P fare
Sep 6, 2012, 4:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: UAL 1K, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 348
P fare
bought a P fare today, but had not seen it available for purchase before. When I look to search on the ability to purchase a P fare, the ual site tells me it is not a valid fare to search on. Anyone have any idea how that works for purchase? BTW...M fare was 700 more....
Sep 6, 2012, 4:15 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
The P fares are deep discount business fares, below Z, and are relatively new. Not too surprising that the site doesn't have them in the search, though it probably should.
Odds are the restriction on the P fare are greater than those on the M fare you were looking at.
Odds are the restriction on the P fare are greater than those on the M fare you were looking at.
Sep 6, 2012, 4:17 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: UAL 1K, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 348
well, the P fare puts me in F. was kinda surprised, but grabbed it. flt is on a 757
Sep 6, 2012, 4:21 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
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Posts: 2,673
Sep 6, 2012, 7:21 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
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Many non UA programs don't give credit for the P fares so check that out if you're crediting to a different alliance member.
Oct 3, 2012, 7:40 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: LAS
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Southwest A-List Preferred
Posts: 2,846
P Fare Tickets
I'm doing a lot of ORD-PDX/SEA travel these days usually buying a o/w ticket to either PDX/SEA and then a o/w ticket home. About 95% of the time, the lowest fare I'm offered is a P fare (discounted business class) at around $500. The fare isn't a problem at all, but it's just strange that whenever I specifically ask for a coach ticket, those are more expensive (usually booking into Y/B) than the P fares. I'm happily earning my 150% elite miles/segments, just wondering if anyone else is seeing this as consistently as I am.
Oct 3, 2012, 7:42 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: BNE/OOL temporarily-permanently at CAK/PIT
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Posts: 1,703
I've seen some very cheap P fares which seem to be competing with cheap DL paid first class fares: For example: SAN-BUF often $448 one-way. The Y/B/M is a lot higher for this market.
Oct 3, 2012, 7:46 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: LAS
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Southwest A-List Preferred
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F9, A9, JN9, Z9, ZN9, P8, PN9, R3, RN3, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H9, HN9, Q9, V9, W9, S9, T9, L9, K9, G9, N9, XN9, X9 is what the flight looks like right now.
Oct 3, 2012, 12:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K; AA Plat; B6 Mosaic; SPG Plat
Posts: 208
If you want to search united.com for a domestic P fare, change "Depart Cabin" from Economy to First/Business First. The search return will show a P fare if availability exists on the flight (assuming P is the lowest price fare class).
For example, I just searched ORD-BOS one way for a Sunday later this month. 4 flights offer "P" at $231, 3 flights offer "Z" at $331, and 1 flight offers "A" at $431.
An Economy search will show "P" only if it is cheaper than the lowest available coach fare. It's a good reminder to check for "P" on the flight where the "W" fare is $208. For a non-status flyer, the $ differential from E- to F can be lower than the buy-up price from E- to E+.
For example, I just searched ORD-BOS one way for a Sunday later this month. 4 flights offer "P" at $231, 3 flights offer "Z" at $331, and 1 flight offers "A" at $431.
An Economy search will show "P" only if it is cheaper than the lowest available coach fare. It's a good reminder to check for "P" on the flight where the "W" fare is $208. For a non-status flyer, the $ differential from E- to F can be lower than the buy-up price from E- to E+.
Oct 3, 2012, 12:54 pm
#15
Moderator: United Airlines
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Posts: 66,821
ORD-PDX the "cheapest" fare filed is V2UP14N3 (V-UP) and books as P. There is a slight more expense U fare which is economy. So the F seat is the cheapest OW fare available even if booking months / weeks ahead.
While many routes have OWs as 1/2 price RT, others don't and this is one of those.
For this route there are cheaper RT fares then the OW fares.
While many routes have OWs as 1/2 price RT, others don't and this is one of those.
For this route there are cheaper RT fares then the OW fares.