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 9, 2023, 10:19 am
#122
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,658
nomad420
What planet? Domestic USA.... I have been doing a lot of MSY/DEN/LAS/Hawaii segments and due to the competition in these markets, some of these flights are less than $100.....cost me more to uber to the airports.... I just got a MSY-DEN one-way at the end of the month... 99$ I had a OGG-SFO, last minute flight that was less than 200 one way.....
-m
What planet? Domestic USA.... I have been doing a lot of MSY/DEN/LAS/Hawaii segments and due to the competition in these markets, some of these flights are less than $100.....cost me more to uber to the airports.... I just got a MSY-DEN one-way at the end of the month... 99$ I had a OGG-SFO, last minute flight that was less than 200 one way.....
-m
Feb 9, 2023, 10:29 am
#123
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Teaneck, NJ
Programs: AA L.T. Plat; UA Platinum
Posts: 328
I have two UA international trips coming up so far this year-- EWR-TLV and EWR-JNB. Have found business seats not only a bit higher this year but more troubling has been availability in lower-priced fare buckets. Booked one of the first seats on a JNB flight in Nov and nothing available lower than a D class. So a ticket in D costs about $2500 more than the Z class last year. I suppose the upside of this is that with other travel this year, I'll requalify for Platinum and start approaching 1K. Now as far as TLV-- again nothing lower than D class.
Feb 9, 2023, 11:17 am
#124
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Miami & Leon, MX
Programs: UA 1K, DL GOLD, IHG LIFE PLAT, BONVOY'ED GOLD
Posts: 549
April 3rd, I've yet to find a one way out of anywhere in Europe to anywhere in the US for under 1,000 In ECONOMY.... I mean shoot I can fly TAP business to miami for cheaper than I can fly UA economy.
Feb 9, 2023, 11:41 am
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,050
Feb 9, 2023, 2:32 pm
#128
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,944
nomad420
What planet? Domestic USA.... I have been doing a lot of MSY/DEN/LAS/Hawaii segments and due to the competition in these markets, some of these flights are less than $100.....cost me more to uber to the airports.... I just got a MSY-DEN one-way at the end of the month... 99$ I had a OGG-SFO, last minute flight that was less than 200 one way.....
-m
What planet? Domestic USA.... I have been doing a lot of MSY/DEN/LAS/Hawaii segments and due to the competition in these markets, some of these flights are less than $100.....cost me more to uber to the airports.... I just got a MSY-DEN one-way at the end of the month... 99$ I had a OGG-SFO, last minute flight that was less than 200 one way.....
-m
Feb 9, 2023, 3:56 pm
#129
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA, but I play the field
Posts: 1,440
I'm curious, by "differences" here, do you mean differences between RT versus 2 one-way? I've gotten so used to traveling on one-way tickets recently that I've started to wonder if I am missing some good RT opportunities in the process. But in most cases when I compare the two, the difference still seems minimal. I'm sure it's route-dependent though.
Feb 9, 2023, 4:01 pm
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,395
I'm curious, by "differences" here, do you mean differences between RT versus 2 one-way? I've gotten so used to traveling on one-way tickets recently that I've started to wonder if I am missing some good RT opportunities in the process. But in most cases when I compare the two, the difference still seems minimal. I'm sure it's route-dependent though.
Feb 9, 2023, 4:10 pm
#131
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA, but I play the field
Posts: 1,440
It's extremely route and fare-dependent. Despite what some people will tell you, there are still many domestic routes where you can get a RT for less than the price of the corresponding one-ways. Internationally, it's more common than not that a RT is cheaper, especially among nonrefundable tickets.
Feb 9, 2023, 5:09 pm
#132
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,617
nomad420
What planet? Domestic USA.... I have been doing a lot of MSY/DEN/LAS/Hawaii segments and due to the competition in these markets, some of these flights are less than $100.....cost me more to uber to the airports.... I just got a MSY-DEN one-way at the end of the month... 99$ I had a OGG-SFO, last minute flight that was less than 200 one way.....
-m
What planet? Domestic USA.... I have been doing a lot of MSY/DEN/LAS/Hawaii segments and due to the competition in these markets, some of these flights are less than $100.....cost me more to uber to the airports.... I just got a MSY-DEN one-way at the end of the month... 99$ I had a OGG-SFO, last minute flight that was less than 200 one way.....
-m
Feb 9, 2023, 5:38 pm
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Just look at SFO-PVG in summer. You see same fare $2,680 one-way every day.
Or SFO-PEK. UA is charging $6,744.
Don't complain about high fares. Think about folks need to fly to China.
These are COACH fares.
This is truly madness.
Or SFO-PEK. UA is charging $6,744.
Don't complain about high fares. Think about folks need to fly to China.
These are COACH fares.
This is truly madness.
Feb 9, 2023, 5:58 pm
#134
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 346
If folks really need to get to China that badly and don't mind flying on non-UA metal, they could fly to TPE (cheap) on UA or non-UA metal and then fly from there to China for far less. That's what some of my family is doing. Less than 1.3k per person to fly from east coast to Taipei on mostly UA metal and then 500ish a person round trip to go from there to China.
Feb 9, 2023, 6:36 pm
#135
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
You can always find an exception, but unfortunately they're a real rarity for the dates/times I need to travel.