Purchasing an "R" ticket?
 

I was perusing the FC seat maps as part of my routine in sizing up my chances for upgrade when I noticed that the fare class listed for purchase was "R2PBF". It was my impression that R was purely an upgrade bucket.

When I did this for previous trips, and even the same flights 2 days ago, the fares were in "P". The fare has dropped from approx $2500 to approx $1300 for a first class fare.

My theory is NW responded to Delta's SimpliFares by using the R to be a "deep discount" FC fare bucket.

Any thoughts?

I don't know - but I have a flight from MEM-LAS where they are telling me there's no R-class availability (and Galileo confirms it now) - however, they are selling R-class seats if you request an ticket in first class.

Also, the EUA didn't run properly - maybe this has something to do with it...

I am wondering if we are going to have to re-figure out this whole "R" bucket thing. There are many threads on EUAs and R, and I wonder if this has just become outdated information. Or, this is a temporary hiccup where everything will revert to how it worked before.

I have a feeling there will be more purchased FC tickets, and fewer EUAs. Honestly, I think this would be smart for NW as it might even get more money out of its elites. In the short run for me, I am on a contract where I could only purchase coach tickets. I am hopeful for the EUAs. In the long run, I will be running my own business and would consider purchasing cheaper FC fares if they are reasonable enough.

Hmmm....????
 

Perhaps, it might be connected to what "Connect First" did, when passengers are rewarded with "first class" for purchasing these coach class fares. Rather than having to book at a coach class and getting upgraded, maybe they've eliminated the need to check for availability of upgrade seats by making you book R inventory directly. (I'm probably way off though..)

Jiburi

The R2PBF fare basis actually books into P class, not into R class. Yes, it is a match to Delta's Simplifares - the walk up unrestricted first class fare. No, it's nothing like a ConnectFirst fare.

The fare basis begins with R so the crappy nwa.com reservations engine shows the booking class as "R", this fare actually books into P class.

Notice the 2 in the fare code. It actually books into P. R to P. Get it? It's just like some business fares that you can pull up. They start out B2CMA or something like it.

I think I kind of get it. I thought the system of starting with the fare class, then having codes to specify restrictions was complicated enough. Now, having one fare bucket really book into another one is actually somewhat confusing. It would be interesting to me to hear a more complete explanation - if someone is actually familiar with such subtleties of the NW fare structure!

It doesn't so much have to do with the fare structure as it does contracted discounts, where a P/F fare will get a higher discount than a non P/F fare. So that way an R2P fare wont qualify for the higher discount since it already is deeply discounted from a P26 fare.

Current Worldperks Promotions Glitch with NWA's R2PBF Fare Basis
 

I flew CMH/MCO R/T on 1/13-1/14 and when the trip posted Worldperk points the Mile-Zilla and Platinum Points promotions did not post because the Worldperks computer isn't programed to read "R" fares as a paid published fare.

I contacted the Worldperks Service Center in Chisolm, MN and they agreed that the software at Worldperks was not re-programmed to post these fares in WP promotions. They advised me on 1/16 that they were working on this glitch.

As of today (2/4) the flight segments read Paid "R" - Flown "P" for 3 segments and Paid "R" flown "R" for one segment on that trip.

RC