Unusual routing
Dec 1, 2017, 7:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Hertz PC
Posts: 657
Unusual routing
Needing a last minute one-way MCI-ORD Saturday. I always check Kayak before booking direct with United in case of very cheap flight on another airline.
The cheapest flight was an all United route at $202 compared to $258 direct MCI-ORD. BUT....
.... the $202 route was MCI-DEN-MCI-ORD.
Why in the world would it route back through your origin and be cheaper?!?!
The cheapest flight was an all United route at $202 compared to $258 direct MCI-ORD. BUT....
.... the $202 route was MCI-DEN-MCI-ORD.
Why in the world would it route back through your origin and be cheaper?!?!
Dec 1, 2017, 7:45 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,459
Needing a last minute one-way MCI-ORD Saturday. I always check Kayak before booking direct with United in case of very cheap flight on another airline.
The cheapest flight was an all United route at $202 compared to $258 direct MCI-ORD. BUT....
.... the $202 route was MCI-DEN-MCI-ORD.
Why in the world would it route back through your origin and be cheaper?!?!
The cheapest flight was an all United route at $202 compared to $258 direct MCI-ORD. BUT....
.... the $202 route was MCI-DEN-MCI-ORD.
Why in the world would it route back through your origin and be cheaper?!?!
Dec 1, 2017, 7:52 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
Needing a last minute one-way MCI-ORD Saturday. I always check Kayak before booking direct with United in case of very cheap flight on another airline.
The cheapest flight was an all United route at $202 compared to $258 direct MCI-ORD. BUT....
.... the $202 route was MCI-DEN-MCI-ORD.
Why in the world would it route back through your origin and be cheaper?!?!
The cheapest flight was an all United route at $202 compared to $258 direct MCI-ORD. BUT....
.... the $202 route was MCI-DEN-MCI-ORD.
Why in the world would it route back through your origin and be cheaper?!?!
Now, what I find even more amazing is that as of 5 minutes ago, ITA Matrix is showing a MCI-DEN-LAX-ORD for only $118. Need a mileage run??? (Apparently MCI-LAX is running $53).
Dec 1, 2017, 8:37 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Hertz PC
Posts: 657
Fare break in DEN. It's probably selling you separate fares MCI-DEN and DEN-ORD. DEN-ORD is going for $42 right now. MCI-ORD is expensive, probably because UA feels they can charge a premium for it.... but presumably MCI-DEN has more competition, so it's only $160. Ergo, you get a cheap MCI-DEN followed by a cheap DEN-ORD that connects in MCI.
Now, what I find even more amazing is that as of 5 minutes ago, ITA Matrix is showing a MCI-DEN-LAX-ORD for only $118. Need a mileage run??? (Apparently MCI-LAX is running $53).
Now, what I find even more amazing is that as of 5 minutes ago, ITA Matrix is showing a MCI-DEN-LAX-ORD for only $118. Need a mileage run??? (Apparently MCI-LAX is running $53).
Dec 1, 2017, 9:16 pm
#8
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
Fare break in DEN. It's probably selling you separate fares MCI-DEN and DEN-ORD. DEN-ORD is going for $42 right now. MCI-ORD is expensive, probably because UA feels they can charge a premium for it.... but presumably MCI-DEN has more competition, so it's only $160. Ergo, you get a cheap MCI-DEN followed by a cheap DEN-ORD that connects in MCI.
Now, what I find even more amazing is that as of 5 minutes ago, ITA Matrix is showing a MCI-DEN-LAX-ORD for only $118. Need a mileage run??? (Apparently MCI-LAX is running $53).
Now, what I find even more amazing is that as of 5 minutes ago, ITA Matrix is showing a MCI-DEN-LAX-ORD for only $118. Need a mileage run??? (Apparently MCI-LAX is running $53).
Dec 1, 2017, 10:10 pm
#9
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Well, except that the $26 base one-way BE DEN-ORD G fare requires a nonstop routing. Heck, even the $6000 F fare requires a non-stop routing. Given that, the only way this makes sense is if there were a through DEN-MCI-ORD flight (same flight number). However, I don't see any such flight on the schedule for tomorrow. Color me confused.
Dec 2, 2017, 1:33 pm
#10
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Fare break in DEN. It's probably selling you separate fares MCI-DEN and DEN-ORD. DEN-ORD is going for $42 right now. MCI-ORD is expensive, probably because UA feels they can charge a premium for it.... but presumably MCI-DEN has more competition, so it's only $160. Ergo, you get a cheap MCI-DEN followed by a cheap DEN-ORD that connects in MCI.
Now, what I find even more amazing is that as of 5 minutes ago, ITA Matrix is showing a MCI-DEN-LAX-ORD for only $118. Need a mileage run??? (Apparently MCI-LAX is running $53).
Now, what I find even more amazing is that as of 5 minutes ago, ITA Matrix is showing a MCI-DEN-LAX-ORD for only $118. Need a mileage run??? (Apparently MCI-LAX is running $53).
Dec 2, 2017, 1:43 pm
#11
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The fares discussed in this thread are all Basic Economy fares and can't be RPU'ed. They also can't be used for a mileage run either...
Dec 2, 2017, 2:47 pm
#12
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Dec 2, 2017, 3:12 pm
#13
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
Hundreds of dollars, depending on the specific routing. For example, on MCI-LAX, the zero-advance purchase fares for travel today include two BE G fares at $30 and $58, a BE L fare at $154... and a regular economy Q fare at $328. (All prices plus taxes + fees).
This is a new BE strategy that UA has started in the last couple of months, where they'll publish BE G fares with no advance purchase requirement to compete head-to-head with ULCCs or as hub attacks against AA and DL. These are not the differential fares that they started using originally -- although they still require the availability in the secondary fare bucket (G, in this case), they have their own advance purchase and minimum stay requirements.
This is a new BE strategy that UA has started in the last couple of months, where they'll publish BE G fares with no advance purchase requirement to compete head-to-head with ULCCs or as hub attacks against AA and DL. These are not the differential fares that they started using originally -- although they still require the availability in the secondary fare bucket (G, in this case), they have their own advance purchase and minimum stay requirements.
Dec 2, 2017, 8:02 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Gold, DL GM, AS; Marriott and SPG Gold, Hyatt
Posts: 51
Hundreds of dollars, depending on the specific routing. For example, on MCI-LAX, the zero-advance purchase fares for travel today include two BE G fares at $30 and $58, a BE L fare at $154... and a regular economy Q fare at $328. (All prices plus taxes + fees).
This is a new BE strategy that UA has started in the last couple of months, where they'll publish BE G fares with no advance purchase requirement to compete head-to-head with ULCCs or as hub attacks against AA and DL. These are not the differential fares that they started using originally -- although they still require the availability in the secondary fare bucket (G, in this case), they have their own advance purchase and minimum stay requirements.
This is a new BE strategy that UA has started in the last couple of months, where they'll publish BE G fares with no advance purchase requirement to compete head-to-head with ULCCs or as hub attacks against AA and DL. These are not the differential fares that they started using originally -- although they still require the availability in the secondary fare bucket (G, in this case), they have their own advance purchase and minimum stay requirements.