Pricing Issues Direct vs Connect
 

Searched and couldn't find any help. I'm trying to check my options to get to the SEA DO in August (10-12th) Flying out of CLE I am only given one option, CLE-SEA non-stop 8:45PM - 10:41PM. The only return option I'm given is the redeye 11PM. This prices out around $395.

I've gone to SEA a couple of times and always connected through IAH and arrived in SEA about noon so I tried a multiple destinations search and there are plenty of flights CLE-IAH-SEA that get me in around noon - 2PM (which is what I wanted) and let me depart Sunday morning. The problem is these all price out in the $600-700 price range.

I've searched by "price" and "schedule" to no avail. Why won't the website give me the IAH connection options?? Little help anyone?

You might try...
 

...Orbitz. Lots of choices there.

Are you searching the correct dates? In 2007, the dates are August 10th-12th (which would include a Saturday night, unlike the 8th-10th). :)

...although it still doesn't answer the question as to why the web site won't route you thru IAH :(

I was searching correctly but typing on FT incorrectly. I'll edit my post above. Thanks for catching it tmartazu.

Thanks but I need the EQM/EQP to maintain status.

I have experienced this issue several times as well and, IIRC, at least once it was CLE-SEA as well. It is crazy that CO.com forces you to take the direct flight, which given tthat he flight times arent all that great of an option for a lot of people.

You searched all ways: by price, by schedule, etc?

I think some destinations (SEA may be one) they wouldn't want to use seats for connectors whgen there were NS available. After alll why should you take a seat from someone in FLL who needs to connect in IAH when you can flt non-stop. Plus it actually costs CO more to fly you CLE/IAH/SEA.

No, it's clearly a website bug. There are fares allowing CLE-IAH-SEA (although the cheapest one for 8/10-8/12 is an H fare right now), but CO.com won't sell them unless you force it to.

Workaround: you can force the IAH flights to display using a multicity search: search for a four-leg flight CLE-IAH, IAH-SEA, SEA-IAH, IAH-CLE. This prices correctly.

About a week ago I was looking to do EWR(or PHL)-SEA in June. The flights thru IAH priced out at over $600. The non-stop from EWR was about $325, so I was "forced" to do the non-stop and forgo alot of EQMs

I regularly do this when I want to go to IAH-RIC. I'd much rather go IAH-EWR-RIC and the reverse on the way home, but co.com usually only shows the direct flights. The problems with the direct flight are they're only RJ's and the times are horrible. Also, the segments/miles are a bonus when I'll be wasting a day traveling anyway.

CO does the same thing on connecting flights - making for example DCA-EWR-LAX cheaper than DCA-IAH-LAX - trying force you to the EWR connection.

The EWR connection earns more miles, but you are having to connect in EWR with all its problems. Flights into IAH do not have all the delay problems. I will take the fewer miles to split the trip in half and have a better change of connecting on time. CO - stop forcing EWR connections as cheaper flights - instead reduce the number of flights into EWR.

I concur.

I often find that if I want to connect in CLE from DCA to the West Coast, I have to build the connection manually. Otherwise, I get only EWR and IAH connections. Manually routing through CLE does not always result in higher fares, however.

When I do this I get a $600+ price as opposed to the direct flight cost of $350 or so. I'm searching by using "Multiple Destinations" page, am I searching incorrectly? As a veteran FTer of about 4 years who checks in here everyday, I'm feeling like a newbie/idiot because I can't figure this one out. I appreciate all the help though.

No, that's the cheapest fare available for your dates, so it is pricing correctly. The cheapest availability through IAH for your dates is an H fare. It would get you 8 EQP and 150% EQM for your extra $230. If you want cheaper you'll just have to wait and hope availability opens up (and that's peak season, so I wouldn't bet on it getting that much cheaper.)

Seems like you have two issues really - 1. co.com wouldn't even tell you the price for the flights you want. and 2. it's much more expensive than you want when you do force it to tell you.