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Does the website selectively show flights?

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Old Apr 2, 2012 | 11:31 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: UA 1K/ 1MM, SPG Plat
Posts: 365
Does the website selectively show flights?

Hi All,

I've booked a lot of domestic travel recently and have started noticing that certain flights appear and others don't. Recently I booked a SFO-BOS (a common route for me) and there was no option between the 6am and 11am flights (there is usually an 8am). I checked multiple times---there was simply nothing on the website about an 8am non-stop. Checked back 2 weeks later (and all of a sudden the 8am appears as first in the non-stop search). Is this some kind of glitch? And no, I really don't think UA just added the flights and I definitely did multiple thorough searches originally...
Am I the only one experiencing this?

Thanks!
uapremier is offline  
Old Apr 2, 2012 | 11:39 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: ORD / BOS
Programs: UA PLT, AA PLT, Hilton SLV
Posts: 28
Was this for nonstop routing? It's possible that the type of fare you were searching for was zeroed out for some reason. Did you search ITA or expertflyer? Just as a hint I have been using one way and multi city booking quite a bit since 3/3
Reno911 is offline  
Old Apr 2, 2012 | 11:57 am
  #3  
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Carolina
Programs: UA LT Gold, American Kettle, Hertz #1 Presidents Circle, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 930
Originally Posted by Reno911
Was this for nonstop routing? It's possible that the type of fare you were searching for was zeroed out for some reason. Did you search ITA or expertflyer? Just as a hint I have been using one way and multi city booking quite a bit since 3/3
I've also had to start using multi-city booking this year (both pre and post 3/3) to get the routing I want. Since I'm based in IAH they always want to send me via ORD, an airport I really don't care for. Almost all my travel is between IAH and YYZ and I prefer to go IAH->EWR->YYZ and reverse on the way back.

1) Its more miles.
2) 50-75% of the time I get routed via ORD, I get boned with delays.
3) Bigger planes go IAH<->EWR so I have a better upgrade chance.

The fares are generally within $50 so that is not a big factor.

I really don't understand how the website picks or prices the flights for me. Although over the years I've learned to buy on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, as those days almost always have better prices (for the exact itinerary) than the other days.

Cheers,
drowelf is offline  
Old Apr 2, 2012 | 12:34 pm
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: UA 1K/ 1MM, SPG Plat
Posts: 365
Thanks for the responses. It was for non-stop routing and I wasn't selecting a specific fare class/code. I've also noticed that connections appear before non-stops many times and that some flights are seperated by lines, whereas others not. Overall, I just can't figure out how the website organizes/prioritizes responses to a general AAA-BBB search.
uapremier is offline  


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