Why V is cheaper than W?
Feb 25, 2014, 4:26 am
#1
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Why V is cheaper than W?
It is strange V fare is cheaper than W for my route although the choice is low. Other V fare is higher than W fare. Anyone knows the reason?
I want to double confirm that for GPU, V fare has priority than W fare, right? Thank you in advance.
I want to double confirm that for GPU, V fare has priority than W fare, right? Thank you in advance.
Feb 25, 2014, 4:55 am
#2
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What route are you looking at? The fares are probably different in some other way — the W fare may have more stringent advance-purchase or minimum-stay requirements.
I have occasionally seen V priced identically to W.
I have occasionally seen V priced identically to W.
Feb 25, 2014, 5:24 am
#4
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I'm willing to bet that there is a connection and the city pair being searched doesn't have a W fare published so it is pricing end-on-end rather than as a through fare.
When searching for GPU-eligible fares on the UA site it is useful to specify all the eligible fare classes at the same time rather than only one. I actually wrote a GreaseMonkey/TamperMonkey script to automate the process of adding the GPU-eligible fares in to the united.com page, just to save a bit of time.
Here's an example of NYC-SYD; the W fare is splitting at SFO while the V fare prices as a single component.
Compare that to the V fare:
When searching for GPU-eligible fares on the UA site it is useful to specify all the eligible fare classes at the same time rather than only one. I actually wrote a GreaseMonkey/TamperMonkey script to automate the process of adding the GPU-eligible fares in to the united.com page, just to save a bit of time.
Here's an example of NYC-SYD; the W fare is splitting at SFO while the V fare prices as a single component.
Code:
Fare 1: Carrier UA WA7GN NYC to SFO (rules) Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code W Covers JFK-SFO (Economy) $297.67 Fare 2: Carrier UA WKE0ZCM0 SFO to SYD (rules) Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code W Covers SFO-SYD (Economy) $466.50 Fare 3: Carrier UA WKE0ZCM0 SYD to SFO (rules) Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code W Covers SYD-SFO (Economy) $466.50 Fare 4: Carrier UA WA7GN SFO to NYC (rules) Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code W Covers SFO-JFK (Economy) $297.67 Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY) $22.90 UA YQ surcharge (YQ) $680.00 US International Departure Tax (US) $17.50 US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $7.50 US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $13.50 USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00 US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00 US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50 Australian Passenger Movement Charge (AU) $49.80 Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY) $22.90 US International Arrival Tax (US) $17.50 Subtotal per passenger $2,377.10 Number of passengers x1 TOTAL AIRFARE & TAXES $2,377.10
Code:
Fare 1: Carrier UA VKE0ZCM0 NYC to SYD (rules) Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code V Covers JFK-SFO (Economy), SFO-SYD (Economy) $516.50 Fare 2: Carrier UA VKE0ZCM0 SYD to NYC (rules) Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code V Covers SYD-SFO (Economy), SFO-JFK (Economy) $516.50 Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY) $22.90 UA YQ surcharge (YQ) $680.00 US International Departure Tax (US) $17.50 US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $7.50 US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $13.50 USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00 US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00 US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50 Australian Passenger Movement Charge (AU) $49.80 Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY) $22.90 US International Arrival Tax (US) $17.50 Subtotal per passenger $1,882.10 Number of passengers x1 TOTAL AIRFARE & TAXES $1,882.10
Feb 25, 2014, 5:55 am
#5
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You are genius!
I'm willing to bet that there is a connection and the city pair being searched doesn't have a W fare published so it is pricing end-on-end rather than as a through fare.
When searching for GPU-eligible fares on the UA site it is useful to specify all the eligible fare classes at the same time rather than only one. I actually wrote a GreaseMonkey/TamperMonkey script to automate the process of adding the GPU-eligible fares in to the united.com page, just to save a bit of time.
Here's an example of NYC-SYD; the W fare is splitting at SFO while the V fare prices as a single component.
Compare that to the V fare:
When searching for GPU-eligible fares on the UA site it is useful to specify all the eligible fare classes at the same time rather than only one. I actually wrote a GreaseMonkey/TamperMonkey script to automate the process of adding the GPU-eligible fares in to the united.com page, just to save a bit of time.
Here's an example of NYC-SYD; the W fare is splitting at SFO while the V fare prices as a single component.
Code:
Fare 1: Carrier UA WA7GN NYC to SFO (rules) Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code W Covers JFK-SFO (Economy) $297.67 Fare 2: Carrier UA WKE0ZCM0 SFO to SYD (rules) Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code W Covers SFO-SYD (Economy) $466.50 Fare 3: Carrier UA WKE0ZCM0 SYD to SFO (rules) Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code W Covers SYD-SFO (Economy) $466.50 Fare 4: Carrier UA WA7GN SFO to NYC (rules) Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code W Covers SFO-JFK (Economy) $297.67 Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY) $22.90 UA YQ surcharge (YQ) $680.00 US International Departure Tax (US) $17.50 US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $7.50 US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $13.50 USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00 US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00 US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50 Australian Passenger Movement Charge (AU) $49.80 Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY) $22.90 US International Arrival Tax (US) $17.50 Subtotal per passenger $2,377.10 Number of passengers x1 TOTAL AIRFARE & TAXES $2,377.10
Code:
Fare 1: Carrier UA VKE0ZCM0 NYC to SYD (rules) Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code V Covers JFK-SFO (Economy), SFO-SYD (Economy) $516.50 Fare 2: Carrier UA VKE0ZCM0 SYD to NYC (rules) Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code V Covers SYD-SFO (Economy), SFO-JFK (Economy) $516.50 Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY) $22.90 UA YQ surcharge (YQ) $680.00 US International Departure Tax (US) $17.50 US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $7.50 US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $13.50 USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00 US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00 US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50 Australian Passenger Movement Charge (AU) $49.80 Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY) $22.90 US International Arrival Tax (US) $17.50 Subtotal per passenger $1,882.10 Number of passengers x1 TOTAL AIRFARE & TAXES $1,882.10
Feb 25, 2014, 5:56 am
#6
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Feb 25, 2014, 9:13 am
#9
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go for Q, V, W in searching
When I search for GPU eligible itineraries, I always enter Q,V,W in the fare bucket search. I've booked tickets in each of these buckets, with lower fares than just a W bucket would have yielded.
Feb 25, 2014, 2:12 pm
#11
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I got a killer deal a couple months ago on SEA-PVG, NRT-SEA with a V fare under $900 RT all in. The W fare was pricing at $1700! I found it by looking through the fares on Expert Flyer. That can also be a useful way to look at things from the perspective "what fares are possible" then figuring out how to get them...
Feb 25, 2014, 2:25 pm
#12
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I used EF to find a V fare cheaper than W and only marginally more expensive than the lowest fare (K) on LAX-BAH last November. The V had specific travel dates that only matched my outbound. I was able to mix V/W, save money and upgrade both ways. The website did not price the option out originally.
Feb 25, 2014, 2:29 pm
#13
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I've seen this as well. I think UA figures that people look more for W fares, because they think they are the cheapest of the SWU-upgradeable fares, so they place a premium on those.
You are also correct that the V fare would give you priority over those W fares. V is also the lowest bucket you can use a SWU on LH with.
You are also correct that the V fare would give you priority over those W fares. V is also the lowest bucket you can use a SWU on LH with.
Apr 2, 2017, 12:14 pm
#14
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I found a nonstop OW UA metal flight where a V fare was cheaper than a W fare (obviously exact same itinerary). I'm not sure how common this is as I don't recall seeing it before and I found this old thread which (unless I'm not switching on) doesn't explain it for nonstop OW.
Apr 2, 2017, 12:22 pm
#15
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All fares are unique. There is no strict ordering - it's just the way they decided to file them. I've seen Q fares cheaper than V or W.