Weird married segment logic
 

Was looking at pricing for a flight BOS-X-MEX/PVR-X-BOS.
To MEX it shows me a connection in ATL, but on the return there is no ATL connection available whatsoever. I think: "maybe sold out already".
HOWEVER, when I search for a one-way PVR-X-BOS the option to connect in ATL does show up!

What gives??

1. Have you looked at fare codes and fare rules carefully?

2. What happens if you either try multicity search to force the connection points you want or search by schedule to pick the specific flights you want and then see how it prices?

3. If you call, DL agents can usually put together the specific flights you want.

+1 to MSP... Search by schedule or try multicity. Search by price often doesn't show many perfectly valid connections.

1. Cannot look at fare codes if flight doesn't show.
2. Searching by schedule still does not show ATL. Forcing the connection point at ATL results in nil flights shown.

What are the dates/flights you want?

12/25 bos-atl-mex, 1/3 pvr-atl-bos

What happens if you search just for the segments in question. Some flights might not be operating on December 25th. The same could be true for January 3rd, depending on how the holiday weekends fall this year. Or these flights could fill up very early due to the holidays.

I'd call DL and start by checking which flights are operating on your desired travel dates. Then worry about fare class availability.

If I look for one-ways BOS-ATL-MEX on 12/25 and PVR-ATL-BOS on 1/3 both show up.
HOWEVER, if I look for that particular open-jaw nothing comes up.
To put it differently: Delta is willing to sell me two one-ways, but the combination (open-jaw) not at all.
I'd say the yield manager responsible for the fares rules is crazy.

It's likely the PVR-ATL segment is reserved for more profitable routes or connections that day. It is shortly after the New Year holiday, after all. Searching the one-way from PVR-BOS indicates availability only in Y class from PVR-ATL, so it's probably just an issue of Delta not being able to sell you a connection that is anywhere near as reasonably priced compared to the other options returned. I'm sure you can force a connection through ATL by having an agent manually price it, but you may not like the pricing.

Luckily you are offered three viable one-stop options (two via MSP, one via DTW). This is the benefit of operating multiple hubs, each with service to redundant destinations.

Then either Delta can still give me that options for a huge amount of money, OR the incompetent yield managers should not have allowed the PVR-ATL segment to sell out so early. Because that is a sign of pricing it too low.

It's not weird at all actually. If you look at PVR-ATL one way ( forget Boston) on the date it prices at $985 with no available first class for the nonstop. Means they are expecting very heavy well priced loads on the segment so are not opening up the inventory. They are charging less to get you to ATL taking a connection over DTW or MSP

This is not what you'd call married segment logic it's called O&D revenue management. Married segment logic is just the the programming around maximizing network revenue.

That's no explanation at all.
If I want to fly my itinerary via ATL, Delta should just give me a price.
Suppose I am willing to pay a billion dollar, Delta would still say no. That's just dumb revenue management.

It's not the explanation you like but how it works. It's a peak travel day post holiday from a timeshare destination. So they are closing off the inventory to get the highest revenue. You'll just have to go over another hub then ATL unless they change their mind. They have the data on bookings..you do not.

That's not the point at all.

OP understands what married segment logic is (i.e. if Delta wants to reserve its seats on the PVR-ATL flight for higher paying O&D passengers rather than connecting passengers like PVR-ATL-BOS).

That's not in play here.

If OP searches PVR-BOS one-way on January 3, 2015, OP is offered routings via ATL.

However, if OP does a round trip search with the outbound on December 25, and trying to choose the same return flights as he found for 1/3/15 in the one-way search, Delta.com doesn't offer those flights as an option at any price. OP can't force it by doing a search by schedule, multi-city search, etc...

I think OP used the wrong language in the subject to describe this. I don't think it's married segment logic at issue here... just a dumb website.

Incorrect. I just pulled up the flight in question in Sabre and there is no even full Y inventory or F available connecting over ATL on Jan 3 2015 for PVR. The only option open for the O&D over ATL for the date involves an over night in ATL arriving in BOS on the 4th ( and 19 hour journey time) That could change as we get closer but for now the inventory is simply closed on the routing for the day. You cannot get to NYC or DC on that ATL segment either but you could get to Chicago or $1200+. DL is not showing it because their is no inventory open for the routing.