Flight selection by fare class --- how?
Feb 22, 2004 | 11:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Grosse Pointe, MI --- US of A
Posts: 13
Flight selection by fare class --- how?
Year before last I moved to the DTW area and immediately comped my UA status to get NW Gold (what great timing for a new terminal!) I easily qualified for NW Plat last year by racking up EQS each week.
Now things have gotten weird. So far this year I haven't received even one EQS despite not changing anything related to my travel (outbound DTW to either RIC or ORF). I googled through my history and brushed up on fare basis codes and found that my travel agent started booking me on M & H fares in December -- while I used to be almost exclusively B. I haven't found anyone at the agency that seems to have a clue why the change was initiated -- and I really haven't seen much of a difference in my fares.
So what is a comfortable NW Plat that is on the slow track to MAYBE qualifying for Gold to do? My remaining travel this year is heavy but monotonous with barely 500 mile trips to VA, MD, and NY. I'm trying to find a travel website that shows fare classes to see if I can book something comparable. Any suggestions from the travel-tested experts of Flyertalk?
All the best . . . --Mike
Now things have gotten weird. So far this year I haven't received even one EQS despite not changing anything related to my travel (outbound DTW to either RIC or ORF). I googled through my history and brushed up on fare basis codes and found that my travel agent started booking me on M & H fares in December -- while I used to be almost exclusively B. I haven't found anyone at the agency that seems to have a clue why the change was initiated -- and I really haven't seen much of a difference in my fares.
So what is a comfortable NW Plat that is on the slow track to MAYBE qualifying for Gold to do? My remaining travel this year is heavy but monotonous with barely 500 mile trips to VA, MD, and NY. I'm trying to find a travel website that shows fare classes to see if I can book something comparable. Any suggestions from the travel-tested experts of Flyertalk?
All the best . . . --Mike
Feb 22, 2004 | 11:20 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Land of 10,000 Upgrades
Posts: 9,459
1-800-225-2525
"Hi. I'd like to purchase a B fare."
[This message has been edited by UpgradeMe (edited Feb 22, 2004).]
"Hi. I'd like to purchase a B fare."
[This message has been edited by UpgradeMe (edited Feb 22, 2004).]
Feb 22, 2004 | 12:30 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Grosse Pointe, MI --- US of A
Posts: 13
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UpgradeMe:
1-800-225-2525
"Hi. I'd like to purchase a B fare."
[This message has been edited by UpgradeMe (edited Feb 22, 2004).]</font>
1-800-225-2525
"Hi. I'd like to purchase a B fare."
[This message has been edited by UpgradeMe (edited Feb 22, 2004).]</font>
Why I ought to . . . SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU. I would like to compare fares since like many cost conscious business travelers paying more to get status isn't an option.
Feb 22, 2004 | 4:16 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: NW Plat Elite, SPG Gold, National Emerald Club
Posts: 465
You could use Travelocity's fare listings to see all the available fares for any city pair...
Feb 23, 2004 | 3:48 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 81
They really should make online booking more robust. I hate having to call for B fares.
Feb 23, 2004 | 3:59 am
#6
Join Date: May 2003
Location: MSP - NW Gold - PC Plat - Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 2,478
I was wondering the same thing for 123 fly free.
It seems either a good cheap fare that does not qualify, or a really expensive fare that does qualify.
How DO you search by class - without calling?
It seems either a good cheap fare that does not qualify, or a really expensive fare that does qualify.
How DO you search by class - without calling?
Feb 23, 2004 | 8:23 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Programs: NW-PE, Blue Star SeaSmiles
Posts: 6,789
Feb 23, 2004 | 9:38 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 81
I think Travelocity is a decent work-around, but NW should improve their booking engine. BTW, sometimes when I find a particular fare booking class on Travelocity and select dates, it still offers me a non-qualifying, lower fare.