Dec 20, 2013, 5:15 am
Current Fare Sales [ex UK]
Jun 16, 2016, 8:13 am
#1081
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,499
The only possible reason is that they must be really struggling to fill their premium cabins otherwise there is no way they would be discounted again so soon, why would they? I have never seen J and F fare so cheap EX-UK.... Are their constant cost cuts starting to bite them?
If you look at the sale pattern over the last few years (http://blog.continentalclub.co.uk/of...-fare-archive/), it's reasonably easy to estimate when a sale might pop up. Last year, the sale which ended on 19th May, was followed by a sale commencing 21st May!
In effect, these 'sale' prices are becoming the 'normal' price BA are selling seats for. People wait for sales, defer purchases from other airlines in anticipation of a sale etc. I am sure IAG do their sums, do their research, and make a pretty packet during these BA sales. And the tickets sold outside of the sale period...even better.
Jun 16, 2016, 8:58 am
#1082
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
However with the price itself it still seems odd - the almost £1200 were there before and after the sale (makes sense if as you say NCL-LAX isn't a sale fare but LHR-LAX is). Even before the sale thought it was around £950 from LHR to LAX and £1250 from NCL, effectively still charging me £300 for that connecting flight - sale or no sale. I am sure that for the last 5 years or so that I have flown to the US via LHR I have never paid more than £100 or so for a connecting flight even during non-sale times.
The £950 ex-LHR price was actually also a sale fare, although those fares have now been superseded by the marketed sale fares that have been filed today.
However, as far as I can see the fare from NCL should have been the same then as it is today. There doesn't seem to have been any change to those. So the difference between the ex-LHR fare and the ex-NCL fare should have been much smaller on 12 June.
I did one further exercise, to compare the non-sale fares from both airports.
If you price the ex-LHR trip using the lowest non-sale fare, it would be a total of £1,250.65 all in. In contrast, the lowest ex-NCL trip is £1,151.50. The fare basis for both prices is the same (TLX8S4C1), so the conditions of those two fares are broadly the same. So if one compares like to like, it's not as obvious that non-London starts are being penalised. The difference probably really consists of the more ready availability of sale (or tactical) fares for London starts.
Jun 16, 2016, 3:54 pm
#1086
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Edi
Posts: 2,203
Jun 17, 2016, 12:09 am
#1088
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 135
Good morning fellow european frequent flyers and TP runners.
When I learned yesterday about the new BA sale, I immediately started digging around with my usual routes and tools (unfortunately I missed the previous window).
However I'm a bit surprised by what BA now calls promo fares. Anyone else disappointed? Compared to some of last year's sales, I don't see any North American routes below 1000 euro?
Americans seems to be favoured these days looking at the price war between AA, *A and ST.
When I learned yesterday about the new BA sale, I immediately started digging around with my usual routes and tools (unfortunately I missed the previous window).
However I'm a bit surprised by what BA now calls promo fares. Anyone else disappointed? Compared to some of last year's sales, I don't see any North American routes below 1000 euro?
Americans seems to be favoured these days looking at the price war between AA, *A and ST.
Jun 17, 2016, 6:59 am
#1089
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold & GGL & CCR, HH Diam, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Spire, Tastecard
Posts: 7,549
there were / are some sub £1k Eastcoast fares (e.g. CPH NYC) but as said, I wouldn't expect to see many / any sub €1k J fares to the US.
Jun 17, 2016, 8:43 am
#1090
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 135
Assuming you mean Business class (J) fares, sub €1k is unusual and (unless you mean pre tax), I don't recall an ex UK ones (apart from the crazy Christmas 2014 sale).
there were / are some sub £1k Eastcoast fares (e.g. CPH NYC) but as said, I wouldn't expect to see many / any sub €1k J fares to the US.
there were / are some sub £1k Eastcoast fares (e.g. CPH NYC) but as said, I wouldn't expect to see many / any sub €1k J fares to the US.
Jun 17, 2016, 11:04 am
#1093
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,480
Yes, but the pound was much stronger against the Euro then - about 1.41. Now it's 1.25 and sinking. It's one of the reasons why many of these ex-LON fares are attractive.
Jun 18, 2016, 11:24 pm
#1094
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Home = LHR, Heart = DUR
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 120
Indeed, I collected those fares a smidge over £700 for CW to MIA ex-eu. In fact the CW ticket price was cheaper than the same ticketed price for WT! Was hunting for some YYZ deals in Aug next year but not much to be had
Jun 19, 2016, 1:47 am
#1095
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 80
Yes I payed £740 CW to Mia ex-eu over this xmas absolutely crazy price would love some similar prices.