Anyone else notice UA lowballing on fares?
Dec 14, 2002, 1:02 pm
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2002
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Anyone else notice UA lowballing on fares?
Looks like UA is a few bucks lower than the other majors in selected markets. A couple days ago ORD-BHM was $142 while everyone else was in the low $200s. That one lasted only a day, but right now I see ORD-SFO is down to a new low, $168 WITH TAX on UA's Web site. There are other examples.
This often happens when an airline goes bankrupt, for reasons that should be obvious; TWA used to do this and USAir has done the same thing recently. Has anyone else here noticed it?
This often happens when an airline goes bankrupt, for reasons that should be obvious; TWA used to do this and USAir has done the same thing recently. Has anyone else here noticed it?
Dec 14, 2002, 3:36 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: LAS
Programs: WN:No status in 2015; UA:1K long gone (1995-2003).
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I think some of these low ball fares are intended to generate traffic during lightly traveled days over the holidays.
I noticed that DL, AA, US, UA have a $168 + taxes fare between LAS-BTV this morning, but it's only valid for travel on December 24-25.
I noticed that DL, AA, US, UA have a $168 + taxes fare between LAS-BTV this morning, but it's only valid for travel on December 24-25.
Dec 14, 2002, 3:41 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,748
I checked fares to 12 cities (from DTW) in mid-January via mid-March; UA failed to have the cheapest fare.
Dec 14, 2002, 3:43 pm
#4
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Nevada1K:
I think some of these low ball fares are intended to generate traffic during lightly traveled days over the holidays</font>
I think some of these low ball fares are intended to generate traffic during lightly traveled days over the holidays</font>
I was seeing a lot of itins like ORD-CLT being $4 or $5 cheaper than similar nonstops on AA.
Also, today's $168 ORD-SFO is $5 cheaper than the same flight were yesterday. It's usually rare for fares to go down between Friday and Saturday.
Dec 14, 2002, 6:13 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Anyone else notice UA lowballing on fares?
Not really, not me.
Not really, not me.
Dec 14, 2002, 6:41 pm
#6
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The $168RT UA SFO-ORD fare has been there on and off the last few months. To me it looks like they've just brought it back again, rather than sinking to a new low in that market.
edited: I just saw that the $168 you quote is WITH taxes, which would make the base fare somewhere around $130-140. That is something I have not seen before in this market.
[This message has been edited by tom911 (edited 12-14-2002).]
edited: I just saw that the $168 you quote is WITH taxes, which would make the base fare somewhere around $130-140. That is something I have not seen before in this market.
[This message has been edited by tom911 (edited 12-14-2002).]
Dec 14, 2002, 9:57 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2004
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by tom911:
edited: I just saw that the $168 you quote is WITH taxes, which would make the base fare somewhere around $130-140. That is something I have not seen before in this market.</font>
edited: I just saw that the $168 you quote is WITH taxes, which would make the base fare somewhere around $130-140. That is something I have not seen before in this market.</font>
Dec 14, 2002, 11:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Buckingham, PA USA
Posts: 69
US Air really picks and chooses their spots on discounting deeply, I don't see a difference from when they were not in BK. I am CP over there and was kinda excited about the code share. Now I got a "wait & see" attitude on the whole thing. My "gut" tells me that US survives as a free standing airline and UA goes Chapter 7! Which would seem to be the opposite of the way it ought to be. No factual basis just a gut feel
Dec 14, 2002, 11:12 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Feamom:
My "gut" tells me that US survives as a free standing airline and UA goes Chapter 7!</font>
My "gut" tells me that US survives as a free standing airline and UA goes Chapter 7!</font>
Dec 15, 2002, 2:52 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Chicago, IL and Hong Kong - United 1K Since 2000
Posts: 4,344
Just booked ORD-SEA $168 with taxes... with 3 class 777 service outbound to boot! Time to use up my HK49s!
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When once you have experienced being a 1K, you will forever fly the friendly skies with your eyes set on 100% mileage bonus and SWUs, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return, every year!
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When once you have experienced being a 1K, you will forever fly the friendly skies with your eyes set on 100% mileage bonus and SWUs, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return, every year!
Dec 15, 2002, 10:21 am
#11
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I have yet to see this. Keep in mind that I am based in Denver where gate fees are among the highest in the US. UA controls about 65% of all flights and there is little competition from Frontier Airlines for the business traveler. FA is making strides but, again, UA is the controlling carrier at DIA. I have seen some fares reduced but that is still in line for the travel season. I have to believe that some sort of fare war will begin to entice first quarter revenue as this quarter is historically the worst of 4.
[This message has been edited by RobotDoctor (edited 12-15-2002).]
[This message has been edited by RobotDoctor (edited 12-15-2002).]
Dec 15, 2002, 10:30 am
#12
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Man, you people have smart guts. All mine tells me is that I need to lay off the Bud Light.
Dec 15, 2002, 11:48 am
#13
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by IndustrialPatent:
No, UA is NOT lowballing... Southwest is offering $168 fares to Oakland from Chicago; UA is matching from San Francisco.</font>
No, UA is NOT lowballing... Southwest is offering $168 fares to Oakland from Chicago; UA is matching from San Francisco.</font>
