Do A Fares Really Exist?
 

This may seem like a dumb question, but do stand-alone A fares really exist?

Domestically, when selecting First Class on ual.com, I've only ever been offered F fares, P fares, or QUAUP/YUAUP fares (that book into A). Internationally, I've only over been offered F fares (and SOMETIMES a CUAUP fare that books into A).

I know that the -UP fares "book into" A, however are there ever any stand-alone A fares?

Thanks,
B.

Yes....for example ABQ to NYC ...AUA fare at $627, DFW to SFO has AUA at 999.

First Class RTWs are priced and booked in A, correct?

Yes, I think they do. Although, that's another "books into A fare" like the QUP, and not really a UA A fare.

Really?

I have tried pricing ABQ/NYC as a one way and as a R-T, and all I get are QUAUP's and F's. I got a one way ABQ-LGA on July 14 of $601.40 that's a QUAUP. No A ever shows up. Same for DFW-SFO. Got a one way for $609.20 that's a QUAUP. No A.

Where/how did you find the true A fare?

Thanks,
B.

CMB-LAX on UA is $2489 RT in A :D:D:D

Wow, you're right... that's so cheap!

You meant CBM, right? AFAIK there is no direct from UA to Sri Lanka... ;)

No, I meant CMB. Colombo, Sri Lanka

CMB-LAX is an A fare (First Class) for $2489 return. UA uses UL/EK/SQ to get you to SIN, or UL/TG to BKK and they take you from there.

Wow, that is more than a bargain!!! LAst time I looked it up, coach went for well in the $5,000 on UA, but then that was for LAX-CMB in April.
Sorry for trying to be too smart... :)

Remember that LAX-CMB is an entirely different market that CMB-LAX ;)

Interesting question as the around the world fares are always treated a little different but in my case I purchase the UA/EK RTW fares and the fare is ARWUAEKN and they book in A so in that case at least it seems to be a true A fare and not some sort of "UP" variation.

Which is why ex-CMB fares are mileage run heaven for many of us! The great thing about the UA D and A class fares ex-CMB, is that they allow stopovers along the way without paying a higher intermediate fare. And you can upgrade from D class to United First Suite using 1K Systemwides. I do it once a year and have a nice vacation in Asia. And if you maximize your mileage by taking the longest possible routing (CMB-SIN-HKG-NRT-HNL-SFO-LAX-SEA-SAN) you get 40K EQMs for the round trip!

A good place to find the A fares is to go to zuji.com.au, search for first class fares by flexible dates. Find the UA fares, click on "conditions" and find the fare basis. I did this for DEN-SJO and the first UA fare was ARTSPCL for $1261.24

Sometimes I see A fares. For example there is one currently on the market for LAX-TPE. With random dates of OCT14-OCT21 it prices at $8801 on United.com.