Pricing Question
Feb 3, 2002 | 8:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 81
Pricing Question
I am looking at the pricing for a particular roundtrip flight and the Northwest price is $400. The Continental price is $264. The Continental flights are operatated by Northwest - they are the exact same flights! Can someone explain why there is a substantial price difference between the two? When I book the flights on Continental, do I use my Northwest frequent flyer number?
Feb 3, 2002 | 8:53 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: FAI
Programs: Alaska MVP
Posts: 267
Don't know why they price things like they do but it seems to happen alot. As for frequent flyer number, you will be able to put your NW number in when you make your reservation on CO website.
Feb 3, 2002 | 9:09 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal. HH Diamond... AA Plat, CO Silver.
Posts: 1,928
In short, I have been told that the answer is anti-trust concerns. If they both had the same price, it could be seen as "price-fixing."
I agree that it does seem foolish that you can purchase the same "product" from two different companies and one of them can cost $250 while the other is $1,200.
I agree that it does seem foolish that you can purchase the same "product" from two different companies and one of them can cost $250 while the other is $1,200.
Feb 3, 2002 | 9:23 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Kingston, Ont, the limestone city
Posts: 975
So if you are a WorldPerks member booking this on CO's website... you then don't get the online booking bonus and other bonuses, right?
Or is there a way to book the CO flights through NW site, getting these bonuses?
Or is there a way to book the CO flights through NW site, getting these bonuses?
Feb 3, 2002 | 9:30 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
I have the same problem except I book on nwa.com and use CO metal. I'm CO Plat. Its ridiculous.
Feb 3, 2002 | 10:15 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal. HH Diamond... AA Plat, CO Silver.
Posts: 1,928
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MoreMiles:
So if you are a WorldPerks member booking this on CO's website... you then don't get the online booking bonus and other bonuses, right?
Or is there a way to book the CO flights through NW site, getting these bonuses?</font>
So if you are a WorldPerks member booking this on CO's website... you then don't get the online booking bonus and other bonuses, right?
Or is there a way to book the CO flights through NW site, getting these bonuses?</font>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TrojanHorse:
I have the same problem except I book on nwa.com and use CO metal. I'm CO Plat. Its ridiculous.</font>
I have the same problem except I book on nwa.com and use CO metal. I'm CO Plat. Its ridiculous.</font>
commented on that in another thread...
Feb 4, 2002 | 1:39 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Mall of America, WorldGateway, and points between
Posts: 373
What kind of itineraries are you booking? I'd be interested in seeing why the pricing is so different!
Feb 4, 2002 | 5:46 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 16,064
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PARSpro:
What kind of itineraries are you booking? I'd be interested in seeing why the pricing is so different!
</font>
What kind of itineraries are you booking? I'd be interested in seeing why the pricing is so different!
</font>
Feb 5, 2002 | 6:05 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 81
The prices I posted were based on searches I did on Northwests and Expedias web sites. The low price ($264) came up on Expedia when I searched all airlines. On Monday I tried the Northwest web site again and came up with comparable prices. It appears that some sort of fare sale started on Monday.
Feb 5, 2002 | 6:50 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 2,467
This is not that uncommon and is sometimes a back door way into finding a decent fare. It is my understanding that most code-share arrangements work on the basis that the other airline buys a certain number of seats on the other and markets them as its own. If there is a glut of unsold tickets they'll discount some of them from time to time to move em or lose em!
Feb 6, 2002 | 9:53 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Land of 10,000 miles, MN
Posts: 737
I asked a buddy of mine that worked for NWA. The answer is really kinda simple. CO pays a fixed amount per seat for each flight it can sell. He never figured out how much but it is like this. CO pays NWA $150 per seat for the flight you looking at. So in the end CO makes $104 of you and still has there seats open. And NWA is like If they wanna fly us They'll pay for it. Hope that summed it up good enough.