US to Asia fares are crazy high now!?
May 11, 2019, 2:28 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,529
I need to go to Singapore in December and prices are $6,500 (but through PEK) and the direct or NRT is $9-$11k. Those fares are high for the early December timeframe. And AA and other carriers offering $4k - $6k fares with better routing etc... Not sure what the deal is.
May 11, 2019, 2:38 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
I need to go to Singapore in December and prices are $6,500 (but through PEK) and the direct or NRT is $9-$11k. Those fares are high for the early December timeframe. And AA and other carriers offering $4k - $6k fares with better routing etc... Not sure what the deal is.
Flying from BWI, PHL, or EWR will be much cheaper. Even CHO would be much cheaper.
May 11, 2019, 2:50 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
Hi. Apologies for the noob question. We have not purchased tickets for over a year, last travel was IAD-PEK-NRT-IAD in business last September. Spouse had 2 surgeries and we cancelled a lot of travel. He's better and we are planning an open jaw IAD-(SF or LAX)-SIN and NRT-IAD. The fare on UA is $10K pp. That seems insane. By juggling on Singapore Airlines we may be able to get it for around $8k. But still that's nuts.
Have Asia fares gone up 30% or more? Or are we too early or missing something? Also, trying one way tickets has a huge penalty now?
Thanks.
Have Asia fares gone up 30% or more? Or are we too early or missing something? Also, trying one way tickets has a huge penalty now?
Thanks.
If you are actually buying these tickets with your own money, I really dont understand why anyone would pay this for UA J, if QR J is half the price and an infinitely better J experience.
May 11, 2019, 3:35 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,381
technically OPM wants govt employees to fly Delta
WAS-SIN is awarded to Delta
unrestricted Y = $783 (as long as a Y seat is available, this is available)
capacity-controlled unrestricted Y = $638 (fare buckets may apply)
capacity-controlled unrestricted J = $1732 (fare buckets may apply)
May 11, 2019, 3:47 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
May 11, 2019, 5:15 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,502
I need to go to Singapore in December and prices are $6,500 (but through PEK) and the direct or NRT is $9-$11k. Those fares are high for the early December timeframe. And AA and other carriers offering $4k - $6k fares with better routing etc... Not sure what the deal is.
My last half dozen trips to Asia (r/t) have all been sub-to-low $2K.
May 11, 2019, 5:37 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I'm flying them in PE to europe because I need the PQD as well as PQM. SAS is probably a better product with an equally convenient routing, but getting the PQM without PQD on this trip would probably cost me a status level at the end of the year.
May 11, 2019, 6:35 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
They can do this because they know while most people will think rationally and fly a superior product at a lower price - there will always be (mostly) OPM who'd rather chase status.
Add to that of course that OPM probably is not actually paying these prices, but gets them at a substantial discount. So every ticket sold at a non-contracted rate is just bonus money for UA.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 11, 2019 at 8:02 pm Reason: remove vulgar comment
May 11, 2019, 6:44 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,352
So there you go, exactly why the fares are high. UA knows they have some people , who will trade in a superior product, and a lower price for PQD/status.
They can do this because they know while most people will think rationally and fly a superior product at a lower price - there will always be (mostly) OPM who'd rather chase status.
They can do this because they know while most people will think rationally and fly a superior product at a lower price - there will always be (mostly) OPM who'd rather chase status.
Although this hypothesis may be true for some, I think the more common reason people choose United over other airlines is schedule and/or route.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 11, 2019 at 8:04 pm Reason: quote updated ro reflect Moderator edit
May 11, 2019, 7:10 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Proving rankourabu's point. You neglected to mention price which is largely irrelevant for those flying on OPM, contract rate or not.
May 11, 2019, 7:20 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
So there you go, exactly why the fares are high. UA knows they have some people by the balls, who will trade in a superior product, and a lower price for PQD/status.
They can do this because they know while most people will think rationally and fly a superior product at a lower price - there will always be (mostly) OPM who'd rather chase status.
Add to that of course that OPM probably is not actually paying these prices, but gets them at a substantial discount. So every ticket sold at a non-contracted rate is just bonus money for UA.
They can do this because they know while most people will think rationally and fly a superior product at a lower price - there will always be (mostly) OPM who'd rather chase status.
Add to that of course that OPM probably is not actually paying these prices, but gets them at a substantial discount. So every ticket sold at a non-contracted rate is just bonus money for UA.
May 11, 2019, 9:07 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: most of them
Posts: 3,283
I guess it's a matter of how much that status is worth to you in the end. I've never traveled enough to play the status game so I either book award flights or look for deals that happen to pop up on premium carriers. It's kind of liberating to not be tied to a particular airline.
May 11, 2019, 9:38 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,352
I will often choose a more expensive, non-stop UA flight over a cheaper alternative that takes much longer, despite that airline possibly offering better service/product.
UA has a very strong network.
Would be interesting to know (which we never will of course) how many of us who spend OPM actually look at price when making their purchasing decision.
IME it's more people than one might suspect.
UA has a very strong network.
IME it's more people than one might suspect.
Last edited by narvik; May 11, 2019 at 9:43 pm