Jun 12, 2019, 9:11 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Potential reasons for high fares
-- the lower fare classes are sold out
-- the lower fare classes are not available due to fare rule restrictions
..... day of the week travel restrictions, Saturday night stay requirement, minimum stay requirement, advance purchase requirements, ...
-- desired fares are not combinable
-- discount fares not available for one-ways, only roundtrips Why are international OWs so expensive, such high fare classes?
-- discount inventory for codeshare marketing airline is gone, but flight operator may have discount fare (or the reverse)
-- Plating -- airlines restrict the best fare to their ticket stock, meaning ticketing that flight on another ticket stock will be more expensive
-- Airline is figuring it will still sell (due to last minute purchases0 even if the competition is lower earlier. Such as peak leisure periods or special events.
-- Airline is placing a premium on non-stop (monopoly?) versus alternative connecting routings
If you find an expensive flight, start by checking the fare class and compare to the less expensive option -- that generally will explain a lot.
Archive thread
-- the lower fare classes are sold out
-- the lower fare classes are not available due to fare rule restrictions
..... day of the week travel restrictions, Saturday night stay requirement, minimum stay requirement, advance purchase requirements, ...
-- desired fares are not combinable
-- discount fares not available for one-ways, only roundtrips Why are international OWs so expensive, such high fare classes?
-- discount inventory for codeshare marketing airline is gone, but flight operator may have discount fare (or the reverse)
-- Plating -- airlines restrict the best fare to their ticket stock, meaning ticketing that flight on another ticket stock will be more expensive
-- Airline is figuring it will still sell (due to last minute purchases0 even if the competition is lower earlier. Such as peak leisure periods or special events.
-- Airline is placing a premium on non-stop (monopoly?) versus alternative connecting routings
If you find an expensive flight, start by checking the fare class and compare to the less expensive option -- that generally will explain a lot.
Archive thread
Consolidated "Why is this UA fare so expensive?" thread
Feb 10, 2023, 2:45 am
#136
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,660
10 segments, about 15k BIS, and barely 1400 PQP (before the bonus).......
LAS-OGG-DEN-CLE-ORD-ABQ-ABQ-DEN-OGG-SFO-LAS
all in the past 2-3 weeks..... unlikely anything INT this year
interesting thoughts about staying 'loyal' in busy markets but not getting much for it......other than a bunch of segments
LAS-OGG-DEN-CLE-ORD-ABQ-ABQ-DEN-OGG-SFO-LAS
all in the past 2-3 weeks..... unlikely anything INT this year
interesting thoughts about staying 'loyal' in busy markets but not getting much for it......other than a bunch of segments
Feb 10, 2023, 4:08 am
#137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,054
Last edited by xliioper; Feb 10, 2023 at 6:52 am
Feb 10, 2023, 6:36 am
#139
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
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Posts: 4,945
No one has to pay those fares. There are flights to PVG from SFO almost every day for under $1,000 o/w. No "loyalty" is worth that much.
Feb 10, 2023, 6:59 am
#140
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,117
Try to get to India on UA metal
It’s fare madness since ORD-DEL flights went kaput with the Ukraine war. I found a workaround using ORD-ZRH-BOM and could even book 1/2 way in PP.
EWR to DEL is 3x plus pricing.
EWR to DEL is 3x plus pricing.
Feb 10, 2023, 1:01 pm
#141
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
I've typically been seeing 70-180% deltas into Brasil, but wow, >300% is outrageous. To be sure, the delta between carriers may also be a function of date and to a lesser extent, city pairs. Only today, I just purchased tix for May where the delta for Delta was 77% with really good flight times. Rather would purchase UA but easy decision otherwise
Feb 12, 2023, 1:36 pm
#142
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA 1MM, Avis Chairman, Four Seasons Elite, HA Pualani Gold
Posts: 452
Well, the SFO-KOA fares for October are still sky high and seats are not even selling. Other airlines are also super pricey. I’ve never seen them so high. We’re attending a wedding and staying 2 weeks and even with shifting the travel days there’s no relief. Tempted to book fully refundable fare and make a change later if and hopefully when there’s a price drop.
Feb 12, 2023, 2:26 pm
#143
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Posts: 56,453
I'm seeing this as close in as mid-March, with SFO-PHX Y fares consistently over $300 one-way, whereas advance-purchase fares on this route are usually under $150 (and sometimes under $100).
Feb 12, 2023, 2:31 pm
#144
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Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
Well, the SFO-KOA fares for October are still sky high and seats are not even selling. Other airlines are also super pricey. I’ve never seen them so high. We’re attending a wedding and staying 2 weeks and even with shifting the travel days there’s no relief. Tempted to book fully refundable fare and make a change later if and hopefully when there’s a price drop.
I personally wouldn’t worry about it right now. If this was for say, Thanksgiving, Labor Day, etc. maybe I’d be looking a bit more closely. October (IMO) is not really peak time either. I’d say probably no need to look before about June, and then keep watching to see when a fare closer to the one you want pops up. With no change fees, snag something that looks semi-decent, then you can always change and get the balance as a credit. If you really intent on watching the fares, I’d do no more for now then setting up alerts on Kayak or Google flights. This will also give you an idea of when fares are really starting to move. Then look a little more closer as summer starts to come around.
Feb 12, 2023, 2:35 pm
#145
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA 1MM, Avis Chairman, Four Seasons Elite, HA Pualani Gold
Posts: 452
I usually book this ticket 300 days out because the biz seats usually book up early and the price usually doesn’t vary much until close-in - then it goes up. I usually pay 1/3 the current price, about $1200.
Feb 12, 2023, 4:15 pm
#146
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Fares via or ex-LAX are considerably cheaper right now. UA appears to be assessing a significant nonstop premium from SFO.
Feb 12, 2023, 4:37 pm
#147
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,021
Well, the SFO-KOA fares for October are still sky high and seats are not even selling. Other airlines are also super pricey. I’ve never seen them so high. We’re attending a wedding and staying 2 weeks and even with shifting the travel days there’s no relief. Tempted to book fully refundable fare and make a change later if and hopefully when there’s a price drop.
Feb 12, 2023, 5:30 pm
#148
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Well, the SFO-KOA fares for October are still sky high and seats are not even selling. Other airlines are also super pricey. I’ve never seen them so high. We’re attending a wedding and staying 2 weeks and even with shifting the travel days there’s no relief. Tempted to book fully refundable fare and make a change later if and hopefully when there’s a price drop.
People are trying to rationalize why the fare is still expensive, but if you can't wait, then do what make you feel comfortable.
I still haven't booked most of my March travels yet.
Feb 12, 2023, 7:43 pm
#149
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA 1MM, Avis Chairman, Four Seasons Elite, HA Pualani Gold
Posts: 452
You usually pay $1200 or 1/3 of $1200? UA's lowest current published roundtrip F fare on the route for October is $1167 for an L that books into P, excluding taxes and fees. But it's not releasing any of the discount inventory, which has been very common on SFO-Hawaii for a while now. IME it's been very difficult to book an F roundtrip for under $1600 or 1700, and it's frequently higher.
Fares via or ex-LAX are considerably cheaper right now. UA appears to be assessing a significant nonstop premium from SFO.
Fares via or ex-LAX are considerably cheaper right now. UA appears to be assessing a significant nonstop premium from SFO.
Feb 12, 2023, 8:22 pm
#150
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They have, see my post above. They're just not opening discount inventory.
On a handful of days, connecting through LAX or SEA. UA is not matching. They're probably counting on suckers spending up to chase the new 1K threshold
On a handful of days, connecting through LAX or SEA. UA is not matching. They're probably counting on suckers spending up to chase the new 1K threshold