UA cheaper than NW?
 

I did a ITIN check from IAH-PEK on NW and found IAH-DTW-PEK at a price of $1200 the same ITIN with UA which is IAH-SFO-PEK gives only $867 with return route as PEK-SFO-LAX-IAH http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif which I tried to avoid. Does anyone know why the UA's itin is so much cheaper than NWA's? Is it because of time of getting back since DTW is 1 hr ahead of IAH and LAX is 2 hours behind therefore delaying time of getting home signaficantly?

thanks.

That's one reason. But, more importantly: because NW can. If they can fill up their economy seats at $1200 given UA's $800 price, they NW will charge it.

So then, how much do you value the extra stopover and time vs. stopping in DTW? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

- Pat

Yield managment? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Lately NWA load factrs on these routes have been at record highs while UA has been avoided by pax seeking relief from labour woes! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Just a thought! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Good points! Howerver I do not think that UA's cheap price is due to the labor disbutes since all routes from the Westcoast is generally cheaper. I don't know about the services of the UA, NW's service is sub-par on the DTW-PEK route. My Dad flies from IAH-DTW-PEK all the time and now he is thinking to quit using NW and start using UA. If he is thinking of moving, I think everyone will have to think, since he spends most of his time flying throughout the year!

Another reason for the West-coast is my brother works in SF so it is cool to stay over there. I don't know how much it would be if I stay in SF for a couple of days then continue on my long journey.

Al

Try checking the fare at Travelocity without specifying dates to get the lowest fares from IAH to PEK. Cheapest is at 619/649/729/769, then Korean Air at 699/779, then Continental, Northwest and American all at 768, an finally UAL at 800. Maybe it's the dates you were using???

Have you tried any Chinese-American TA? I bet they can come up with better price.

Usually Korean/Japanese/Chinese TAs can always come up with better price (consolidator) if you don't care about upgrade (using miles)...

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