Significant Fare Differences Between United Site and ITA Matrix
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: UA: Premier Gold
Posts: 10
Significant Fare Differences Between United Site and ITA Matrix
First, let me preface by saying that I'm new to FlyerTalk and hope that I'm posting my question in the right location. If not, I do apologize in advance.
I am trying to book a flight on United (or its partners) from SFO to Syracuse , NY leaving Aug 18, returning on Aug 23. I visited ITA Matrix and found a flight (2 - stops - ORD/CLE) for $555 and then proceeded to the United site to match identical flights and book a ticket. To my surprise, the United ticket is $817.
I took some screen shots of both sites but can't seem to figure out just how to include in this tread. Any advice or help would be appreciated. Even understanding why such a big price difference between sites would be helpful.
As an aside, my dates are somewhat flexible in that I can leave SFO on Aug 18 or 19 and can return Aug 23 or 24.
Again, please forgive if I am posting in the wrong location.
Thank you in advance for any replies
I am trying to book a flight on United (or its partners) from SFO to Syracuse , NY leaving Aug 18, returning on Aug 23. I visited ITA Matrix and found a flight (2 - stops - ORD/CLE) for $555 and then proceeded to the United site to match identical flights and book a ticket. To my surprise, the United ticket is $817.
I took some screen shots of both sites but can't seem to figure out just how to include in this tread. Any advice or help would be appreciated. Even understanding why such a big price difference between sites would be helpful.
As an aside, my dates are somewhat flexible in that I can leave SFO on Aug 18 or 19 and can return Aug 23 or 24.
Again, please forgive if I am posting in the wrong location.
Thank you in advance for any replies
#4
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: 66,854
Try the ITA command on Hipmunk and have Hipmunk sent you to united.com.
likely a fare basis issue but it could be out of sync inventory issue.
likely a fare basis issue but it could be out of sync inventory issue.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 816
I've seen this a fair few times over the years (albeit a small percentage of the time). It obviously means that on these occasions one cannot rely on the convenience of ITA to search for airfares.
I think the 'out of sync' explanation might be right. It seems to occur when fare prices are changing. Quite often hours later the prices match up on ITA and UA.com. Sometimes the ITA price changes to match the original UA price and the UA price has again changed to a different price.
I think the 'out of sync' explanation might be right. It seems to occur when fare prices are changing. Quite often hours later the prices match up on ITA and UA.com. Sometimes the ITA price changes to match the original UA price and the UA price has again changed to a different price.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: USA
Programs: MYOB
Posts: 1,292
Even easier than Hipmunk - Try Google Flight Search. (Google owns ITA and uses that engine)
http://www.google.com/flights/
It will allow you to select flights and then book directly on UA. Looking for those dates the are plenty of $556 fares/times available.
Good luck!
http://www.google.com/flights/
It will allow you to select flights and then book directly on UA. Looking for those dates the are plenty of $556 fares/times available.
Good luck!
#9
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: 66,854
#10
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: MLB, SMF, and many points in between
Programs: Back to UA with a bit of Hyatt and some Marriott
Posts: 3,476
First, are you using multi-city on united.com to find the same double connection that ITA finds? United isn't alway good at showing you multiple connections and may be showing you the cheapest single-connect price.
If you're trying multi-city on united.com, sometimes you have to click through to the actual purchase page to get the fare shown on ITA.
It seems united will sometimes not realize that the fare can be constructed that way and show a really high price when you're looking at the flight options, but clicking on the flights you know work will cause it to run the entire itin through the fare engine and come up with the price you know it should be.
If there are inventory issue, sometimes you can get the ITA price for a brief time by booking through Orbitz. That usually happens when you're looking at a mistake fare that's been pulled, but sometimes Orbitz (or another OTA) can book something for a short period after it's gone from united.com. I doubt this is the case for a domestic itin like yours.
If you're trying multi-city on united.com, sometimes you have to click through to the actual purchase page to get the fare shown on ITA.
It seems united will sometimes not realize that the fare can be constructed that way and show a really high price when you're looking at the flight options, but clicking on the flights you know work will cause it to run the entire itin through the fare engine and come up with the price you know it should be.
If there are inventory issue, sometimes you can get the ITA price for a brief time by booking through Orbitz. That usually happens when you're looking at a mistake fare that's been pulled, but sometimes Orbitz (or another OTA) can book something for a short period after it's gone from united.com. I doubt this is the case for a domestic itin like yours.
#11
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
It seems united will sometimes not realize that the fare can be constructed that way and show a really high price when you're looking at the flight options, but clicking on the flights you know work will cause it to run the entire itin through the fare engine and come up with the price you know it should be.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: UA: Premier Gold
Posts: 10
Thank you all for the information/suggestions that you shared. I waited a few days to see if the UA fare(s) would even get somewhat close to the quoted ITA Matrix fares, Hipmunk, or Kayak. Interestingly, not once could I find a match. Just now, I tried the following flight segments and still received very different results:
20AUG13
SFO (UA712) 9:32AM --> DEN (UA452) 1:50PM --> IAD (UA4832) 9:59PM ---> SYR -Arrive 11:31PM
24AUG13
SYR (UA5900) 9:25AM --> ORD (UA1723) 12:00PM --> SFO Arrive 2:31PM
I can't seem to add the screenshots; however, I received the following fare quotes:
ITA Matrix = $555.50 RT (T-Fares for all segments)
Hipmunk = $702 RT (A mix of K,W, and S Fares)
United Site = $816 RT (Mostly W fares)
Kayak = $656 (Mix of L, W, and S fares)
I do apologize for asking, but perhaps someone on this forum can help me secure a better fare. I would like to fly UA so that I can gain some additional miles (only a UA Mileage member at this time); however, I'm just looking to get 5K miles (total) on this run at the lowest fare possible. An additional point is that I can fly from SJC airport as well.
Thank you to all that have responded to my 'noobie' question
P.S. As an aside, Kayak mentions that I should wait to purchase my ticket as it claims with "85% confidence", that the fare will go down. Should I wait or is the suggestion off.
20AUG13
SFO (UA712) 9:32AM --> DEN (UA452) 1:50PM --> IAD (UA4832) 9:59PM ---> SYR -Arrive 11:31PM
24AUG13
SYR (UA5900) 9:25AM --> ORD (UA1723) 12:00PM --> SFO Arrive 2:31PM
I can't seem to add the screenshots; however, I received the following fare quotes:
ITA Matrix = $555.50 RT (T-Fares for all segments)
Hipmunk = $702 RT (A mix of K,W, and S Fares)
United Site = $816 RT (Mostly W fares)
Kayak = $656 (Mix of L, W, and S fares)
I do apologize for asking, but perhaps someone on this forum can help me secure a better fare. I would like to fly UA so that I can gain some additional miles (only a UA Mileage member at this time); however, I'm just looking to get 5K miles (total) on this run at the lowest fare possible. An additional point is that I can fly from SJC airport as well.
Thank you to all that have responded to my 'noobie' question
P.S. As an aside, Kayak mentions that I should wait to purchase my ticket as it claims with "85% confidence", that the fare will go down. Should I wait or is the suggestion off.
#13
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,910
I do apologize for asking, but perhaps someone on this forum can help me secure a better fare. I would like to fly UA so that I can gain some additional miles (only a UA Mileage member at this time); however, I'm just looking to get 5K miles (total) on this run at the lowest fare possible. An additional point is that I can fly from SJC airport as well.
1. Sign out of united.com.
2. Construct itin from Kayak, get sent to united.com. Confirm quote.
4. Sign in.
5. Pick seats, etc. Purchase.
#15
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: 66,854