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 19, 2018, 8:50 pm
#1336
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,358
What's up with WAS-Japan this year? I have been eyeing September travel to several markets, and am getting Y fares which price not much below what I've paid for J as recently as a year or so back (mid-to-upper $2k range). I'd say it was just too far in advance, and the lowest fares published are Q, but I've checked April, May, June, and September, all with similar fares, and have been checking those dates for a few months running now.
These are at least $1k higher than what I paid for Y 2 years ago, and though I know the last paid J trip I had to Japan was a bargain-basement discount fare, these Y fares are within $1k of that.
Decided on a May trip to TPE instead of NRT or KIX or CTS simply due to it being $1.3k cheaper and somewhere I haven't been.
These are at least $1k higher than what I paid for Y 2 years ago, and though I know the last paid J trip I had to Japan was a bargain-basement discount fare, these Y fares are within $1k of that.
Decided on a May trip to TPE instead of NRT or KIX or CTS simply due to it being $1.3k cheaper and somewhere I haven't been.
Unfortunately United has made finding similar prices as seen a year ago MUCH MORE difficult.
I now spend maybe 5 times longer searching for flights than I did not-too-long-ago.
My routine now involves searching different airport combinations, including tiny feeder airports, i.e. AVP-EWR-PEK instead of EWR-PEK. Using matrix, using google flights.
Searching all sorts of different criteria on united.com including award travel, one ways, opposite routing (i.e. several PEK-EWR-PEK instead of several EWR-PEK-EWR with positioning one-way.....twice).
Planning and booking can now take half a day+ for a few months worth of travel, whereas before I'd slap it together in an hour.
Mar 19, 2018, 9:45 pm
#1337
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,468
When I was looking at SFO-TYO recently, the cheapest available fare was a Q that priced around $1700. (And the only cheaper published fare was a W with a 60 day AP and 7 day minimum stay.) Apparently UA and NH have enough of a monopoly to TYO from certain airports (including SFO and IAD) they can get away with this kind of uncompetitive pricing.
Mar 20, 2018, 11:22 am
#1338
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
When I was looking at SFO-TYO recently, the cheapest available fare was a Q that priced around $1700. (And the only cheaper published fare was a W with a 60 day AP and 7 day minimum stay.) Apparently UA and NH have enough of a monopoly to TYO from certain airports (including SFO and IAD) they can get away with this kind of uncompetitive pricing.
Mar 20, 2018, 3:03 pm
#1339
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
DCA-EWR in April. UA wants $249 for a U fare on every flight. Which are all empty. Just sitting at that price point since Feb with plenty of lower fare buckets open. Thankfully XN opened up. No movement on X.
Mar 20, 2018, 3:44 pm
#1340
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
On another thread, I complained how since last September when I booked flights to Asia in Polaris Business United wanted $3500 more for flying from my small city in the Midwest. So, booked from ORD.
Now, the same thing is happening for flights to MUC in Economy for May or August trips (I'm not looking at Polaris Business as they are only selling A fares for the May trip). Just to fly from my small city they want $1200 more. So, booked from ORD.
I wonder if the same thing will happen when I have to take a domestic trip.
It's painful. I did not like the CR2s but the 18 minutes wheels up-wheels down on the CR2 beats the milkman's bus. I guess I have to investigate if a taxi or the other companies would take me to ORD and back on my return but I don't know if they are reliable.
Now, the same thing is happening for flights to MUC in Economy for May or August trips (I'm not looking at Polaris Business as they are only selling A fares for the May trip). Just to fly from my small city they want $1200 more. So, booked from ORD.
I wonder if the same thing will happen when I have to take a domestic trip.
It's painful. I did not like the CR2s but the 18 minutes wheels up-wheels down on the CR2 beats the milkman's bus. I guess I have to investigate if a taxi or the other companies would take me to ORD and back on my return but I don't know if they are reliable.
Mar 22, 2018, 10:15 pm
#1341
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Hertz Pres
Posts: 289
Pricing question
I'm looking at EWR to SFO flights on April 11 and there's something that makes no sense to me. Most flights that day in economy are $150-300 but the 8 PM flight (UA 2006) is zeroed out in economy except for YBM. So the price is $950! But the seat map also looks empty. Is the flight really that full or has UA's revenue management system gone bonkers?
Mar 22, 2018, 10:21 pm
#1342
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Mar 22, 2018, 10:26 pm
#1343
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Hertz Pres
Posts: 289
I understand seat maps are not always accurate (I tell that to many) - but this map is literally empty in F and E+. But yes could be a large group that zeroed everything out to YBM.
Mar 22, 2018, 10:28 pm
#1344
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,468
I'm looking at EWR to SFO flights on April 11 and there's something that makes no sense to me. Most flights that day in economy are $150-300 but the 8 PM flight (UA 2006) is zeroed out in economy except for YBM. So the price is $950! But the seat map also looks empty. Is the flight really that full or has UA's revenue management system gone bonkers?
Mar 22, 2018, 10:52 pm
#1345
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
I have been on flights where F and E+ are empty, yet E is completely blacked out / sold. Twice it turned out to be large groups: one school going to DC for a trip and the other a Korean tour group. E seats opened up at T-24, if i recall correctly, only 2-3 rows. The flight was potentially oversold, volunteers solicited, but not used.
I would fall under the assumption that a large group has booked that flight.
Mar 22, 2018, 11:02 pm
#1346
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
I'm looking at EWR to SFO flights on April 11 and there's something that makes no sense to me. Most flights that day in economy are $150-300 but the 8 PM flight (UA 2006) is zeroed out in economy except for YBM. So the price is $950! But the seat map also looks empty. Is the flight really that full or has UA's revenue management system gone bonkers?
Mar 22, 2018, 11:03 pm
#1347
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,858
Mar 23, 2018, 7:57 am
#1348
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,144
When I was looking at SFO-TYO recently, the cheapest available fare was a Q that priced around $1700. (And the only cheaper published fare was a W with a 60 day AP and 7 day minimum stay.) Apparently UA and NH have enough of a monopoly to TYO from certain airports (including SFO and IAD) they can get away with this kind of uncompetitive pricing.
I will pay a premium for a nonstop. Just not $1200+ premium for Y...
Mar 24, 2018, 9:49 pm
#1349
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
What about E?
I have been on flights where F and E+ are empty, yet E is completely blacked out / sold. Twice it turned out to be large groups: one school going to DC for a trip and the other a Korean tour group. E seats opened up at T-24, if i recall correctly, only 2-3 rows. The flight was potentially oversold, volunteers solicited, but not used.
I would fall under the assumption that a large group has booked that flight.
I have been on flights where F and E+ are empty, yet E is completely blacked out / sold. Twice it turned out to be large groups: one school going to DC for a trip and the other a Korean tour group. E seats opened up at T-24, if i recall correctly, only 2-3 rows. The flight was potentially oversold, volunteers solicited, but not used.
I would fall under the assumption that a large group has booked that flight.
Apr 16, 2018, 2:44 pm
#1350
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: UA GS; Marriott Titanium / LT Plat
Posts: 658
Booking TPA-JAX, why so difficult & expensive?
I know this is crazy, but I'm trying to book TPA-JAX on United. I've done the Silver Airways partner flight way too many times now, and would prefer to earn some PQMs & PQD, and have back up options if there is a flight delay / cancellation (I got stranded a couple of weeks ago and had to drive - I hate driving).
I found viable options through all four realistic major hubs (EWR, ORD, IAD, and IAH) - with IAD being the shortest/fastest option (~5 hours on the outbound) and EWR being the best from a delay / cancelation perspective given the number of daily flights (7 between TPA-EWR and 4 between EWR-JAX).
Now here is the crazy part - I called the 1K desk and the agent couldn't couldn't even get it to price! I tried multi-city option on the Book Travel section on united.com and it came back at about $900 (granted, I'm flying Mon-Fri, but still)... individually these are like $200 - $300 roundtrip tickets (TPA-EWR, EWR-JAX), so it should be $500 - $600 RT (TPA-JAX)... why is this so hard to book and so expensive???
Oh, and the numbers in the parentheses are the PQM earnings..
(Mod, please move if I posted this in the wrong place).
I found viable options through all four realistic major hubs (EWR, ORD, IAD, and IAH) - with IAD being the shortest/fastest option (~5 hours on the outbound) and EWR being the best from a delay / cancelation perspective given the number of daily flights (7 between TPA-EWR and 4 between EWR-JAX).
Now here is the crazy part - I called the 1K desk and the agent couldn't couldn't even get it to price! I tried multi-city option on the Book Travel section on united.com and it came back at about $900 (granted, I'm flying Mon-Fri, but still)... individually these are like $200 - $300 roundtrip tickets (TPA-EWR, EWR-JAX), so it should be $500 - $600 RT (TPA-JAX)... why is this so hard to book and so expensive???
Oh, and the numbers in the parentheses are the PQM earnings..
(Mod, please move if I posted this in the wrong place).