AA/UA/US Joins Priceline.com
 

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/991117/ct_priceli_1.html

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Dan
"It is not doing the things we like to do, but liking the things we have to do, that makes life blessed." - Goethe

See previous post on this:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/000399.html

I wonder if the increase in the number of airlines signing on with Priceline will impact award seat availability across the board. The airlines would much rather get some money for empty seats than give them away as awards. The cheaper fares will increase load factors. That translates to fewer award seats. Any thoughts?

Good question, MikeKing, but I doubt it. From what I've seen so far, Priceline-issued tickets come from the lowest fare class. With all the extra mile promotions the airlines are offering through their websites, I can't imagine that they would offer inventory to Priceline at the expense of their own customers, but you never know.

Good question MileKing.

Another angle is from our side. Would we be less willing to use up our miles and use Priceline instead? I have booked an award ticket (25K miles) but for the right price would be willing to buy from Priceline and redeposit the miles back in my account ($45 redeposit fee with Delta). Its also much easier to prevent mileage expiration now.

Just curious, PG, what's the lowest currently available fare on your travel dates (route??) and what do you consider the right price?

I've never looked at the fare on that route, but my plan is to estimate the cost of miles, factor in the penalty for returning the FF ticket, and then subtract 20%. I will place one bid with the strong likelyhood that it would be rejected, and not rebid.