Reading fare basis code
 

Good day all. I had no idea where to put this thread, so I put it here because it deals with onePass miles.

I am booking a ticket for my mom on Continental (actually for her to get onePass miles) from LAX to Singapore. I looked at Korean Airlines and found a route: LAX-ICN-SIN-ICN-LAX. The fare basis code is: QLW3M.

First, what fare class is this?

Second, what percentage of EQMs will she earn?

Thanks for the help as always.

-- Jake

It is a Q fare. Are the flight numbers from KE? If so, I don't see a Q fare on the CO partner table. I do see the QLW3M fare published (on ExpertFlyer) though (It may not earn any miles). Maybe someone on this board has direct experience w/ KE, otherwise your best be may be to give CO a call. sorry I couldn't be more helpful

dan

There are KE flight numbers, from the KE website. I looked on the partner table and I too don't see a Q fare. Hope she can earn miles...

http://www.continental.com/onepass/e.../koreanair.asp
Your mother will not be earning any CO miles for this trip. Sorry.

Many of the KE flights can be booked as Delta flight numbers, and Delta is much more generous about giving OnePass credit. Before you abandon the itinerary, check to see if the flights are available as DL codeshares, and check the fare basis on a DL-issued ticket.

So I checked like you said and I found an itenerary on DL. DEN-SLC-LAX is on Delta, and LAX-ICN is on Korean with a Delta flight number (DL7870 operated by KE) and ICN-SIN on KE. The fare code is: MLWAP6M.

Is this M class? If so, she should earn full EQMs for all flights, right?

Also, is the first letter of the code the fare class code?

Yes, the first letter is the fare basis code.

Quick question: The itinerary you are talking about here:
DEN-SLC-LAX-ICN-SIN...
the whole thing is showing as Delta fare basis M?

If you use the ITA tool, it might be interesting to see what corresponding fare basis is being shown for the ICN-SIN segment that has a KE flight number...

The ICN-SIN flight is KE 641 (no DL codeshare). I found this fare on Orbitz.

When I looked at the fare code for the DEN-SLC-LAX-ICN-SIN and back on Orbitz, it only gave 2 fare codes. Both fare codes are in M fare class.

The DEN-SLC-LAX-ICN segments (all with DL flight numbers, operated by either Delta or Korean) will earn 100% OnePass EQM when booked in an M fare class.

Because the last segment (ICN-SIN) has a Korean flight number, Korean will "map" the Delta M fare code into one of their own fare codes. With a little luck, this might map into a fare code like "S" and your mother will earn 150% OnePass EQM. (I am not sure how to find out the fare class for this segment... I am pretty sure it will show up on the ticket, but I don't know which airline will be able to tell you this with certainty before you buy the ticket. I have had luck using ITA to show this fare code mapping.)

The ICN-SIN seg that is KE-coded will have a separate KE fare basis from the DL fare basis. If you search for the same itin at http://matrix.itasoftware.com (log in as a guest), you should be able to see the fare basis for each segment separately.

Here's how to decipher the fare basis. First letter is the booking class. Second and third letter is usually the season and day (L & H are low and high season respectively, W & X usually mean weekend and other days respectively). The last few alphanumerics are usually optional to indicate the timeframe restriction (3M = 90 days before returning, 6M = 180 days).

Why not route LAX-NRT-SIN on NW instead? CO codeshares with NW on these routes. DL's routing and search engine going to SIN involves CI (connecting in TPE) or AF (connecting in CDG). Easiest way to check is to download the PDF of their timetable. Hence, the KE flights into SIN will not be code-shared with DL. Keep in mind you're often allowed a stopover with higher fares (HNL, PDX, SEA, NRT) through the Pacific. You'll have to ask around about the transAtlantic fares.

Can anyone tell me how I can book a flight on Eva with CO codeshare? I noticed that my mom can get full EQMs and elite bonus if she goes on Eva but with a CO codeshare number. Help?

The Eva/CO codeshare is on flights US-TPE. Beyond flights are not codeshared.