Kacee

UA either sold or closed the cheap R inventory.
It's not random, but it is an anomaly.

If PP was cheaper than regular economy, it's because UA was selling deep discount PP inventory (R) while holding firm on the regular economy fares.

CIT85

I encountered this same pricing anomaly recently when I was checking on airfare of Feb/Mar RIC-CDG-BCN/RIC for my wife. R fare was only $200 higher than Basic Economy, and $300 less than W fare. Prices went up and then down over 2 week period. I pulled the trigger when I saw $1093, and applied GPUs wait list for Polaris. I can't buy my tickets for a few more months, until I have my Business travel approved, which means my airfare will be higher, just a question of how much. I had to select the specific double connection routing to get the lowest fare. R fare went up $150 today.

Aussienarelle

When I am logged into my MP account on United.com and searching I often encounter this. I then go and look at google flights and can get the cheaper flight that way. I do not know if united.com works out I want to fly that day and so the price goes up (feels.that way but does not necessarily mean that is the case). Or I wait a couple of weeks and the price comes back down to the lower price (no guarantee but has worked for me a couple of times). I cannot work out if a number of searches for same days and times impact what United releases - my brain says no as fare buckets are fare buckets but it happens often enough for me to pounce when the price is right (in my mind).

Kacee

googleflights will sometimes return itineraries that .com will not. And vice-verse. With all the possible fare and routing combinations, and varying search parameters, identifying and culling the list of possible itineraries can be a complex processing task. So different search engines = differing results.

findark

Quite possibly to OP

myperks

In my experience, once the R bucket is gone, it’s a steep increase to A and another big jump to O. Get the Rs early and it similar pricing to a W/V fare.

TomMM

Does your carryon properly fit in the sizer at the gate?

FleetFlyer

Just checked -- last night the high Premium Economy seats were listed as A -- now they are just as high and listed as R's (?). I bought them as R's yesterday morning and now they are $500 more per ticket. We are the only 2 people who have purchased in Premium Economy -- granted there are not many seats, but still...

My 24-hour cancellation window just expired, so I'm trying out United's Premium Plus next summer! thanks for talking me through the codes, etc.

Kacee

For travel next June, UA publishes 18 R fares for that route, with base fare ranging from $890 to $1844.

FleetFlyer

Looking at my ticket breakdown, my R base rate is $870 with a hefty $450 international surcharge and various fees that bring the total to $1422 per person. The fare listed on their website, for example, didn't include all those taxes and fees, which upped the check-out price mightily.

Kacee

Yes it most certainly did show the all-in pricing. It would be unlawful not to show the all-in pricing, and UA adheres rigorously to that regulation.

ETA: I just ran the search myself, and the full price is displayed from the very first screen.

WineCountryUA

"international surcharge" is just a variable portion of the fare -- just consider it a part of the base fare.

On UA's website, that is a major violation of DOT rules which requires all-in pricing. Were you looking in someplace else?

FleetFlyer

I'm sorry -- I misspoke. I bought from United's website and just recreated the experience with today's fares. They break down the final amount into an airfare quote and a separate amount for "taxes and fees" -- which came to about $250 in my case for two tickets. The tallied total did in fact mirror the amount listed in the original fare quote. What it didn't mirror was the line items in the final receipt that arrived later. The international surcharge must, as WineCountry noted, be part of the base for these purposes.
So yes, thankfully, United is NOT violating any DOT rules and all is well. I look forward to flying with them and experiencing Premium Plus on a 787-10 Dreamliner -- as I said, first transatlantic in about 20 years for me, so I'm really looking forward to it! Hopefully that Dreamliner will stay put in EWR ...

CApreppie

It will definitely be more comfortable for your husband. I just took SFO-HKG PP and posted photos a few pages earlier. Do not expect it to be like Polaris lite. Think of it like domestic first with no dedicated FAs and you won't be disappointed.

myperks

Good OP-UP chances from PP?
Booked 31 for 24 total seats.
(Personally not on this flight but a Plat family member is and is booked in PP but have seat assignment)