Huge difference between W and S class - truly a new 'high'!
Feb 25, 2011, 7:14 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,920
Feb 25, 2011, 7:41 pm
#32
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,231
And they will. UA fares have been high for a few months now, but will drop. Airfares go in waves - they're riding an ideal combination of high fares and high load factors now, but that ain't going to last forever. It seems like we're slowly shuttling back to 2008, where airliners were afflicted with high oil prices, and tried to raise fares accordingly, but then demand dropped precipitously. Fares were low, but services were cut to compensate (AA eliminating olives to save fuel, anyone?).
I bet that's where we head soon. It's all cyclical in this crazy airline world.
I bet that's where we head soon. It's all cyclical in this crazy airline world.
I never thought I'd see the day when a mileage accruing Flexi-Saver SQ fare is cheaper than the cheapest UA Y fare on dot bomb...
Feb 25, 2011, 8:02 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Just did some random check BOS-PVG/PEK for random dates April, August, Nov..
CO lowest fares are $1,000-$1,500.
UA W fare could be as high as $2,500.
On most dates, NC=0
No way I am going to pay that much for a chance of SWU clearing.
CO lowest fares are $1,000-$1,500.
UA W fare could be as high as $2,500.
On most dates, NC=0
No way I am going to pay that much for a chance of SWU clearing.
Feb 25, 2011, 11:28 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
+1. I purchased an L/K ticket IAD-LAX-SYD-LAX-IAD for under $1,400 and upgraded using miles + co-pay. Failed to clear LAX-SYD, but just cleared SYD-LAX (using UDU on the B777 domestic segments). I would not have been happy paying the $800 extra for a W fare to fly in E+, even if it was just one way. I just don't like gambling, so having insurance against losing the upgrade lottery is the way to go for me.
Feb 25, 2011, 11:30 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,603
One problem with Miles + Copay is the fact that you have a lower fare (S/T/K/L), unless you buy up to W, etc.. You'll still be towards the bottom of the list. I did a r/t to SYD in October. 1K on K fare with miles + copay. Failed to clear on both segments.
Feb 25, 2011, 11:39 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,839
when i booked SFO-NRT-BKK-NRT-SFO the other day in SWU-able fare class, .bomb offered me buy- up to C for $1000 each segment for SFO-NRT and back. Those segments both had NC space, so I declined and upgrades cleared right away.
Feb 25, 2011, 11:57 pm
#37
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
The copay also is charging you a significant # of miles to redeem as well, which is zone dependent.
I don't think the good old days are gone IMO. Your routes are in a down cycle perhaps but I'm still finding them very useful.
meFIRST noted AA above, however your information is informative and persuasive to many.
The miles is significant, thus if there is NC now or the loads are J9C9D9Z9 I would talk to a consolidator for a W fare and use the SWU's. They are of no value if not attempted to be used.
Without a doubt.
UA wants to sell business class seats, often at a discount:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ach-fares.html
I'm so used to getting a cheap W fare and using my SWUs....
GOOD OL DAYS are GONE!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ach-fares.html
I'm so used to getting a cheap W fare and using my SWUs....
GOOD OL DAYS are GONE!
Without a doubt.
Feb 26, 2011, 5:38 pm
#38
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,125
Difference from S to W on IAD-FRA-BCN for dates I'm traveling in May was about $250. At least the flights were NC-positive, so I wasn't playing the lottery. Still, the fares were about $300 more total than W on similar dates last year.
Z was pricing out at ~$3300 from what the 1K res agent said... only 3x what W was. If I had a spare $2k sitting around, I would have definitely booked it and gotten the EQM bonus (and had seats with my wife on the FRA-BCN leg; she's on an XC award).
Z was pricing out at ~$3300 from what the 1K res agent said... only 3x what W was. If I had a spare $2k sitting around, I would have definitely booked it and gotten the EQM bonus (and had seats with my wife on the FRA-BCN leg; she's on an XC award).