I am curious if there is somewhere on Continental.com or if someone knows what the difference is between all of the fare classes. I have been flying Continental for quite some time and have never been too concerned about the class, however, with all of the EQM rules, I've started to try and take a closer look.

According to their website, fares Q, I, S, W, T, X, and L are discount economy and only earn 100% EQM if purchased on their site (is this true for this year or do you still get 100% is purchased through an agent?). When searching for flights, you can check to search for fares that eligible for most OnePass promotions that include fares K, N, B, V, and U (economy but not full fare economy). Those fare classes will always get you 100% EQM.

My question is, why would anyone purchase a ticket in those fare classes? It seems to me that the same, or almost the same, restrictions would apply to those as the discount economy fare classes.

For example, I need to fly from EWR to SFO next month for work. Looking for lowest price, a flight comes up for $336. If I go back and check the Promotions eligible fares, the same flight is $356. I need to book through my companies travel agency and I will always get the lowest fare. If am I getting penalized 50% miles over $20, I'm pretty upset. If that is what is actually happening or going to happen next year, it seems like an idiotic practice on Continental's part that would alienate many frequent travelers over a few dollars.

I'm sorry if this post is confusing, but I'm still pretty confused myself with all of their policies, even after trying to catch up by reading other posts on this forum. Let me know if I have this wrong.

Thanks so much for your help.

While you really shouldn't try to understand the OnePass Program without a law degree (and even then, it still might be challenging), you are correct.

In the EWR-SFO market, $278 + tax is the lowest fare, which is I class.

For full EQM, there's a $318 + tax U fare, a difference of $40.

So, I'm guessing that your trip is pricing I one way, and U another (because of availability), which would give you 50% EQM one way, 100% the other. If you want 100% both ways, you'd have to pay the extra $20 or book online.

Sadly, penal codes and torts are less complex than OnePass.

can you simply speak with your agent and explain this. its not like you're asking your company to fork over a lot of extra cash.

On another note, re: fare classes. i have noticed that if you attempt to search for fares that are eligible for 100% EQM's, you will sometimes find that the price is very close to a restricted FC fare. regardless of the restrictions on a paid FC fare, you get double segments, 150% miles (plus elite bonus) and you get to walk on the blue carpets. i was pricing a B fare to vegas today and found that for $40 more (RT) i could get an FC ticket. good idea to check.

while on that note, and i dont mean to drag on.... have you all noticed that FC fares are ridiculously low in comparison to just a year ago? at least where im flying they are.

Professor Channa et al

While it's somewhat easy to understand the general differences are between the various fare class families (i.e. the QWISTX economy fares versus the BUNKVY economy fares), can someone explain what the differences are among the fare classes within one fare class family? For example, how is a Q fare different than a T or S fare?

Second question--recently we learned that "H" class fare qualifies for 150% EQM, just like the Y fare. But practically speaking, what's the point of such a rule when you can't even search for H fares? At least with Y fares, you know that if you click the "fully refundable" box you'll get that fare class. But what's the point of this whole H class policy if you can't filter your results to give you an H-class fare?

Confused? I know I am... this alphabet soup system of determining fares seems like one of the most obtuse and arcane business practices in existence. If anything, it's the vestigial remnant of an industry that's since evolved.

Didn't I say not to try to understand this? For your own sanity, please stop now.

For all intents and purposes, there is no difference. There might be minor variations in the fare rules (e.g., min-max stay, advance purchase, etc.), but I think the main reason the alphabet soup exists is two words -- Yield Management. This allows CO to manage revenue on a flight so that as it sells out at the cheapest fares, only more expensive fares are available. It also allows them to prioritize EUA...

There are actually a lot of H fares out there that are fully refundable/changeable. In those markets (I know I've seen it EWR-SFO in the past), if you search and check the "fully refundable" box, you will get the H fare, not the Y fare -- assuming you meet any advance purchase requirements of the H fare. There is a separate box on the search screen for the true Y fare. In this instance, the only difference between the H and Y fares that i can think of is that the Y fare gets Elite members a confirmed upgrade at booking (and allows mileage upgrades at 5K o/w for regular OP members). They both get the same EQM.

Thanks professore--

What is the price difference beween an H fare and a Y fare?


i can't believe we're discussing two different priced ways to buy the same darn thing. you have to wonder---with all the money CO spent to develop this byzantine system, does it get them more money in the end???

I think it can vary widely. For example, on EWR-SFO currently H is $1100 and Y is $2000. (There are D/Z discount first class fares in between).
For EWR-FLL, H is $833 vs. Y at $1367.

Neither of these H fares are refundable. In cases where they have offered a refundable H fare, I remember the difference being much smaller maybe only $100-200.

They seem to think so...
Although, technically you're not buying the exact same product. Buying a EWR-SFO ticket 2 months before you want to go is different than buying the "same" ticket the day before. If there was no yield management and all seats were sold at the same low fare, you'd probably be SOL finding any availability the day before.

BTW, it really was AA who developed this byzantine system.

The one H fare I booked last year was fully refundable UNTIL 3 days before the flight, when it becomes non-refundable. I don't know if this is standard for all H fares. Can anyone clarify?

Recently I was on CO flight SJC to IAH that was horribly delayed. Of course missed my connection to the east coast. They re-booked on next available flight and the ticket was issued in Y. Didn't get an upgrade--to late for that--but did get 150% EQM! ( found out when I got hole that I would have had an upgarde on my orginal connection...)

This also happened once when my CO flight was cancelled and I was put on DL.

I wonder if this a glicth or just a hidden reward.

By the way CO was great. They had three people at the ticket counter when the plane arrived and all borading passes pre-printed. All you had to do was give you destination and name and in two seconds they sent you on your way. For those whose connections were more than a couple of hours they had discount food vouchers.

I have also found that where you start can determine the class of service letter. For example, SAT-IAH-DTW might be in a V but the same flight just out of the hub IAH-DTW might be in U. I could be wrong but I think the terms are "local" and "flow" with the local obviously referring to a hub city such as Houston.

That's just a glitch.
It's not intended... that much is for sure.

[QUOTE=otralot]
I wonder if this a glicth or just a hidden reward.

QUOTE]

partly glitch. partly not. the fact that you got up'd. not a glitch. the EUA computers arent neccessarily connected to the others. at the particular, mark you were upgraded. you missed the flight, but you still got the up. when they re-booked you there was nothing available. so you flew in Y

here's where the glitch is. when they rebooked you, they assigned you to an available fare that was coded full Y. im not sure how it happens, b/c it doesnt happen all the time. i think that if you are rebooked on a flight that is sold out (no seats, as in 100 out of 100 are booked) but there are still seats to sell (CO sells 120 seats out of 100 available seats), you end up getting a Y fare b/c that is all that is left. when OP gets the info, the computer automatically gives you Y credit.

I missconnected in EWR to BDL two weeks ago. i was going to have to over night in EWR. instead, i asked the PC attendant if i could go to BOS instead. he said no prob. put me on the last flight. it must have been one of the last seats, b/c my OP activity shows it as a Y fare, and it gave me 2 segments rather than one. my entire itinerary was booked in T. this is just my guess....