EWR-CLE... what is going on with these fares?
Nov 22, 2012, 6:23 am
#31
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
This is true all over and is likely because of the moronic 3 day rule. I have had prices of over $1200 r/t from IAD-AUS, IAD-DEN and IAD-SAN when looking at the flight 3 weeks out or more but only staying one night and often this is both direct and with one stop. UA is the worst offender on this as I can find US flights out of DCA vs IAD direct to some places much cheaper.
Means UA and others can sell cheaper seats for longer stays, which is good for leisure travelers. Not sure what people want, other than cheap fares for every seat at all times.
Nov 22, 2012, 6:50 am
#32
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: 1K no more
Posts: 396
staggered booking solution
A prior post solved your problem. For example, book EWR-CLE Mon-Wedof next week, then book CLE-EWR upcoming Wed-Mon. Bingo! You get two 3day stays at plus 4 day prices, no rules broken, all benefits included. Repeat.
I used the same method for tatl BRU-IAD bookings. It saved thousands.
I used the same method for tatl BRU-IAD bookings. It saved thousands.
Nov 22, 2012, 8:16 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
A prior post solved your problem. For example, book EWR-CLE Mon-Wedof next week, then book CLE-EWR upcoming Wed-Mon. Bingo! You get two 3day stays at plus 4 day prices, no rules broken, all benefits included. Repeat.
I used the same method for tatl BRU-IAD bookings. It saved thousands.
I used the same method for tatl BRU-IAD bookings. It saved thousands.
[b]Back-to-Back Ticketing[b] - the booking and/or issuance and/or use of Flight Coupons from two or more different Tickets at round trip fares for the purpose of circumventing applicable tariff rules (such as advance purchase/minimum stay requirements or other restrictions).
Think about it this way. You fly around 100K miles per year, and as a result, you've figured out some good ways to get around United's booking policies. But United flies about 10 billion passenger miles per year. You gotta figure that any way to circumvent the ticketing restrictions that you've come up with, they probably already came up with. And then they put language in the CoC forbidding it.
Nov 25, 2012, 6:54 am
#34
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA,WN,AA,DL, B6
Posts: 4,168
Thought about going to NYC for new years. Leave 12-31 return 1-1 CLE-EWR $416.00, I see a PIT-EWR for $143.00. I wounder why they charge so little from PIT, WN fares are over $400.00RT. I would do it even know it is not mainline and a 2-1/2 drive.
Nov 25, 2012, 8:46 am
#36
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: CLEveland, OH USA
Programs: CO PresPlat, UA GS, Marriott Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Fairmont Premier, BA Silver, AVIS PresCircle
Posts: 580
I saw the title of this thread and thought prices CLE-EWR finally came down to normal...! oh well. Always crazy fares on this one.
I bet PIT feeds lots if international connecting flights so they do all they can to pull traffic with low fares on that route to fill TATL away from PIT TATL flights options.
I bet PIT feeds lots if international connecting flights so they do all they can to pull traffic with low fares on that route to fill TATL away from PIT TATL flights options.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Nov 25, 2012 at 11:28 am Reason: merge
Nov 25, 2012, 9:28 am
#37
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
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The three-day stay requirement is another "change we'll like" from PMCO; while PMUA had the occasional 2-day or Saturday night stay requirement to discourage business travelers from buying the el-cheapo fares, I can't recall a domestic fare on PMUA which had 3-day stay requirements. But they're the norm on many fortress PMCO routes.
Truly they have taken the worst of both airlines from a consumer perspective.
Truly they have taken the worst of both airlines from a consumer perspective.
Nov 25, 2012, 12:38 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NYC
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If pricing out an itinerary starting in ZFV, does Amtrak actually collect your ticket and report it to UA in any form, or is this a city code you could effectively do 'hidden city' ticketing with all the time and just start in EWR?
Nov 25, 2012, 12:47 pm
#39
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The three-day stay requirement is another "change we'll like" from PMCO; while PMUA had the occasional 2-day or Saturday night stay requirement to discourage business travelers from buying the el-cheapo fares, I can't recall a domestic fare on PMUA which had 3-day stay requirements. But they're the norm on many fortress PMCO routes.
