FlyerTalk Forums

FlyerTalk Forums (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/index.php)
-   Continental OnePass (Pre-Merger) (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/continental-onepass-pre-merger-488/)
-   -   Price Decrease on Continental.com!!! But too late. (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/continental-onepass-pre-merger/874597-price-decrease-continental-com-but-too-late.html)

winslowny Oct 9, 2008 7:26 pm
Price Decrease on Continental.com!!! But too late.
 
I bought a ticket on continental.com two weeks ago for travel IAH-GRU-IAH in Feb 2009. Searched for the lowest fare available and paid $1400 for a M/I class fare. Today, the same itinerary is available for $1100 for a I/I class fare!!!!!! What gives?

What happened to "early bird catches the worm" and the benefits of planning ahead? I thought tickets were supposed to be cheaper the earlier you buy them.

I called continental, but they were not sympathetic or flexible at all, even though I am Gold Elite. Anyone have similar experiences and any suggestions to try to get that difference back?

sbm12 Oct 9, 2008 7:34 pm
Originally Posted by winslowny (Post 10497036)
What happened to "early bird catches the worm" and the benefits of planning ahead? I thought tickets were supposed to be cheaper the earlier you buy them.
This is not the case. You've now learned that the hard way. Revenue management has become much more of an art than the period just after deregulation with a bunch of seats and a bunch of fares and the cheap buckets filling up early. Airlines will now release cheaper seats if necessary to drive sales if the plane isn't filling up.
Originally Posted by winslowny (Post 10497036)
I called continental, but they were not sympathetic or flexible at all, even though I am Gold Elite. Anyone have similar experiences and any suggestions to try to get that difference back?
You can pay the change fee and re-ticket at the lower fare and get a credit for the difference. Odds are the change fee is $150 so you'll pay $150 more to get a $300 voucher. You can decide if that is worthwhile to you or not.

surrealuvr Oct 9, 2008 7:46 pm
bt i don't think the change fee is on full fare tickets is it ?

sbm12 Oct 9, 2008 7:49 pm
Originally Posted by surrealuvr (Post 10497129)
bt i don't think the change fee is on full fare tickets is it ?
I'm assuming that you are asking if there is a change fee on full fare tickets. If you mean a Y ticket the answer is no, as those are fully flexible. But the OP bought in the M and I fare buckets and those certainly will have change fees as they are considered discount and deep discount, respectively.

Billiken Oct 10, 2008 5:16 am
Watch daily for schedule changes to your itinerary.
If one happens, then you might be able to get a full refund (and then rebook at the lower rate).

TommyC80 Oct 10, 2008 12:52 pm
Originally Posted by Billiken (Post 10498530)
Watch daily for schedule changes to your itinerary.
If one happens, then you might be able to get a full refund (and then rebook at the lower rate).
How do you figure that? OP bought an M fare, not a Y fare.

sbm12 Oct 10, 2008 1:25 pm
Originally Posted by TommyC80 (Post 10500859)
How do you figure that? OP bought an M fare, not a Y fare.
If the OP bought a Y fare they wouldn't need to wait for a schedule change to get a refund; they'd just get one. But if the schedule change is unacceptable to you one option provided by the CoC is a refund. The problem is that such a change cannot accurately be predicted and especially on a non-stop flight like the OP is on such a change is rarely enough to reasonably justify a refund. And even if there was such a change and CO agreed to refund the fare paid there is no way to know (or really to expect) that the cheaper fare will be still available at the time.

The OP bought a ticket based on being comfortable with the fare being asked for. Either pay the change fee or let it go, but the difference isn't going to be refunded/credited otherwise. CO doesn't do that.

TommyC80 Oct 10, 2008 2:29 pm
Originally Posted by sbm12 (Post 10501043)
If the OP bought a Y fare they wouldn't need to wait for a schedule change to get a refund; they'd just get one. But if the schedule change is unacceptable to you one option provided by the CoC is a refund. The problem is that such a change cannot accurately be predicted and especially on a non-stop flight like the OP is on such a change is rarely enough to reasonably justify a refund. And even if there was such a change and CO agreed to refund the fare paid there is no way to know (or really to expect) that the cheaper fare will be still available at the time.

The OP bought a ticket based on being comfortable with the fare being asked for. Either pay the change fee or let it go, but the difference isn't going to be refunded/credited otherwise. CO doesn't do that.
Oh yes, yes....that's right. I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that :)

CAL PHL FLYER Oct 10, 2008 4:52 pm
Thats the name of the game.

karenkay Oct 11, 2008 7:32 am
you know, it's this very issue that's likely to keep me from renewing my plat status for '09. since united will issue me a voucher for the difference if the price goes down, why wouldn't i ticket with them instead? :(

(sure, i'm unlikely to fly non-stop to anywhere on ua, but that's just more mileage accrual. ;) )

i LIKE co, but my wallet likes having options.

COpltASgldPHX Oct 11, 2008 9:37 am
Originally Posted by winslowny (Post 10497036)
I bought a ticket on continental.com two weeks ago for travel IAH-GRU-IAH in Feb 2009. Searched for the lowest fare available and paid $1400 for a M/I class fare. Today, the same itinerary is available for $1100 for a I/I class fare!!!!!! What gives?
This was not a "price decrease" but rather an adjustment to inventory as sbm12 pointed out. In order to get a refund/voucher with an airline that has a "guaranteed airfare" policy there has to have been a lower fare introduced for which the original itinerary qualifies. (See quote from UA.com below)


Originally Posted by sbm12 (Post 10497082)
You can pay the change fee and re-ticket at the lower fare and get a credit for the difference. Odds are the change fee is $150 so you'll pay $150 more to get a $300 voucher. You can decide if that is worthwhile to you or not.
This is an international ticket so the change fee is a bit more.

[KVS Availability Tool 3.3.0/Platinum - ZUJ: HOU-SAO/CO/MR3SAN/1399 USD]
Code:
REGULAR APEX

[PENALTIES]
FARE RULE ORIGINATING UNITED STATES -

TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/ NO-SHOW. WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE
CHANGE/ILLNESS OR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.

TICKET HAS NO VALUE UNLESS TICKETED FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED
PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME.  CHANGES  BEFORE DEPARTURE CHARGE USD  200.00.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY. WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE/ILLNESS OR DEATH OF
PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.

WHEN THE ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE NO REFUNDS WILL BE MADE  HOWEVER THE
DIFFERENCE IN FARE WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PASSENGER IN THE FORM  OF A NON
REFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A TICKET
VALID FOR TRANSPORTATION GOVERNED BY CO.
Originally Posted by karenkay (Post 10504050)
you know, it's this very issue that's likely to keep me from renewing my plat status for '09. since united will issue me a voucher for the difference if the price goes down, why wouldn't i ticket with them instead? :(

i LIKE co, but my wallet likes having options.
For international tickets,UA's policy is the SAME as CO's:

If I have purchased a ticket and a new, lower fare is introduced, can I obtain a credit? Yes, in many cases you may obtain a credit voucher (non-refundable tickets) or refund (refundable tickets) over the phone (E-tickets only) or at any United ticket counter. A fee will apply for non-refundable tickets purchased for international travel. You can call the United Airlines Reservations Department at 800 UNITED 1 (800 864-8331). When we introduce new fares or reduce a current fare in a particular market, you may change a ticket to the new fare if:
- the change is made prior to departure
- you do not change the flight, date, origin, destination or stopover points
- reservations are confirmed in the appropriate class of service
- all fare restrictions are met
- the lower fare is not a special, united.com-only fare
Any applicable penalties are retroactive to the new fare ticket.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 9:33 am.


This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.