Feb 28, 2021, 12:23 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Archive thread, active thread is
Consolidated "Why is this UA fare so expensive?" thread
Potential reasons for high fares
-- the lower fare classes are sold out
-- the lower fare classes are not available due to fare rule restrictions
..... day of the week travel restrictions, Saturday night stay requirement, minimum stay requirement, advance purchase requirements, ...
-- desired fares are not combinable
-- discount fares not available for one-ways, only roundtrips Why are international OWs so expensive, such high fare classes?
-- discount inventory for codeshare marketing airline is gone, but flight operator may have discount fare (or the reverse)
-- Plating -- airlines restrict the best fare to their ticket stock, meaning ticketing that flight on another ticket stock will be more expensive
-- Airline is figuring it will still sell (due to last minute purchases0 even if the competition is lower earlier. Such as peak leisure periods or special events.
-- Airline is placing a premium on non-stop (monopoly?) versus alternative connecting routings
If you find an expensive flight, start by checking the fare class and compare to the less expensive option -- that generally will explain a lot.
Consolidated "Why is this UA fare so expensive?" thread
Potential reasons for high fares
-- the lower fare classes are sold out
-- the lower fare classes are not available due to fare rule restrictions
..... day of the week travel restrictions, Saturday night stay requirement, minimum stay requirement, advance purchase requirements, ...
-- desired fares are not combinable
-- discount fares not available for one-ways, only roundtrips Why are international OWs so expensive, such high fare classes?
-- discount inventory for codeshare marketing airline is gone, but flight operator may have discount fare (or the reverse)
-- Plating -- airlines restrict the best fare to their ticket stock, meaning ticketing that flight on another ticket stock will be more expensive
-- Airline is figuring it will still sell (due to last minute purchases0 even if the competition is lower earlier. Such as peak leisure periods or special events.
-- Airline is placing a premium on non-stop (monopoly?) versus alternative connecting routings
If you find an expensive flight, start by checking the fare class and compare to the less expensive option -- that generally will explain a lot.
Consolidated "Why is this fare so expensive?" Thread [Archive]
Mar 28, 2012, 10:28 pm
#181
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,933
As you have figured out, if you snooze ya loose! Not pulling the trigger when the price is right is a mistake one only makes one time, or twice at the most.
AUS to SNA is most likely a fare that another carrier is discounting so UA is matching. Yes, you can skip the LAST segment and still receive credit for your SNA-IAH flight. A lot of people fail to make it to their connecting flights, and sometimes it not their own fault, as happened to me yesterday on a delayed arrival. Some people will tell you that if you do the dropping of the last segment too often you'll get busted, however as screwed up as this airline is now, they don't have the foggiest clue who is on which aircraft, and where they are going or coming from.
Remember the main objective for airlines is to make sure that EVERYONE on the plane pays a different fare!
AUS to SNA is most likely a fare that another carrier is discounting so UA is matching. Yes, you can skip the LAST segment and still receive credit for your SNA-IAH flight. A lot of people fail to make it to their connecting flights, and sometimes it not their own fault, as happened to me yesterday on a delayed arrival. Some people will tell you that if you do the dropping of the last segment too often you'll get busted, however as screwed up as this airline is now, they don't have the foggiest clue who is on which aircraft, and where they are going or coming from.
Remember the main objective for airlines is to make sure that EVERYONE on the plane pays a different fare!
Mar 28, 2012, 11:55 pm
#182
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: somewhere
Programs: their are many of them
Posts: 1,614
Better luck next time
Mar 29, 2012, 7:44 am
#183
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 140
As you have figured out, if you snooze ya loose! Not pulling the trigger when the price is right is a mistake one only makes one time, or twice at the most.
AUS to SNA is most likely a fare that another carrier is discounting so UA is matching. Yes, you can skip the LAST segment and still receive credit for your SNA-IAH flight. A lot of people fail to make it to their connecting flights, and sometimes it not their own fault, as happened to me yesterday on a delayed arrival. Some people will tell you that if you do the dropping of the last segment too often you'll get busted, however as screwed up as this airline is now, they don't have the foggiest clue who is on which aircraft, and where they are going or coming from.
Remember the main objective for airlines is to make sure that EVERYONE on the plane pays a different fare!
AUS to SNA is most likely a fare that another carrier is discounting so UA is matching. Yes, you can skip the LAST segment and still receive credit for your SNA-IAH flight. A lot of people fail to make it to their connecting flights, and sometimes it not their own fault, as happened to me yesterday on a delayed arrival. Some people will tell you that if you do the dropping of the last segment too often you'll get busted, however as screwed up as this airline is now, they don't have the foggiest clue who is on which aircraft, and where they are going or coming from.
Remember the main objective for airlines is to make sure that EVERYONE on the plane pays a different fare!
Mar 29, 2012, 7:48 am
#184
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,067
In addition to being against the rules, another risk of hidden city ticketing as you describe is IRROPS. If SNA-IAH gets delayed, they may rebook you SNA-SFO-AUS or SNA-DEN-AUS. Then what are you gonna do?
The new UA is less "with it" in terms of IRROPS as they used to be, but it's still a risk nonetheless.
The new UA is less "with it" in terms of IRROPS as they used to be, but it's still a risk nonetheless.
Mar 29, 2012, 7:55 am
#185
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
In addition to being against the rules, another risk of hidden city ticketing as you describe is IRROPS. If SNA-IAH gets delayed, they may rebook you SNA-SFO-AUS or SNA-DEN-AUS. Then what are you gonna do?
The new UA is less "with it" in terms of IRROPS as they used to be, but it's still a risk nonetheless.
The new UA is less "with it" in terms of IRROPS as they used to be, but it's still a risk nonetheless.
Mar 29, 2012, 11:17 am
#186
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 140
Thanks again for the different viewpoints. I will eat the cost and book earlier next time 
Makes sense on the rerouting fiasco if IRROPS occurs.
Makes sense on the rerouting fiasco if IRROPS occurs.
Mar 29, 2012, 11:52 am
#187
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
They are now up to $480 r/t and other airports are not an option. I searched from AUS (connecting in IAH) to SNA just to see and the tickets are only $230 r/t. This is crazy because you are still taking the same flights from IAH to SNA, just originating and ending in AUS.
When searching the revenue side it appears that there are seats in the lower fare buckets, however, I can't book them directly.
When searching the revenue side it appears that there are seats in the lower fare buckets, however, I can't book them directly.
The way they enforce these fare differentials is by not publishing the lower fare classes for the IAHSNA city pair. So V/W/S/T/L/K/G bucket can be available on the IAH-SNA flight, there's no published fare less than QE143KN for the IAHSNA city pair so you can't book into them. OTOH for the AUSSNA city pair there's a GA7KN fare that will get you into the G bucket.
Mar 29, 2012, 3:51 pm
#189
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 237
Our trip is as follows: SFO-SYD (stopover)-BLR (stay for 15 days)-FRA-SFO.
SFO-SYD on 12/6
SYD-BLR on 12/13
BLR-FRA-SFO on 12/30
Overall the adult charges comes to $11000 & I have to pay $1000 for my baby. It is too expensive for a little baby without scoring miles.
Mar 30, 2012, 3:15 pm
#190
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 2
United Price Gouging?
I was just trying to book tickets for my Grandma and myself to go to London. She will be in Boston and I will be in Washington DC. What I found is that it cost $820 for her to fly from Boston to DC and then to London and the reverse for the return trip. For me, it was originally $1200 (went down to $1000 today) to catch the same flight from DC to London and the same flight back.
Mar 30, 2012, 3:44 pm
#191
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
While I don't particulary like a lot of the fares I've seen from UA recently, you can't use this one incident and deduce that UA price gouges. There are a number of factors that play into fare calculations. Also connections can price out to be cheaper than the nonstop.
Mar 30, 2012, 3:48 pm
#192
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K MM, Subway Club Member
Posts: 1,988
Price Gouging (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_gouging)?
The prices may be higher than you'd like, but I wouldn't think that fits the definition of Price Gouging (there is no emergency, UA does not have a monopoly on that route, and air travel is not essential to survival).
I'd say that Price Gouging is nearly impossible given the number of carriers that fly between BOS & LON (both direct and with a connection). If you don't like the price fly on another airline (there are at least 7 non-stop flights daily between BOS & LHR and another 7 between IAD & LHR). It likely that there is a high demand for the day, time, and route you want to fly. Others are willing to pay as much or more than you are, therefore the price continues to rise until people stop buying tickets.
If your point is that you don't like that it costs less for your grandmother to fly BOS-IAD-LHR than it costs for you to fly IAD-LHR you're experiencing the core of airfare pricing. It's not based solely on the cost to operate the flights you want to take; it's also (and likely mostly) based on the demand for a particular route. Given that there are several non-stop flights BOS-LHR (none operated by UA) UA needs to give people a reason to take a longer journey in order to win their business. A lower price is that reason. Since you're flying non-stop IAD-LHR they can command a higher fare for the same flight since the market is presumably willing to pay more for that non-stop IAD-LHR flight. You might find the reverse is true if you went up to BOS on AA or BA (you paying less than your grandma).
The prices may be higher than you'd like, but I wouldn't think that fits the definition of Price Gouging (there is no emergency, UA does not have a monopoly on that route, and air travel is not essential to survival).
I'd say that Price Gouging is nearly impossible given the number of carriers that fly between BOS & LON (both direct and with a connection). If you don't like the price fly on another airline (there are at least 7 non-stop flights daily between BOS & LHR and another 7 between IAD & LHR). It likely that there is a high demand for the day, time, and route you want to fly. Others are willing to pay as much or more than you are, therefore the price continues to rise until people stop buying tickets.
If your point is that you don't like that it costs less for your grandmother to fly BOS-IAD-LHR than it costs for you to fly IAD-LHR you're experiencing the core of airfare pricing. It's not based solely on the cost to operate the flights you want to take; it's also (and likely mostly) based on the demand for a particular route. Given that there are several non-stop flights BOS-LHR (none operated by UA) UA needs to give people a reason to take a longer journey in order to win their business. A lower price is that reason. Since you're flying non-stop IAD-LHR they can command a higher fare for the same flight since the market is presumably willing to pay more for that non-stop IAD-LHR flight. You might find the reverse is true if you went up to BOS on AA or BA (you paying less than your grandma).
Last edited by kenn0223; Mar 30, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Mar 30, 2012, 3:51 pm
#193
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SFO/LIS
Programs: UA 1MM GS, Delta Skymiles Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 145
I was stunned when I was offered EWR>LIS>FAO for 1800$ in virtually empty planes in June when I have previously never paid more than 1200$.
Mar 30, 2012, 4:02 pm
#194
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Zurich
Programs: UA 1k, BA silver, HH D
Posts: 220
IAD-DXB Z/D - a gazillion dollars. PHL - IAD - DXB Z/D: low enough to get past travel people. Maybe not price gouging, but certainly annoying.
Mar 30, 2012, 4:09 pm
#195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
I was just trying to book tickets for my Grandma and myself to go to London. She will be in Boston and I will be in Washington DC. What I found is that it cost $820 for her to fly from Boston to DC and then to London and the reverse for the return trip. For me, it was originally $1200 (went down to $1000 today) to catch the same flight from DC to London and the same flight back.
Airline tickets are not sold on a cost plus basis.
Airline tickets are not sold on a cost plus basis.
There are a lot of one-stop options to get from BOS to LHR; UA has to compete with multiple airlines with one of the worst (longest travel time) routings.
There are fewer IAD to LHR options, and UA is competitive time-wise on them. Thus UA can get a premium here. Also UA has considerable DC-area loyalty (hub and Buy American) which allows them to get better rates.