Strange pricing differences on ual.com
#1
Original Poster


Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,654
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?
"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?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DCA
Programs: AMC MovieWatcher, Giant BonusCard, Petco PALS Card, Silver Diner Blue Plate Club
Posts: 22,314
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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"Would you convey my compliments to the purist who reads your proofs and tell him or her that I write in a sort of broken-down patois which is something like the way a Swiss waiter talks, and that when I split an
infinitive, d*** it, I split it so that it will stay split."
- Raymond Chandler, to the editor of the Atlantic Monthly, 1947
More Room Throughout Coach: the Website of Free Miles and Free Markets
Has there been any change to the 24 hour cancellation rule for purchases made from United or United.com?
------------------
"Would you convey my compliments to the purist who reads your proofs and tell him or her that I write in a sort of broken-down patois which is something like the way a Swiss waiter talks, and that when I split an
infinitive, d*** it, I split it so that it will stay split."
- Raymond Chandler, to the editor of the Atlantic Monthly, 1947
More Room Throughout Coach: the Website of Free Miles and Free Markets
#3
Original Member




Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 16,127
I've had the same thing happen, 1P. You shouldn't have a problem. Heed gleff's advice, tho. That's solid.
#4
Original Poster


Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,654
Thanks, guys.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
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???
Man, I miss United Connection.
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???

Man, I miss United Connection.
#6
Original Poster


Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,654
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.
Then tried to upgrade the itinerary, but the system was "not able to determine the status" of my upgrade request
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!
So called in by phone and, guess what, was able to upgrade this leg immediately using an HK49.
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.
No problem. The e-ticket receipt gives the same low amount.

Then tried to upgrade the itinerary, but the system was "not able to determine the status" of my upgrade request

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!

So called in by phone and, guess what, was able to upgrade this leg immediately using an HK49.

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.

