Is United serious about FAI this year?
Jan 3, 2014, 7:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
Is United serious about FAI this year?
I'm curious if any of y'all have any theories about what's going on with United's service to Fairbanks, AK. United started seasonal DEN-FAI two summers ago, and added ORD-FAI last year. Which made me very happy because I generally have to book multiple tickets to FAI each summer.
But this year, the FAI service has gone wonky. DEN-FAI is down to 2/week (Wed/Sat). No fare class below W for DEN-FAI or V for ORD-FAI. No award availability whatsoever on either route (not even standard awards -- HN=0). Fares aren't remotely competitive -- both DEN-FAI and ORD-FAI are $1000+ r/t. Connecting fares are slightly better ($800+), but still way out of line with the competition ($350-700 out of most major airports).
I could sort of understand if this was a business market with lots of close-in bookings, but it's the polar opposite. People usually book Alaska trips 4-12 months in advance, and DEN-FAI might be the single least elite-heavy route in the system (I never saw F go out full once last year).
Everything seems to suggest that UA doesn't want to sell seats on these routes, and checking the seatmaps suggests that, indeed, they aren't. I saw a couple of days in June with less than 3 seats booked in a whole 738.
So what gives? My best explanation is that they're expecting to cut the service (
), and expecting to reroute the few pax that did book on OAL. Either that or somebody in revenue management is asleep at the wheel. Any other theories?
But this year, the FAI service has gone wonky. DEN-FAI is down to 2/week (Wed/Sat). No fare class below W for DEN-FAI or V for ORD-FAI. No award availability whatsoever on either route (not even standard awards -- HN=0). Fares aren't remotely competitive -- both DEN-FAI and ORD-FAI are $1000+ r/t. Connecting fares are slightly better ($800+), but still way out of line with the competition ($350-700 out of most major airports).
I could sort of understand if this was a business market with lots of close-in bookings, but it's the polar opposite. People usually book Alaska trips 4-12 months in advance, and DEN-FAI might be the single least elite-heavy route in the system (I never saw F go out full once last year).
Everything seems to suggest that UA doesn't want to sell seats on these routes, and checking the seatmaps suggests that, indeed, they aren't. I saw a couple of days in June with less than 3 seats booked in a whole 738.
So what gives? My best explanation is that they're expecting to cut the service (
), and expecting to reroute the few pax that did book on OAL. Either that or somebody in revenue management is asleep at the wheel. Any other theories?
Jan 3, 2014, 9:12 pm
#2
Moderator: United Airlines
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Jan 3, 2014, 10:04 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
It all seems to indicate that UA is aggressively discouraging pax from booking these flights, which is interesting.
.
Jan 5, 2014, 9:40 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
However, the revenue fare class situation (no deep discount fares available, very uncompetitive pricing) suggests to me that this isn't just an award issue -- and therefore that Feb. 1 won't bring any sudden changes.
Jan 16, 2014, 9:35 pm
#9
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
Followup: I checked today, and IM has started to relax on the FAI flights, opening up some deep discount and award buckets. Still not very competitive across the board, but it looks like they're just not paying much attention, rather than toying with cancellation.
