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 24, 2017, 12:17 pm
#241
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All the P fares are either blocked for a specific date range (like the holidays) or require a 60 or 150-day AP. You're booking too close-in and therefore they know you're a business traveler.
Jan 2, 2018, 10:13 am
#242
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Jan 2, 2018, 1:07 pm
#244
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Apr 6, 2018, 11:47 am
#245
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Here's a weird one I haven't seen before. I'm looking at SFO-EWR-ALB OW fares. I'm looking at a 0730 departure and an 0810 departure, both of which connect to the same EWR-ALB flight.
When individual segments are examined:
When connected, the 0810 departure is offered as fare classes H,H (in segment order for $443):
Given the offer of a W,E booking, that implies it's not booking those as married segments right, and instead two separate legs? Presumably E is the lowest fare class available as a OW, single segment EWR-->ALB, and there is some other fare rule preventing the Q-fare from being available on this itin. But why is UA not offering the H,H cheaper fare on the 0730 departure if H is available in both segments, and it's the same origin/destination and the same day as the 0810 departure?
When individual segments are examined:
- The 0730 SFO-->EWR flight has inventory down to W
- The 0810 SFO-->EWR flight has inventory down to S
- The 1745 EWR--> ALB flight has inventory down to Q
When connected, the 0810 departure is offered as fare classes H,H (in segment order for $443):
Given the offer of a W,E booking, that implies it's not booking those as married segments right, and instead two separate legs? Presumably E is the lowest fare class available as a OW, single segment EWR-->ALB, and there is some other fare rule preventing the Q-fare from being available on this itin. But why is UA not offering the H,H cheaper fare on the 0730 departure if H is available in both segments, and it's the same origin/destination and the same day as the 0810 departure?
Last edited by prometa; Apr 6, 2018 at 11:49 am Reason: adding images
Apr 6, 2018, 12:31 pm
#246
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Given the offer of a W,E booking, that implies it's not booking those as married segments right, and instead two separate legs? Presumably E is the lowest fare class available as a OW, single segment EWR-->ALB, and there is some other fare rule preventing the Q-fare from being available on this itin. But why is UA not offering the H,H cheaper fare on the 0730 departure if H is available in both segments, and it's the same origin/destination and the same day as the 0810 departure?
Apr 6, 2018, 3:01 pm
#247
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
With multi city, the cheapest UA4960 seat is E, so W,E is the current cheapest regardless. (i’ve seen other instances of limited short segment inventory unless married to another longer segment) I didn’t realize married inventory could be more restrictive than either segment.
Apr 6, 2018, 3:20 pm
#248
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5/18
With multi city, the cheapest UA4960 seat is E, so W,E is the current cheapest regardless. (i’ve seen other instances of limited short segment inventory unless married to another longer segment) I didn’t realize married inventory could be more restrictive than either segment.
With multi city, the cheapest UA4960 seat is E, so W,E is the current cheapest regardless. (i’ve seen other instances of limited short segment inventory unless married to another longer segment) I didn’t realize married inventory could be more restrictive than either segment.
Code:
18MAY18 SFOALB > 18MAY18 SFOEWR UA577 J9 Z9 P0 Y9 U9 H0 > 18MAY18 EWRALB UA4960 .. .. .. Y9 U9 H0 18MAY18 SFOALB > 18MAY18 SFOEWR UA233 J9 Z2 P0 Y9 U9 H1 Q0 > 18MAY18 EWRALB UA4960 .. .. .. Y9 U9 H1 Q0 18MAY18 SFOEWR UA577 J9 Z9 P0 Y9 W9 S0 18MAY18 SFOEWR UA233 J9 Z2 P0 Y9 S9 T0 18MAY18 EWRALB UA4960 Y9 E6 U4 H3 Q1 V0
Apr 6, 2018, 10:34 pm
#249
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
Hmm, earlier today it was only offering me W,E for $443 even in a multi-city search, but now I can see the Q,Q option on .com, so I went ahead and re-booked at the lower price. Thanks for the head's up.
Apr 6, 2018, 11:27 pm
#250
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5/18
With multi city, the cheapest UA4960 seat is E, so W,E is the current cheapest regardless. (i’ve seen other instances of limited short segment inventory unless married to another longer segment) I didn’t realize married inventory could be more restrictive than either segment.
With multi city, the cheapest UA4960 seat is E, so W,E is the current cheapest regardless. (i’ve seen other instances of limited short segment inventory unless married to another longer segment) I didn’t realize married inventory could be more restrictive than either segment.
Apr 28, 2018, 8:21 pm
#251
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Fare class available, but not bookable
Per the screenshot below, 'Z' or 'P' fare class is available, but I can only book 'A'. I'd reckon 'P' tickets should be much cheaper than 'A'. Why the disconnect? Why does system show availability, when the fare class is not bookable? 
Apr 28, 2018, 8:23 pm
#252
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Advance purchase requirements or other fare rules preclude your booking of those fare buckets. Because flight is today it's likely showing availability in the various buckets for SDC/TOD purposes.
Apr 28, 2018, 8:30 pm
#253
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And to add, also possible no P or Z fare basis are even filed currently. In order to book a fare, OP, there needs to be both fare class availability and a fare filed that meets the rules of the itinerary.
Apr 28, 2018, 8:33 pm
#254
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-- fare class inventory
-- a filed fare for that fare class
-- the requested booking meets all the rules in fare rules -- including advance purchase requirements, routing, any date requirements, ...
Note the "cheapest" economy fare is E but there is G9 -- same reason. No valid fare for G at time of booking - likely advance purchase requirement.
There is more in the thread's wiki on this
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 29, 2018 at 3:04 pm Reason: more info
Apr 28, 2018, 8:34 pm
#255
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The cheapest fare with no advance purchase requirement is EAA0TQFN (an A fare). All less expensive fares have at least a 7-day advance purchase requirement.
With a virtual monopoly on SFO/WAS, the fares are quite high within 21 days.
With a virtual monopoly on SFO/WAS, the fares are quite high within 21 days.