UA can no longer compete in Brasil if connecting from GRU or GIG
Jun 6, 2022, 2:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
UA can no longer compete in Brasil if connecting from GRU or GIG
I purchase multiple int’l tix for multiple family. I’ve noticed something very interesting with UA compared with AA/DL.
UA/*A used to have a presence in Brasil. No more. It really hasn’t been an issue (except when flying Y since baggage allowance/status would not transfer). No more—or at least it appears that way.
For this fall and winter, prices are 50% higher in Y (30% in J) if including a mandatory additional leg intra-Brasil. I thought perhaps there was price gouging in Brasil or something related to high gas prices. Not so. Prices were what I expected for intra-Brasil flights on Brasilian airlines.
SO, I priced on UA tix not including the additional leg within Brasil, and the UA tix were what I expected. When I included the additional mandatory leg, an additional $750 for Y on UA even though a stand-alone RT on Brasilian airlines was $160! Crazy.
SO, I checked other airlines, i.e., DL and AA. Including the mandatory leg, their prices were $700 less than UA! Stated otherwise, adding Non-Partner Airline to UA Increases Ticket by 50% compared with AA/DL. Either UA has a software glitch or more likely, partner Brasilian airlines with DL/AA are screwing UA. UA can no longer compete in Brasil.
As a coda, I know DL has a sizeable stake in G3. Perhaps this is part of a concerted plan that might be good in the long term for DL.
UA/*A used to have a presence in Brasil. No more. It really hasn’t been an issue (except when flying Y since baggage allowance/status would not transfer). No more—or at least it appears that way.
For this fall and winter, prices are 50% higher in Y (30% in J) if including a mandatory additional leg intra-Brasil. I thought perhaps there was price gouging in Brasil or something related to high gas prices. Not so. Prices were what I expected for intra-Brasil flights on Brasilian airlines.
SO, I priced on UA tix not including the additional leg within Brasil, and the UA tix were what I expected. When I included the additional mandatory leg, an additional $750 for Y on UA even though a stand-alone RT on Brasilian airlines was $160! Crazy.
SO, I checked other airlines, i.e., DL and AA. Including the mandatory leg, their prices were $700 less than UA! Stated otherwise, adding Non-Partner Airline to UA Increases Ticket by 50% compared with AA/DL. Either UA has a software glitch or more likely, partner Brasilian airlines with DL/AA are screwing UA. UA can no longer compete in Brasil.
As a coda, I know DL has a sizeable stake in G3. Perhaps this is part of a concerted plan that might be good in the long term for DL.
Oct 28, 2022, 11:15 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
While buying some tix, I just realized, perhaps, why UA can no longer compete price wise in Brasil. UA has reduced capacity. UA no longer flies from IAD to Brasil. One has to connect from EWR/ORD/IAH. I am not sure if that is the reason, but it is clear UA is the most expensive way to fly to Brasil right now
Oct 28, 2022, 2:50 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum, 1MM
Posts: 13,460
South America for United has been pretty minimal for a long time. The UA prices (economy at least) are not very compelling to Brazil, Chile or Argentina. I've looked to go back to BA which I love. Gone are the inexpensive days of flying to those three countries.
Also the liquidation of VARIG really hurt reach. Only Avianca and Copa left.
Also the liquidation of VARIG really hurt reach. Only Avianca and Copa left.
Oct 28, 2022, 4:59 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2002
Location: US
Programs: UA GS 2MM
Posts: 1,740
United has 4 flights a day to Brasil compared to 5 at American and 2 at DL. So UA hasn’t abandoned the market at all.
All the airlines have more-or-less the same airfares filed to Brasil, but that doesn’t mean the fares for any given route on any given day will be the same at all airlines. UA has been doing some very aggressive revenue management where they don’t open the lowest fare “buckets” on certain days of the week too far ahead of time.
Use Google Flights and you will ge the best price. If booking it with UA is cheaper, your price will be displayed that way. If the flights you want are cheaper booking it as two tickets Google will offer that instead.
All the airlines have more-or-less the same airfares filed to Brasil, but that doesn’t mean the fares for any given route on any given day will be the same at all airlines. UA has been doing some very aggressive revenue management where they don’t open the lowest fare “buckets” on certain days of the week too far ahead of time.
Use Google Flights and you will ge the best price. If booking it with UA is cheaper, your price will be displayed that way. If the flights you want are cheaper booking it as two tickets Google will offer that instead.
Oct 28, 2022, 9:14 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Delta 1MM, Delta SM, United Silver, Amx Plat, Delta Amx Plat, Six-T Plat, IHG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 590
Just returned from Brazil two weeks ago on United and I can confirm they have plenty presence there. As other poster pointed out, they fly ORD/EWR/IAH to Brazil. I was on ORD-GRU and was very pleased w/ the experience. United - by far- had the most economical offering in J. Of course as with all things flying, YMMV depending on a number of factors.
Oct 28, 2022, 9:59 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern California
Programs: United MileagePlus Premier 1K, Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion
Posts: 1,150
Just returned from Brazil two weeks ago on United and I can confirm they have plenty presence there. As other poster pointed out, they fly ORD/EWR/IAH to Brazil. I was on ORD-GRU and was very pleased w/ the experience. United - by far- had the most economical offering in J. Of course as with all things flying, YMMV depending on a number of factors.
I can say that the UA staff are very dedicated and friendly. Fares to Brazil aren’t that bad departing from the northeast .
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 29, 2022 at 10:16 am Reason: repaired quote
Oct 30, 2022, 9:16 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
South America for United has been pretty minimal for a long time. The UA prices (economy at least) are not very compelling to Brazil, Chile or Argentina. I've looked to go back to BA which I love. Gone are the inexpensive days of flying to those three countries.
Also the liquidation of VARIG really hurt reach. Only Avianca and Copa left.
Also the liquidation of VARIG really hurt reach. Only Avianca and Copa left.
It's even worse in J. Recent fare had UA at $8300 v. DL at $2600 and Azul @$1640.
Also, wanted to compare Y on Azul (which had a starting UA flight): $750. Purchasing the exact same itin (which would use a diff bucket on UA obviously ) on .bomb produced a ticket of $2800.