Feb 10, 2024, 10:52 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is Fare Class has Inventory - Not Able to Book into?
Common issue
Expert Mode shows ..... T9, L9, K9, G9, N9 but you not able to get united.com or other sites to provide a fare for N or G or .... WHY?
There are three requirements to be able to book a fare class
1) there needs to be a fare rule for that fare class for your O/D.
2) you need to meet all the requirements for the fare rule -- advance purchase, days of the week, min stay, qualified flight numbers, qualified routing (including a possible RT requirement), .....
3) there needs to be inventory in the fare class
So if the cheapest fare rule filed is K, you will not be able to book N or G
Even if a fare rule is filed and there is inventory then you still need to meet the fare rule requirements.
As for searching, if multiple fares qualify, the cheapest will be displayed unless you specifically force a fare class. While the fare hierarchy will generally match the cost, occasionally a high fare class will be cheaper than a lower fare class due to differences in fare flexibility such as refundable, changeability, ....
So there are multiple reasons for why a specific fare class is and not is offered. Confusion on this is one reason UA has been reluctant to make fare class inventory easily available and the reason UA requires one to accept the following terms before providing access to Expert Mode:
How can you see the fare rules?
While booking (on the first "Review trip itin" page) and after booking (on the online view of the reservation) , UA will makes them available -- but this is only if UA will display that particular fare.
Before booking or if unable to get access on UA, there are paid services -- KVS, Expert Flyer. ... can provide access to all published fare rules.
Related threads
Decoding the alphabet soup - New fare buckets for UA
How to get a P class fare to Europe?
Understanding Airline Inventory (non FT blog posting)
Desired Fare Class is available but has insufficient space, what can be done?
Common issue
Expert Mode shows ..... T9, L9, K9, G9, N9 but you not able to get united.com or other sites to provide a fare for N or G or .... WHY?
There are three requirements to be able to book a fare class
1) there needs to be a fare rule for that fare class for your O/D.
2) you need to meet all the requirements for the fare rule -- advance purchase, days of the week, min stay, qualified flight numbers, qualified routing (including a possible RT requirement), .....
3) there needs to be inventory in the fare class
So if the cheapest fare rule filed is K, you will not be able to book N or G
Even if a fare rule is filed and there is inventory then you still need to meet the fare rule requirements.
As for searching, if multiple fares qualify, the cheapest will be displayed unless you specifically force a fare class. While the fare hierarchy will generally match the cost, occasionally a high fare class will be cheaper than a lower fare class due to differences in fare flexibility such as refundable, changeability, ....
So there are multiple reasons for why a specific fare class is and not is offered. Confusion on this is one reason UA has been reluctant to make fare class inventory easily available and the reason UA requires one to accept the following terms before providing access to Expert Mode:
This is not a forecasting tool. Availability levels in certain fare classes should not be interpreted as indicating that we will make other fare classes available.
The presence of a particular fare class does not mean that there is a fare associated with it. For example, we may offer availability in a discounted fare class, but that does not necessarily mean we have published a fare that corresponds to it.
The presence of a particular fare class does not mean that there is a fare associated with it. For example, we may offer availability in a discounted fare class, but that does not necessarily mean we have published a fare that corresponds to it.
While booking (on the first "Review trip itin" page) and after booking (on the online view of the reservation) , UA will makes them available -- but this is only if UA will display that particular fare.
Before booking or if unable to get access on UA, there are paid services -- KVS, Expert Flyer. ... can provide access to all published fare rules.
Related threads
Decoding the alphabet soup - New fare buckets for UA
How to get a P class fare to Europe?
Understanding Airline Inventory (non FT blog posting)
Desired Fare Class is available but has insufficient space, what can be done?
Fare Class has Inventory - Not Able to Book into? {Archive]
Dec 15, 2017, 12:24 pm
#226
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Boston
Programs: UA GS MM
Posts: 129
Thanks, what is the title of that thread? I have just called United and the agent was puzzled first and decided to ask the rate desk to clarify... He came back saying the p fare of that route is now only available for 14 days stay. I am flexible in terms of transits and even using other cities in that area as a jump off points in Asia. Any suggestions in terms of strategies to deal with this new change? Thanks
Dec 15, 2017, 12:26 pm
#227
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
I am trying to search p fares on flexible dates, BOS-HKG round trip. United.com only show Z as the lowest fare available. When I click on details pull down menu, it shows P9 in most dates I am looking at in Jan. What could I be possibly doing wrong? I tried advanced search too and specify P fares, but no luck in that way of searching neither. Please help.
Here's a more important question: Are you married to flying UA on this route? Do you need the miles/ status? If not, I would imagine there are many other carriers on the route with competitive P (or similar) fares.
Dec 15, 2017, 12:34 pm
#228
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Boston
Programs: UA GS MM
Posts: 129
It's annoying, because it can appear that the fare is offered - when it really isn't.
Here's a more important question: Are you married to flying UA on this route? Do you need the miles/ status? If not, I would imagine there are many other carriers on the route with competitive P (or similar) fares.
Here's a more important question: Are you married to flying UA on this route? Do you need the miles/ status? If not, I would imagine there are many other carriers on the route with competitive P (or similar) fares.
Dec 15, 2017, 1:10 pm
#229
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
I have just called United and the agent was puzzled first and decided to ask the rate desk to clarify... He came back saying the p fare of that route is now only available for 14 days stay. I am flexible in terms of transits and even using other cities in that area as a jump off points in Asia. Any suggestions in terms of strategies to deal with this new change? Thanks
There's a considerably cheaper P fare with a 14 day AP and 7 day minimum stay EWR-HKG.
There's also a cheap P YYZ-HKG with no minimums.
Dec 15, 2017, 7:50 pm
#230
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,231
OP: what specific dates are you looking for, outbound and return? Are you flexible? Would you buy one ticket BOS-YYZ for maybe $200, then another $150 to overnight at YYZ airport, in order to get a sub-$2,500 P fare to HKG via ORD, SFO or EWR that departs from and returns to YYZ?
If you are strict about dates and the routing, then you probably will not find what you're looking for.
Dec 15, 2017, 8:45 pm
#231
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Actually Expert Flyer can help find P fares very easily. I checked for the OP, and there are P fares filed for BOS/HKG, but just not for his dates (depending on what he is searching), and certainly not at a price anyone would consider a bargain....however one can find a very cheap P fare BOS-PEK, or YYZ-HKG, or a host of other combinations.
There were no P fares BOS-HKG that had less than a 10 day minimum stay, which in OP's case is equivalent to no P fare
Dec 16, 2017, 7:01 am
#232
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Boston
Programs: UA GS MM
Posts: 129
Actually Expert Flyer can help find P fares very easily. I checked for the OP, and there are P fares filed for BOS/HKG, but just not for his dates (depending on what he is searching), and certainly not at a price anyone would consider a bargain....however one can find a very cheap P fare BOS-PEK, or YYZ-HKG, or a host of other combinations. It just takes patience and searching, and some flexibility with dates to get the right match.
OP: what specific dates are you looking for, outbound and return? Are you flexible? Would you buy one ticket BOS-YYZ for maybe $200, then another $150 to overnight at YYZ airport, in order to get a sub-$2,500 P fare to HKG via ORD, SFO or EWR that departs from and returns to YYZ?
If you are strict about dates and the routing, then you probably will not find what you're looking for.
OP: what specific dates are you looking for, outbound and return? Are you flexible? Would you buy one ticket BOS-YYZ for maybe $200, then another $150 to overnight at YYZ airport, in order to get a sub-$2,500 P fare to HKG via ORD, SFO or EWR that departs from and returns to YYZ?
If you are strict about dates and the routing, then you probably will not find what you're looking for.
Dec 16, 2017, 7:41 am
#233
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
ended up booking an LGA-YYZ leg to then fly YYZ-EWR-HKG same in return
all that booked for under $4k
irs dumb
Dec 22, 2017, 9:47 am
#234
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,236
I need just 43 PQM's to get to 125,000 PQM's to get another 2 RPU's (so this question isn't technically for one of the "I need xx miles to get to xxx level" threads).
I've tried multiple short itineraries to get the Premier Accelerator and can't find anything pricing under $250 ($50 for required RDM purchase, then $200 for 1,000 PQM's).
Anyone see anything less expensive for fewer PQM's? Given the challenges of using RPU's (especially from EWR), I'd prefer to get under $200 for the two of them.
Thanks.
I've tried multiple short itineraries to get the Premier Accelerator and can't find anything pricing under $250 ($50 for required RDM purchase, then $200 for 1,000 PQM's).
Anyone see anything less expensive for fewer PQM's? Given the challenges of using RPU's (especially from EWR), I'd prefer to get under $200 for the two of them.
Thanks.
Dec 22, 2017, 10:13 am
#235
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 215
I need just 43 PQM's to get to 125,000 PQM's to get another 2 RPU's (so this question isn't technically for one of the "I need xx miles to get to xxx level" threads).
I've tried multiple short itineraries to get the Premier Accelerator and can't find anything pricing under $250 ($50 for required RDM purchase, then $200 for 1,000 PQM's).
Anyone see anything less expensive for fewer PQM's? Given the challenges of using RPU's (especially from EWR), I'd prefer to get under $200 for the two of them.
Thanks.
I've tried multiple short itineraries to get the Premier Accelerator and can't find anything pricing under $250 ($50 for required RDM purchase, then $200 for 1,000 PQM's).
Anyone see anything less expensive for fewer PQM's? Given the challenges of using RPU's (especially from EWR), I'd prefer to get under $200 for the two of them.
Thanks.
Dec 22, 2017, 11:04 am
#236
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, AA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 444
EWR LHR "No P-Fare in this Market"
Trying to book EWR LHR in February in Business class ... despite R=9 on almost every flight, .bomb forces me into a Z fare at $6600. Call up and am told that there are no P fares for the EWR LHR market. Anyone else had/having this issue?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 22, 2017 at 2:17 pm Reason: Moved into appropriate master thread
Dec 22, 2017, 11:36 am
#237
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
There also needs to be a valid P fare filed for your route. Doesn't appear there is one for your city pairs / dates.
This is disclosed to you when you agree to terms to access Expert Mode.
Dec 22, 2017, 11:39 am
#238
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
However, $208 for a K fare plus a $550 co-pay and 20K miles isn’t a bad price, and may well be cheaper than any P fare they were going to offer. And R (upgrade) space is plentiful and would clear immediately...
Dec 22, 2017, 11:45 am
#239
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Actually, I am not seeing the $208 on direct flights.
OP - what are the dates and city pair you are actually searching for?
Dec 22, 2017, 3:33 pm
#240
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, AA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 444
It's a work trip so I can book paid business rather than W+GPU. Need to be in London the week of Feb 12 ... surprised the prices are so high, low season, and lots of inventory for sale.