Ridiculously uncompetitive airfares?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: SFO,NYC and your computer
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Posts: 53
Insane SFO-NYC prices in June?
What’s up with the prices on United flights to EWR/LGA in June? They are charging minimum $600 round trip, and around $1000 on most.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Ridiculously uncompetitive airfares?
Looking at an ORD-LAX itinerary for June 17-22. American (and a couple other airlines) price out at about $200. United... almost $800. Basically the whole week. I can't recall ever seeing such a huge price difference on what would normally be a pretty competitive route.
Is this a fluke?
Is this a fluke?
#3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Hawaii, USA
Posts: 40
I get so many crazy fares constantly that aren't competitive like the one you mentioned I am left scratching my head wondering what management is thinking. If someone looking for a ticket sees a crazy price like that I can see them searching another airline for a better price, so one can't help but wonder how much money is UA losing by these overpriced fares? Most of the time, I do search for fares out of HNL using the UA app on my phone and have wondered if it has anything to do with it because there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to how the fares are sorted. Were you also using the app to search for the fare you found?
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Regarding ORD-LAX fare
Looks like the loads, and they are high on the UA flights based on seatmap (may not be a good indicator, though).
The lowest fare is H fare for the dates you are looking at. If leaving on June 19, the fare is lowered by $250, and if you are even more flexible, the RT fare are below $300.
I would not say United is not competitive. With limited flights, the planes are actually loading up fast. I purchased a ticket last Monday for a RT between DC and South Florida for later this month and return in June. The fare was $350 when I purchased it, and within less than a week, it is now over $1,000. I just checked the load, and the fights are almost full.
The lowest fare is H fare for the dates you are looking at. If leaving on June 19, the fare is lowered by $250, and if you are even more flexible, the RT fare are below $300.
I would not say United is not competitive. With limited flights, the planes are actually loading up fast. I purchased a ticket last Monday for a RT between DC and South Florida for later this month and return in June. The fare was $350 when I purchased it, and within less than a week, it is now over $1,000. I just checked the load, and the fights are almost full.
Last edited by UA_Flyer; May 17, 2020 at 8:28 pm
#6
Moderator: United Airlines
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No,What’s going on July 4 weekend? lack of bookable flight options pre-4th
Combination of people waiting to cancel flights and surge in demand
Reported UA is increasing aircraft gauge in the upcoming week to respond to the surge
Combination of people waiting to cancel flights and surge in demand
Reported UA is increasing aircraft gauge in the upcoming week to respond to the surge
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bloomfield, NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Million Miler, Marriott platinum, lifetime platinum
Posts: 973
I've seen these crazy pricing fares as well, not that I have any intention of going anywhere. I guess they are assuming that the only people flying have to no matter what, and will pay, and leisure travelers are staying home.
Air travel is going to be hell for a long time. No lounges, health fears, bottled water only in Y, no liquor in F, no true opportunities for social distance whatsoever even on a 1/2 booked narrow body. Now, raise the fares, and seal the deal that nobody itching to get a small getaway in and test the waters.
Add to that virtually no restaurants/bars open in terminals. You'd think they'd lower the fares, and try to offer more than bottled water.
I'm an addict of flight and hotel, but I'm going nowhere in these conditions.
Air travel is going to be hell for a long time. No lounges, health fears, bottled water only in Y, no liquor in F, no true opportunities for social distance whatsoever even on a 1/2 booked narrow body. Now, raise the fares, and seal the deal that nobody itching to get a small getaway in and test the waters.
Add to that virtually no restaurants/bars open in terminals. You'd think they'd lower the fares, and try to offer more than bottled water.
I'm an addict of flight and hotel, but I'm going nowhere in these conditions.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Houston TX
Programs: United Premier 1k, Hertz Presidents Circle, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 408
I have to fly IAH-EWR in a few weeks, my dates are semi flexible but I still can't get anything for less than a grand unless I want to fly in a 545AM connection through ORD.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
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I get so many crazy fares constantly that aren't competitive like the one you mentioned I am left scratching my head wondering what management is thinking. If someone looking for a ticket sees a crazy price like that I can see them searching another airline for a better price, so one can't help but wonder how much money is UA losing by these overpriced fares?
Looks like the loads, and they are fairly good on the UA flights based on seatmap (may not be a good indicator, though).
The lowest fare is H fare for the dates you are looking at. If leaving on June 19, the fare is lowered by $250, and if you are even more flexible, the RT fare are below $300.
The lowest fare is H fare for the dates you are looking at. If leaving on June 19, the fare is lowered by $250, and if you are even more flexible, the RT fare are below $300.
But I think you made the point there. Would you be any more likely to travel is they lowed the fares and offered you a soda? I'm guessing not.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,198
I have no idea how UA Inventory Management is set up now with only 10% capacity. It feels like they are using their old algorithms and selling a few seats in low buckets then zeroing those out and pushing higher buckets. In the old days we'd simply look at other UA flights on those days and be flexible. Now with 1 flight (in many cases) the only option is OAL. I think they need to spend time analyzing when (and how early) to upgage to take advantage of the demand.
#12
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Join Date: Jul 2003
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DL and UA greatly reduced June schedules last weekend. AA also did significant reductions in June the weekend before, but did not go as far as UA/DL. Cranky Flier has an analysis on his website. All the reductions has resulted in people with existing reservations getting consolidated on a smaller number of flights and combined with the seat blocking is leaving few seats for sale on many flights. This is likely causing issues with the rev management software and it is only releasing inventory in the top few fare buckets. DL is somewhat reacting to it by having 3-day and 14-day advance purchase fare caps on routes. These are Y-basis fares, but they are non-refundable and have advance purchase requirements and are a lot less than the full Y fares. So even when there is very limited bucket inventory on a flight, the fare will typically be less than the YBMH fares on the route. For example, MSP-LAX has a 14-day advance Y fare (fare basis Y912TU) on DL for $248 one-way which caps the fare as long as you purchase at least 14 days out. While UA only has $468 one-way M fares available on MSP-LAX on a number of days in June because there is only bucket inventory in YBM classes on the flights.
Last edited by xliioper; May 17, 2020 at 9:42 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2008
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But not when I can fly American for $200.
And I haven't bought a non-UA ticket (to a destination UA flies) in maybe 7-8 years, so it's not like I wouldn't pay a little more to stay United, but there's limits.
#15
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Tickets from EWR to RSW are running about $400 each way. UA only has a single non-stop daily and NO competition anymore as previously there was Spirit and/or JetBlue. But, this may be our new reality as the airline is flying low load but making the same money as if flying 80%.