in E and £1,000 in I. Unless flexibility is a massive concern, you'd be silly to book the E fare - but UK-originating I fares are typically non-changeable.
Being based in Munich, I would find that MUC-LHR-SIN is about £650 in E and £900 in I, but because of the different point of sale, I need to look at R or D, and pay £1,200 or £1,500 instead. (Made up but plausible numbers throughout).
It's therefore not silly for me to book E, and although I might be well advised to look for a different point of sale, I certainly wouldn't be getting that information from BA.com.
Let's say one leg of a return booking LHR-SIN is £1,100 in E and £1,000 in I. Unless flexibility is a massive concern, you'd be silly to book the E fare - but UK-originating I fares are typically non-changeable.
Being based in Munich, I would find that MUC-LHR-SIN is about £650 in E and £900 in I, but because of the different point of sale, I need to look at R or D, and pay £1,200 or £1,500 instead. (Made up but plausible numbers throughout).
It's therefore not silly for me to book E, and although I might be well advised to look for a different point of sale, I certainly wouldn't be getting that information from BA.com.
Feb 4, 2020, 6:12 am
#11
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Currently doing some preemptive browsing. On a long haul return flight from South America, I can see several occasions where WT+ costs more than CW on the return leg.
What causes this? Would someone who paid say £2500 for the WT+ leg be more likely to get upgraded to CW? (if they were silly enough to pay more for WT+ over CW that is!)
Would this suggest that WT+ is 'full' but there is space in CW?
What causes this? Would someone who paid say £2500 for the WT+ leg be more likely to get upgraded to CW? (if they were silly enough to pay more for WT+ over CW that is!)
Would this suggest that WT+ is 'full' but there is space in CW?
Feb 4, 2020, 6:19 am
#13
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That's J9 C9 D9 R9 I1 W5 E0 T0 (with a UK POS) - so you can book an I class (lowest CW booking class) fare in CW but any WT+ booking would be in "fully-flexible" W class.
It would be interesting to see what prices you get if you try to book for two people, seeing as that will push the CW booking into R class (for both passengers).
It would be interesting to see what prices you get if you try to book for two people, seeing as that will push the CW booking into R class (for both passengers).
Feb 4, 2020, 7:35 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
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I had exactly this on a flight to YUL later this year. Having set Mrs T’s expectations that, on a short TATL, we should consider WT+: we were pleasantly surprised that CW was cheaper for the exact dates we wanted to travel. Happy with the additional TPs as well!
