Price Matching Advice?
May 5, 2005 | 1:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SC, USA
Posts: 12
Price Matching Advice?
I'm trying to book a one way ticket from LIT to CLT. The base fare is $621 on US Airways but only $90 on Airtran. However, the US Airways itinerary is more convenient for my schedule.
Does anyone have advice on how I can talk US Airways into matching Airtran's price? The way I look at it, a mid-day Little Rock to Charlotte flight is not going to be full. US Airways can either get $90 or $0 from me. How can I help them understand it's to their advantage to match the price? Am I wasting my time if I even try?
Thanks.
Does anyone have advice on how I can talk US Airways into matching Airtran's price? The way I look at it, a mid-day Little Rock to Charlotte flight is not going to be full. US Airways can either get $90 or $0 from me. How can I help them understand it's to their advantage to match the price? Am I wasting my time if I even try?
Thanks.
May 5, 2005 | 1:32 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: SM/DM/HH
Posts: 10
Originally Posted by crossover
I'm trying to book a one way ticket from LIT to CLT. The base fare is $621 on US Airways but only $90 on Airtran. However, the US Airways itinerary is more convenient for my schedule.
Does anyone have advice on how I can talk US Airways into matching Airtran's price? The way I look at it, a mid-day Little Rock to Charlotte flight is not going to be full. US Airways can either get $90 or $0 from me. How can I help them understand it's to their advantage to match the price? Am I wasting my time if I even try?
Thanks.
Does anyone have advice on how I can talk US Airways into matching Airtran's price? The way I look at it, a mid-day Little Rock to Charlotte flight is not going to be full. US Airways can either get $90 or $0 from me. How can I help them understand it's to their advantage to match the price? Am I wasting my time if I even try?
Thanks.
Made my day.
May 5, 2005 | 1:50 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,036
They may get $90 more from you, but if there was a way to do this, they'd get $531 less from a whole lot of people who also figured it out. You do the math.
As long as they can get $621 from people who will pay that much for a more convenient schedule, that's what they'll charge. Whether or not that's a good business model is a subject for another thread. It's theirs, take it or leave it.
It's your money and your choice. If you have top-level elite status with US, and have access to an elite desk staffed with real professionals (I have no experience with US in this regard) it can't hurt to call them and ask. They may have the flexibility to meet somewhere in the middle, especially if you tell them what your walk-away price is: $91? $300? $620? Short of that, you're SOL. Enjoy AirTran.
As long as they can get $621 from people who will pay that much for a more convenient schedule, that's what they'll charge. Whether or not that's a good business model is a subject for another thread. It's theirs, take it or leave it.
It's your money and your choice. If you have top-level elite status with US, and have access to an elite desk staffed with real professionals (I have no experience with US in this regard) it can't hurt to call them and ask. They may have the flexibility to meet somewhere in the middle, especially if you tell them what your walk-away price is: $91? $300? $620? Short of that, you're SOL. Enjoy AirTran.
May 5, 2005 | 1:53 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
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Originally Posted by crossover
How can I help them understand it's to their advantage to match the price?
Am I wasting my time if I even try?
You definitely are not going to convince them to sell you the seat for $90 just because ATA has that fare.
May 5, 2005 | 1:53 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: UA Explorer card, AA Plat, Copa Plat, IHG Plat,
Posts: 570
Your joking right!!
May 5, 2005 | 1:57 pm
#6
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May 5, 2005 | 1:59 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select
Posts: 469
Originally Posted by crossover
I'm trying to book a one way ticket from LIT to CLT. The base fare is $621 on US Airways but only $90 on Airtran. However, the US Airways itinerary is more convenient for my schedule.
Does anyone have advice on how I can talk US Airways into matching Airtran's price? The way I look at it, a mid-day Little Rock to Charlotte flight is not going to be full. US Airways can either get $90 or $0 from me. How can I help them understand it's to their advantage to match the price? Am I wasting my time if I even try?
Thanks.
Does anyone have advice on how I can talk US Airways into matching Airtran's price? The way I look at it, a mid-day Little Rock to Charlotte flight is not going to be full. US Airways can either get $90 or $0 from me. How can I help them understand it's to their advantage to match the price? Am I wasting my time if I even try?
Thanks.
May 5, 2005 | 2:08 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 207
621-90= 531/2 = 265.5. Maybe you could ask them to split the difference. Everyone wins.
KT
KT
May 5, 2005 | 2:56 pm
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: St Petersburg, FL, USA
Posts: 2,275
They can't sell you the seat for $90 because USAir's costs to get you there are $400. They have to charge that much to make money.
May 5, 2005 | 3:54 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,752
Originally Posted by dumb_redneck
ROFLMAO!!!!!
Made my day.
Made my day.
BTW, crossover, welcome to FT!
May 5, 2005 | 9:57 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2001
Location: is everything...but...
Programs: dont matter anymore...
Posts: 3,019
Welcome to Flyertalk.
As this has nothing to do with Miles or points, and you're question has pretty much been answered, I'm going to close this.
Regards,
Flipside
As this has nothing to do with Miles or points, and you're question has pretty much been answered, I'm going to close this.
Regards,
Flipside