Additional Fare Flexibility for $7?
 

I am pricing out a flight from LAX to TPE for November. I use United's web site and search for economy class, but with fare class to W. The web site returns with the pricing of $1395.10 for LAX-NRT-TPE and TPE-NRT-LAX (NRT-TPE-NRT handled by ANA of course)

All four segments are W fare. I see the usual panel show up to entice me to choose "flexible fare for $7.00 more". The supposed benefits are

* Lowest-available refundable fare
* Fee-waived same-day flight changes (when available)
* Change fees and cancellation fees may apply
* Advanced purchase may be required

So my curiosity is piqued, and I press the button to select the option to take advantage of the "flexible fare." Then the panel disappears, my fare goes up by exactly $7, all of my flights remain as W fare. So here's where I get confused. What exactly would I get for $7? The fare code didn't change, and as far as I know, W fares aren't refundable.

Is this just another one of the not-quite-as-funny United IT glitch? Or some subtle differences in W fare vs. W-fare-that's-$7-more that I don't know about? What if I select the $7 option and want a refund? Would I get very far with my screenshot that promised refundable fare for $7 more? :)

Airlines frequently publish more than one fare in the same fare class. Each one has its own set of rules. So for the $7 you get a refundable W fare versus a non-refundable one. But keep in mind the refundability probably has a fee associated with it. You have to read the fare rules for the two different fares to see the differences.

There are multiple W-Class Fares on that route.

Some are Non-Refundable and some are Refundable with a $300 USD Penalty:

[KVS Availability Tool 7.0.7/Diamond - ATP: Fares/FC/US]

I think I found the source of the difference:

The $1395 ticket rules show

City Pairs Class Fare Basis Code
LAX - TPE W WLX0ZUMG
TPE - LAX W WLW0ZUMG

The $7 more expensive ticket show

City Pairs Class Fare Basis Code
LAX - TPE W WLX0ZUMG
TPE - LAX W WLW0ZGM3

So the return trip shows a slightly different fare basis code for $7 - presumably a slightly more relaxed set of rules. Then again, the point is probably moot, because the rule also states The most restrictive set of fare rules applies to the entire itinerary.

So my conclusion is that this isn't a glitch, United's computer was trying to sell something that it thought was useful, although with the rule that stated that the more restrictive set of fare rules apply to the same itinerary, the $7 didn't actually buy anything.

Thanks. Found the fare rules. Although my reading of the fare rules seems to suggest that neither are refundable.

WLW0ZGM3
FARE RULES TEXT
CANCELLATIONS
ANY TIME
TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE.

WLW0ZUMG
FARE RULES TEXT
CANCELLATIONS
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CHARGE USD 300.00.
WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE.

The difference seems to suggest that for WLW0ZUMG (assuming the entire itinerary was in that fare basis), UA would charge $300 for cancellation and apply the remainder value to a future flight. For WLW0ZGM3 (assuming the entire itinerary was in that fare basis), UA would apply the entire value to a future flight. Does this seem correct to you?

In either case, the point seems to be moot, because the language suggests that if the fare basis is different for the round trip, the more restrictive one takes precedence, so UA would still charge the $300 for the ticket if cancellation is desired.

No. For the ticket with the $300 charge to refund United will issue you a refund for the price you paid for the ticket less $300 if you cancel before you start your trip. For the ticket that is non-refundable United will let you cancel your trip and "hold" those funds for you to book a different ticket of equal or greater value. When you book that ticket with the funds United will charge you an additional fee equal to whatever the change fee is in the fare rules.

You can call United and have them book the whole itinerary in the refundable fare class and you won't be subject to more restrictive rules.

I agree with the op that the web site seems deceptive in this case, because the most-restrictive rules govern the entire fare.
I read the fare rules very carefully when buying tickets over $1000. Unfortunately there are now $10,000+ C-bucket fares that have change fees. (Though I often get those waived).
From what I understand, davewang202 may not be entirely correct. I think all change fees and refund fees must now be paid in "new money" at the time of the first transaction.

I took yet another look, and I think I understand now. $7 does buy "refundable ticket" as stated.

The $1395 fare buys the "mixed fare basis" ticket: WLX0ZUMG and WLX0ZUM3. $1402 fare trues up the fare basis to WLX0ZUMG for both segments. WLX0ZUMG is refundable with a $300 hit, whereas WLX0ZUM3 is non-refundable, but United will charge you a change fee ($250 in new money) and apply the rest in credit toward a future flight.

WLX0ZUM3 is actually preferable to me given that I'm flying every other week, but I can understand why someone might favor the cash refund less $300 alternative instead.

Thanks for the explanations.

On an EWR-HKG OW ticket in W I got the flexible fare for an additional $1.

The Change Fee is actually $250 USD:

[KVS Availability Tool 7.0.7/Diamond - Sabre: LAX-TPE/UA/WLW0ZUMG/1060 USD]

This is the correct explanation. I've used these fares to get to HKG several times, and generally opted for the more flexible one only because the price is almost the same and, generally, more flexibility is better than less.

Regardless, $250 change fee applies to both if you want travel credit, and a $300 cancellation fee applies to the more flexible one if you want a refund to your original form of payment.

Is there any way to use the residual funds from a non-refundable ticket for more than one ticket in the future? I'm looking at buying a $3000 ticket in a month and there is a slight chance I'll need to cancel. I could easily spend $2700 on several other tickets over the next year but would have a very hard time using a single ticket at $2700.

So I'm confused (not surprizing for me in reading fare rules) -- what does this mean?

It means that the Fee does not apply in case of a schedule change.

for a UA schedule change (which common sense would hardly assume there would be a fee for) or a passenger initiated schedule change?

United makes schedule changes. Passengers make ticketing changes (which can trigger a fee).

I'm sure not an expert on this but I seem to recall it may have been possible to spend less on a new ticket and get a voucher for the difference to use on a separate ticket. But I'm prepared to be told I'm wrong. :D