Website BF pricing issues?
 

I'm trying to price a multi-segment BF trip from DUB (will probably end up LGW or MAN due to the lack of "R" availability) to the states in March with stops in multiple states. I found some decent deals last night so I went back this morning to book them and, lo and behold, the deals are even better. However, I think it's too good to be true.

The TA segments that I am trying to price as Business First are booking into the "P" or "F"bucket and the rules for the entire trip are coming up under an "H" booking code. EQM's being earned are listed as 0, which seems a bit low for Business Class! It is allowing me to select BF seats on the seat selector. So which is it? Do I book and hope for the best and that I earn miles, or is this one of the situations that is best calling co.com support about?

I did just purchase something, with the 24 hr hold option just in case, but I'm a bit skeptical.

P and F are reward buckets; it sounds like you booked a H fare plus upgrade.

I'd call and get it sorted out, as you don't want to find out you're in Y when you get to the airport.

That's what I figured, the upgrade that happens to not be available and didn't deduct miles nor ask to deduct any. The latest twist- I just booked one that is pricing into "D" and not "P" from DUB-CVG and returning PIT-DUB in March. Fare rules are H, but on my receipt and online it shows me as booked in D (with seat assignments) on the BF segments. I also have BF seat assignments. I will call just to be sure, or if anyone knows what's going on please chime in, because there is still R available out of LGW and MAN and if this doesn't work that's the route I'll be taking- I just need to know so I can snag one of those seats.

The site is still pricing incorrectly. For an example try CVG-DUB return 3/14-3/24- it's pricing H to EWR and D to DUB at $3k. The published D fare is over $6k.

Looking on ITA I am seeing EWR-DUB priced as two end-on-end fares, CVG-EWR-CVG in O and EWR-DUB-EWR in R. The domestic segment isn't available on a plane with a F cabin, so they are splitting the fare and letting you get the cheaper one. Not sure why ITA shows the O and CO shows the H, but book it in H for the same price to get the extra miles/points. Otherwise this is the site actually doing something good for you, saving you a lot of cash. That being said an R fare has restrictions that you should be careful with.

And the fare rules displayed are only the H fare rules, which would be confusing. They save you $3K but confuse the rules; I'm not sure it is worth getting too upset at them for it based on the savings :)

Edit to add: If you force it to "Refundable - no restrictions" it will combine a Y and a D fare, giving you a total of ~$4300, still less than the $6K D fare published for CVG-DUB.

This discussion confirms my belief that I have no future in the reservation department.

Will stick to flying: Push forward, houses get bigger. Pull back, houses get smaller.
----------------------------------------------------------------

"And all the science I don't understand, It's just my job five days a week" Rocket Man, Elton John

Yeah I'm not too upset about it :p Although I was just concerned that it didn't book correctly. The flight below that I booked (pasted below), supposidly into D, only has J availability. But you see how it is ticketed and on my receipt. With that being said, what ticket do I have? Is it an H/D that is displaying only H rules, is it an H/R that somehow is showing D, or is in H straight through and I'm really not in BF? Calling CO directly yields a higher price than what I got so it is a website issue.

Day, Date Flight Class Departure City and Time Arrival City and Time Aircraft Meal
Fri, 14MAR08 23 D DUBLIN
(DUB) 8:00AM NEWARK EWR
(EWR) 11:35AM 757-200 Breakfast
Fri, 14MAR08 24761 H NEWARK EWR
(EWR) 1:25PM CINCINNATI
(CVG) 3:37PM ERJ-135



Mon, 24MAR08 3344 H PITTSBURGH
(PIT) 1:50PM NEWARK EWR
(EWR) 3:30PM NONJET
Mon, 24MAR08 22 D NEWARK EWR
(EWR) 7:10PM DUBLIN
(DUB) 5:40AM (25MAR) 757-200 Dinner

eTicket Total: 2,745.50 USD

Priceless!

Your *entire* booking will be governed by the most restrictive set of fare rules in your booking, so proceed with extreme caution.

Pull back some more, houses get bigger (quickly) and spin round and round.

Pilots - we are an interesting lot, aren't we?

Unfortunately the only fare rules that seem to apply are H, which are luckily much less restrictive than the R ticket is that I'd have ended up purchasing via LGW or MAN. I don't know offhand the D rules that would apply, but they are generally fairly open to changes.

I just tried a dummy booking since only J is available on the DUB-EWR flight on 3/14. It is pulling from J inventory although it's pricing at H.