Strange pricing differences on ual.com
 

"Please wait while we find better-priced itineraries."

"The closest to your requirements [or whatever the new phraseology is - they no longer say 'your original itinerary'] is $1770 per person" - but when you click on Select, it comes up with a price of $476 per person! This is not an isolated instance: yesterday, the same itinerary was $1830 per person, but selecting it gave a price of $570 per person.

I'm very tempted to purchase, but my question is: will it let you buy at the stated low price when the itinerary is selected, or will it increase the price when you attempt to complete the transaction?

I'd print the page with the price. That should be good if they try to charge you more. At least it should let you dispute the charge.

Has there been any change to the 24 hour cancellation rule for purchases made from United or United.com?

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I've had the same thing happen, 1P. You shouldn't have a problem. Heed gleff's advice, tho. That's solid.

Thanks, guys.

I hate the frickin web booking engine.

Nothing ever works right or the same way twice. Just last night (once again):

1. I select "by price" and it gives me one. Supposed to be the lowest.

2. I select "by schedule" and it gives me the price of the specific flights I've selected plus several other lower priced options.

So far, seems so good. But then...

3. I go back and select "by schedule" again, this time picking different flights from the same list than the first time, but this time it gives me a price that is lower than even the "lowest priced options" that were delivered under #1 and #2 above!!!!

What do I have to do to get the true lowest price??? Go through "by schedule" and manually select every option/combination one by one, back and forth, until I hit the lowest??? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Man, I miss United Connection.

Well, by the time I booked it, the "fare closest to my requirements" had gone up again to $1870+ and the actual fare displayed on the itinerary was $500 - so I bought it.

No problem. The e-ticket receipt gives the same low amount. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Then tried to upgrade the itinerary, but the system was "not able to determine the status" of my upgrade request http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Looked at the receipt: the fare basis for one of the legs has changed. Instead of T------- in the bottom of the window, it's now 14T-------/WEB. Aaaargh! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

So called in by phone and, guess what, was able to upgrade this leg immediately using an HK49. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I've never seen a /WEB designator on a receipt before, but evidently this isn't the same as a fare ending in I as far as upgrades are concerned.