Same flights as "multiple destinations" cheaper than round trip?
Sep 26, 2012, 3:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 504
Same flights as "multiple destinations" cheaper than round trip?
So I recently decided to tweak with some flight options and found I can take the same round trip itin I have and use "multiple destinations" to buy each as a one way trip and drop the fare $200.
so instead of
AAA-CCC, Return of CCC-BBB-AAA
I can do
AAA-CCC, then on return day, CCC-BBB and BBB-AAA
Same flights. Lower cost. Is that obnoxious or what? (should I be concerned about any other issues? like what if I want to apply GPU to the return day, now it will only do the one flight, correct?) edit: will it even let me purchase this or is it going to give me some sort of error message when I try?
so instead of
AAA-CCC, Return of CCC-BBB-AAA
I can do
AAA-CCC, then on return day, CCC-BBB and BBB-AAA
Same flights. Lower cost. Is that obnoxious or what? (should I be concerned about any other issues? like what if I want to apply GPU to the return day, now it will only do the one flight, correct?) edit: will it even let me purchase this or is it going to give me some sort of error message when I try?
Last edited by ACVBear; Sep 26, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Sep 26, 2012, 4:38 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, BA Gold, SQ TPP
Posts: 1,487
I've seen this even with PMUA. I was able to apply upgrades nonetheless (I don't think upgrades care about how you purchased the ticket, as long as the stopover is less than a certain number of hours).
Sep 26, 2012, 4:56 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, BA Gold, SQ TPP
Posts: 1,487
You could always try to upgrade immediately after buying the ticket and if it asks for more upgrades cancel it and rebook. (I actually haven't experienced this since the merger so that's why I am not 100% sure about the upgrades).
Sep 26, 2012, 5:00 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 504
Actually ran into an error and had to call in. When they purchased it over phone it was listed as one return leg so one upgrade.
Now I'm having that glitch where it knows im in first but won't save my seat selection and keeps putting me back in E+ haha.
Now I'm having that glitch where it knows im in first but won't save my seat selection and keeps putting me back in E+ haha.
Sep 26, 2012, 5:45 pm
#7
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: 66,852
not such PNR requirement to be a single fare but this may have been a direct flight or married segements that forced a higher fare class (was the fare class different for one segement?).
Sep 26, 2012, 6:36 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: UA 1K, MR Bonvoy Bonzaiiiii, National EE
Posts: 622
Yes, it is obnoxious that it works this way and you have to use the Matrix ITA search to find the connections to put into the Multiple Destination Search to book. When searching for RT EWR-HKG tickets, I checked the +/- 3 Days box and found that there was a fare for $400 cheaper on different days. I go to click it, and it jumps up $400 when trying to book. Finally booked it as a Multiple Destination ticket after finding the cities in Matrix search.
The ticket was EWR-HKG and then HKG-NRT-EWR. I applied a GPU on the outbound that is still wait listed. The GPU applied on the return cleared and I am upgraded on both HKG-NRT and NRT-EWR no problems.
The ticket was EWR-HKG and then HKG-NRT-EWR. I applied a GPU on the outbound that is still wait listed. The GPU applied on the return cleared and I am upgraded on both HKG-NRT and NRT-EWR no problems.