Fare Class Letters
 

I'm close to buying a couple of flights through a Travel Agent to use up some vouchers, but I want specific fare types to allow upgrades on a couple of sectors, and also for the points.

I have some notes from a while back, but does anyone have an up to date list of what fare codes go into Special, Saver, Flex and Flex Plus categories? Or what ones are variable?

Ask the agent to book flex/flex plus - it should be clear to them now.

I've detailed the fare classes I want, but I'm not sure they fully understand. In fact, I'm pretty sure they don't given the prices/classes they have come back with.

One has came back with class letters, hence my query.

Fare base code, 4th letter from the right

F flex+
S flex
P saver
R special

Thanks, but how do the individual fare buckets fit into these groups? I previously read Y, E and R are Flex Plus but looking for confimation of this and how the other letters are allocated. The TA either can't or won't give me the fare construction to work it out as you describe, but can give me the class letter.

What is the letter?

Someone like eternaltransit will know :D

I think he's en route back from New Zealand, so the OP may have to wait a few hours for him to land...but I agree, he'll know the answer!

M

Where else would I be, but in transit :D

kuroko is the fares expert, and unfortunately the only definitive indicator of EK fare group is the 4th letter from the right as he says.

In general you find that:

Flex Plus: (first) F (business) J (economy) Y, E, R
Flex: (first) A (business) C, I (economy) W, M, B
Saver: (business) O (economy) Q, L, T
Special: (economy) L, T, V, X

Bolding mine.

What's the routing? It really comes down do that (for example ex DXB to India, X is a Saver, for most other routings X is a special)

Flex Plus: (first) F (business) J (economy) Y, E, R
Flex: (first) A (business) C, I (economy) W, M, B, U, K
Saver: (business) O (economy) Q, L, T
Special: (economy) (L,T) V, X (business) O

The routing which I've got real doubts about (which you all seem to have confirmed) is GLA-BKK(stopover)-AKL(stopover)-BKK(stopover)-GLA. I'm requesting a Flex and pretty sure I've been offered a Saver.
They say it's a "T" fare, so it may even be a Special, which is worrying.

kuroko is also worrying me by adding "O" to be potentially a Business Class Special. I've got that quoted for a couple of GLA-BKK returns and was assuming it was a Saver Fare. Any idea what "O" would be on this route?

On a completely different tactic, have you asked for the fare rules? These will tell you which fare type it is, especially by looking at change, cancellation and upgrade restrictions, if not even explicitly stated.

Have you tried searching the itinerary on ITA Matrix to view the fare rules and possibly try to force the Flex fare on the route and dates you need and send the fare construction info to the TA to replicate?

The fare rules will always specify the fare group type in the endorsements so the TA should have that.

Unfortunately, the TAs are saying they either won't or can't give me the full fare construction. I haven't asked for Fare Rules as the TAs have given me their own change/cancellation charges, which aren't the same as any on EK's website so I can't narrow it down through that.

ITA matrix isn't helping too much as the TA mark up means I can't cross reference to an ITA price with a 100% guarantee I'm right.

There are some patterns to their pricing which help, but I'm looking for more certainty.

They won't entertain me giving them the fare basis to replicate.

I'll ask and see what they say. From previous emails they don't seem too forthcoming.

Use a different travel agent?

M

Not an option if I'm wanting to use the vouchers. They are only taken by the guys I'm dealing with, as far as I can tell.

If that's the case, that means based on the QF codeshare, the following fares map into each other?

QF Flex: F (First), J (Business), Y B H (Economy) <---> EK Flex Plus
QF Saver: A (First), C D (Business), K M L V S G (Economy) <---> EK Flex
QF Sale: I (Business), N O Q (Economy) <---> EK Saver/Special

Correct me if I'm wrong :)

Ask for the fare base.
Gla-akl in t most likely saver.

Business special always (99/100) non changeable/non ref

Well, two trips now ticketed. No Fare Construction as I'm used to but "BT" instead, which I believe stand for Bulk (or Block?) Ticketing.

I seem to have got what I expected though, with T being Saver and U being Flex.