FlyerTalk Evangelist
They continue to do it. They (and I can't get anyone to tell me who is responsible for e-fares) post e-fares for the upcoming weekend that have no availability whatsoever and never had any availability.
Looking for a break this weekend after a difficult month, I tried first SNA-JFK. Advertised as $307, no availability on Saturday, the only day of departure. But trying a standard flight search by schedule, several flights are labeled "Last minute web fare". However, clicking on them pulls up fares of $600+. Even the united.bomb "support" person had the same thing happen, but couldn't suggest anything but "clearing the cookies" (their answer to every situation).
Giving up there, I try SNA-LAS. Understand this is a 4 hour drive, about 45 minutes by air. E-fare page shows again no availability ever. Regular flight search shows lots of flights labeled "Last minute web fare", suggesting the $105 advertised price is available. Nope. Selecting those flights actually gets fares up to $1100! America West first class is only about $800. Again, tech support, such as it is, gave me the phone shrug and said they would look into it and get back to me. Anyone want to bet on that happening?
It seems this happens regularly. They post fares that are not and never were available, then it seems try to sell you a higher priced fare. United doesn't seem the least bit interested in dealing with this. Is there any legal basis for filing a complaint with the state attorney general? Consumer fraud? If someone at UA would just answer straight up how and why this happens, or why it really isn't as it seems, I'd really like to hear it. But it seems to be a marketing strategy to post fares that don't exist in the hope of reeling in customers.
Looking for a break this weekend after a difficult month, I tried first SNA-JFK. Advertised as $307, no availability on Saturday, the only day of departure. But trying a standard flight search by schedule, several flights are labeled "Last minute web fare". However, clicking on them pulls up fares of $600+. Even the united.bomb "support" person had the same thing happen, but couldn't suggest anything but "clearing the cookies" (their answer to every situation).
Giving up there, I try SNA-LAS. Understand this is a 4 hour drive, about 45 minutes by air. E-fare page shows again no availability ever. Regular flight search shows lots of flights labeled "Last minute web fare", suggesting the $105 advertised price is available. Nope. Selecting those flights actually gets fares up to $1100! America West first class is only about $800. Again, tech support, such as it is, gave me the phone shrug and said they would look into it and get back to me. Anyone want to bet on that happening?
It seems this happens regularly. They post fares that are not and never were available, then it seems try to sell you a higher priced fare. United doesn't seem the least bit interested in dealing with this. Is there any legal basis for filing a complaint with the state attorney general? Consumer fraud? If someone at UA would just answer straight up how and why this happens, or why it really isn't as it seems, I'd really like to hear it. But it seems to be a marketing strategy to post fares that don't exist in the hope of reeling in customers.