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]
Jan 30, 2012, 9:50 am
#31
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: TBD
Posts: 840
Oddly expensive flights (SAT-NYC)
Having recently moved to NYC, I am new to the UA/CO forum but see more and more of my travel going to CO/UA.
I've noticed that CO's nonstop from SAT to EWR is always ridiculously (IMHO) expensive. I've never seen it for less than $853 when Delta (the only other nonstop airline) frequently has tickets for $299 (and at similar times).
I've tried checking out the fare rules on ITA, but I always get an error. Has anyone noticed similar anomalies? I cannot seriously imagine that demand on SAT-EWR is sufficient to sustain RT tickets for $853.
Thanks for any insight anyone can share.
Cheers.
I've noticed that CO's nonstop from SAT to EWR is always ridiculously (IMHO) expensive. I've never seen it for less than $853 when Delta (the only other nonstop airline) frequently has tickets for $299 (and at similar times).
I've tried checking out the fare rules on ITA, but I always get an error. Has anyone noticed similar anomalies? I cannot seriously imagine that demand on SAT-EWR is sufficient to sustain RT tickets for $853.
Thanks for any insight anyone can share.
Cheers.
Jan 30, 2012, 10:55 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,170
Airport and/or route monopoly. It's not just SAT...
Also, one way pricing and trips < 3 days to/from EWR will cause artificially high pricing as well
Also, one way pricing and trips < 3 days to/from EWR will cause artificially high pricing as well
Jan 30, 2012, 12:11 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 46
30% base fare increase in 1 month
Even though 10 months in advance, I was about to book RT flight from SAV to OAX for Oct. for a 10 day stay and discovered a 30% base fare increase from 1 month ago - from $596. to $770. net total. Lowest base Fare including all taxes and fees had been stable at $596. for previous 3 months - now this. Previous was an E fare which seems to be no more. Now lowest base fare is a W fare. Scanning the fare over the next 10 months, this $770. W fare is the lowest. Is this a new gouging trend by CO. Is there any way to appeal this massive fare increase? (The $596. fare was 15% higher than the previous year of $530. which means about 45% increase in 1 year.)
Last edited by tarkaboy; Jan 30, 2012 at 12:17 pm Reason: clarification
Jan 30, 2012, 12:25 pm
#34
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
nope
Airfare are always in the status of flux -- your options are to wait and see if the fares decreases -- they might or might not
or
book with another carrier.
Jan 30, 2012, 12:38 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
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Posts: 21,170
Try alternative airports - SFO on one end, not sure what's on the other
Less airline competition = guaranteed higher prices
Less airline competition = guaranteed higher prices
Jan 30, 2012, 1:20 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
USD 683.40 USD 91.67 USD 775.07
Base fare looks like $683.40, so not as bad as you think.
I almost made the same mistake...OP going to OAX, not OAK lol...
Feb 5, 2012, 2:10 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Jose, CA USA
Posts: 1,792
UA fares vs AS fares to Hawaii
In the Bay Area, there seems to be a much cheaper way to get to any of the 4 major Hawaiian islands (from San Jose) by using AS than UA. I apologize if other threads have hit on this, but a search today was impressive: Flying SJC-OGG-SJC on AS could be done for $1,283.00---in F---refundable for a trip I was going to do later in October. Same fare on the web with UA----in F---$3,933.00 which included a stop at LAX both ways. A lower fare of $2,476 could be had on UA by doing 2 stops each way.
Question: Is UA impervious to this fare competition or is this an aberrancy in the market place that I don't understand? These fares from SJC to KOA and HNL are much better than UA's flights which leave only 38 miles up the road.
Question: Is UA impervious to this fare competition or is this an aberrancy in the market place that I don't understand? These fares from SJC to KOA and HNL are much better than UA's flights which leave only 38 miles up the road.
Feb 5, 2012, 2:20 pm
#38
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 774
With respect to economy/lowest fares - AS needs lower fares given they're relatively new to that market. UA does tend to match many of their sales, but selectively - only a few months at a time (so october is too far into the future), sometimes select cities (e.g. sfo might not get a match, but sjc will). However, looking at fares now, UA actually has semi-comparable economy fares now.
As far as F fares, it's a different revenue philosophy. UA charges arm and a leg getting a few takers whereas AS charges a much more modest difference but sells out the F cabin weeks before departure. Impossible to say pros/cons of each approach without lots of internal data.
As far as F fares, it's a different revenue philosophy. UA charges arm and a leg getting a few takers whereas AS charges a much more modest difference but sells out the F cabin weeks before departure. Impossible to say pros/cons of each approach without lots of internal data.
Feb 5, 2012, 11:02 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 534
I'm looking at SFO-SLC for the end of March and was shocked to find that the non-stops are ~$900. With a stop in DEN or LAX it drops down to ~$400.
DL's fares are comparably priced. Go figure.
DL's fares are comparably priced. Go figure.
Feb 5, 2012, 11:34 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Denver, CO USA
Programs: UA-Gold, 1MM, Marriott Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 1,086
Spring break skiing!....UA figures some will be in a hurry, justifying the N/S fare.
Feb 5, 2012, 11:53 pm
#42
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
Feb 6, 2012, 1:11 am
#43
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold75K
Posts: 850
In the Bay Area, there seems to be a much cheaper way to get to any of the 4 major Hawaiian islands (from San Jose) by using AS than UA. I apologize if other threads have hit on this, but a search today was impressive: Flying SJC-OGG-SJC on AS could be done for $1,283.00---in F---refundable for a trip I was going to do later in October. Same fare on the web with UA----in F---$3,933.00 which included a stop at LAX both ways. A lower fare of $2,476 could be had on UA by doing 2 stops each way.
Question: Is UA impervious to this fare competition or is this an aberrancy in the market place that I don't understand? These fares from SJC to KOA and HNL are much better than UA's flights which leave only 38 miles up the road.
Question: Is UA impervious to this fare competition or is this an aberrancy in the market place that I don't understand? These fares from SJC to KOA and HNL are much better than UA's flights which leave only 38 miles up the road.
Feb 6, 2012, 6:24 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,170
Feb 6, 2012, 7:46 am
#45
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Something is up with fair pricing from ROC to CLT (or vice versa). UA-CO, normally prices at about "market" which is 225-260, if you purchase far enough out, long enough stay etc. Now the "deep discount buckets" aren't being released and lowest price I can find is over $400. What is odd is that pricing by the competitors (including US) has not changed nor has pricing to alternative airports like BUF or GSO, as applicable. Just plain odd .....
Safe Travels
Safe Travels