Different pricing/fare buckets depending on billing country / point of sale
Jun 21, 2018, 6:44 pm
#196
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,881
Buying ICN-SAN-ICN could have K availability using a Korean POS, but the US POS may zero out inventory up to, say, W so only offer a W fare. Therefore, there may be a valid K fare, but it won’t allow you to buy in the US.
As ive explained multiple times in this thread - it seems to get brought up about once a month or so - there is a difference between the way UA and other carriers determine point of sale. Buying direct from a carrier, UA is alone, as far as I’m aware, in forcing you to buy from the POS that matches your billing card address. Most use he origin for the point of sale, and the only way to get a different POS than that of the origin is to use a TA based in another country.
Jun 22, 2018, 1:42 am
#197
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
Right as others have said you will pay the same amount (as in, what gets charged to your card) whether it is in KRW or USD, but what matters is your departing city. I live in Korea and frequently get great fares but in order to book I have to use my Korean address otherwise it won't give me that price.
Sep 13, 2018, 6:19 pm
#199
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 302
I'm trying to book this itinerary through United, which is listed on GF as $309 but winds up repricing to $398.91 when I attempt to pay (with a US card). Is there any way around this?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 13, 2018 at 7:59 pm Reason: moved to master thread
Sep 13, 2018, 6:30 pm
#200
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,418
I'm trying to book this itinerary through United, which is listed on GF as $309 but winds up repricing to $398.91 when I attempt to pay (with a US card). Is there any way around this?
My but that's cheap for a RT to Europe.
Sep 13, 2018, 7:29 pm
#201
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
I'm trying to book this itinerary through United, which is listed on GF as $309 but winds up repricing to $398.91 when I attempt to pay (with a US card). Is there any way around this?
Safe Travels,
James
Sep 13, 2018, 7:33 pm
#202
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,362
When you initially hit the United site (but before you pay) does it still show theprice as $309? If so what country is listed on the United site (shown at top of page like Canada - English). If it's not the US site you're at (e.g. Canada edition), simply go to that country's version of Expedia to book the flight (I.e. Expedia.ca) to get around United's point of sale restriction!
Sep 13, 2018, 8:58 pm
#204
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,334
I'm trying to book this itinerary through United, which is listed on GF as $309 ....
Feb 2, 2019, 2:38 am
#205
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AC E50K, MM, BA, Delta, PriorityClub Platinum, Marriott Gold.
Posts: 468
United SCAMMING Canadians! Charges WAY MORE with Canadian CC
I've noticed this twice and it's outragous... when booking a flight LAX-YVR, the quoted price one way was $99 USD including taxes, I picked and went to pay, AS SOON as your credit card is Canadian, it changed the entire price to CAD, at a MUCH higher exchange rate and taxes, resulting in $99 USD = $179 CAD! How is that possible? In the taxes, they doubled the US transportation fee, other ones remained the same, BUT the actual ticket price shoot up in CAD.
How the heck does this work and how do I get around it? Has anyone else noticed it? Do you have to have a USD Credit card with US billing to avoid this scam?!
Thanks!
How the heck does this work and how do I get around it? Has anyone else noticed it? Do you have to have a USD Credit card with US billing to avoid this scam?!
Thanks!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 2, 2019 at 10:13 am Reason: Using symbols, spaces or other methods to mask vulgarities is not allowed.
Feb 2, 2019, 3:03 am
#206
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,270
Airlines offer different fares based upon the point of sale. So, what United is doing is not out of the norm for the industry. Get a U.S. credit card and billing address if you want U.S. prices.
Feb 2, 2019, 3:51 am
#209
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,637
This happens all the time and is standard practice in the business. I can usually chose the more advantageous of US or Japan Point of Sale (POS), so that works nicely for me sometimes, however I also quite often fly originating in Korea or China. Both of these POSs are frequently $100 or so cheaper than US POS, but I don't have a credit card based in either country so have to pay the Japan or USA rate if I want to book on United.com (usually this is because I'm using e-Certs, or I'd book on a 3rd party site that is neutral to billing address).