Does UA really want me to fly Southwest?
Apr 6, 2007, 7:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 617
Does UA really want me to fly Southwest?
Ever since the demise of FlyI, the money-grubbers at UA having been inflating the fares IAD-BDL and IAD-PVD. Need to travel 6/14 to BDL. Over 60 days out and the cheapest fare is $769! 
I can fly to LAX, SFO or nearly anyplace on the west coast cheaper than that. I can't justify passing that cost along to my employer when I can have a car service take me to/from BWI and fly Southwest for less than half the UA price. If Jet Blue ever decides to fly BDL or PVD from IAD, UA - You're Fired! This is nothing more than just basic greed on UAs part.
I can fly to LAX, SFO or nearly anyplace on the west coast cheaper than that. I can't justify passing that cost along to my employer when I can have a car service take me to/from BWI and fly Southwest for less than half the UA price. If Jet Blue ever decides to fly BDL or PVD from IAD, UA - You're Fired! This is nothing more than just basic greed on UAs part.
Apr 6, 2007, 8:05 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
When is your return?
I just pulled up an overnight IAD-BDL fare for $138 roundtrip, leaving the 14th, returning the 15th. The one way fare is $384. I take it you are going and coming the same day?
I just pulled up an overnight IAD-BDL fare for $138 roundtrip, leaving the 14th, returning the 15th. The one way fare is $384. I take it you are going and coming the same day?
Apr 6, 2007, 8:24 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: nowadays, BOS
Posts: 89
Something is strange here, I average BOS <-> IAD for business about twice a month, a couple of my business associates fly PVD <-> IAD regularly. It's usually not hard to get fares out of BOS for under $200, or from PVD under $250 during the week.
There's a good chance it will only take 1 attempt at a weekday afternoon drive up from NoVA to BWI to make you to never want to even consider doing it again.
There's a good chance it will only take 1 attempt at a weekday afternoon drive up from NoVA to BWI to make you to never want to even consider doing it again.
Apr 6, 2007, 8:37 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 617
Something is strange here, I average BOS <-> IAD for business about twice a month, a couple of my business associates fly PVD <-> IAD regularly. It's usually not hard to get fares out of BOS for under $200, or from PVD under $250 during the week.
There's a good chance it will only take 1 attempt at a weekday afternoon drive up from NoVA to BWI to make you to never want to even consider doing it again.
There's a good chance it will only take 1 attempt at a weekday afternoon drive up from NoVA to BWI to make you to never want to even consider doing it again.
Apr 6, 2007, 11:26 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: United 1P, AA Plat, US Gold, SPG Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 830
But then it comes back to bite UA in the rear when a low-cost competitor moves in and people stick it to them by jumping ship. With a devalued mileage program and mediocre service, UA doesn't have much to offer on those short hauls. I guess they're taking the money while they can.
Apr 7, 2007, 1:29 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
It's hard to build brand loyalty when most of your customers know you will take them for all you can at your first opportunity. WN understands that. So do AS, B6, F9 and, to at least some extent (the transcon market) so does CO. Each of those carriers have figured out exactly how much they can charge in a no competition market without making their previously loyal customers think they are doing business with an arrogant monopoly. UA doesn't understand how to do that.
Then again, it's 2007 and UA still doesn't understand how to run a website.
Then again, it's 2007 and UA still doesn't understand how to run a website.
Apr 7, 2007, 1:51 am
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
It's hard to build brand loyalty when most of your customers know you will take them for all you can at your first opportunity. WN understands that. So do AS, B6, F9 and, to at least some extent (the transcon market) so does CO. Each of those carriers have figured out exactly how much they can charge in a no competition market without making their previously loyal customers think they are doing business with an arrogant monopoly. UA doesn't understand how to do that.
Then again, it's 2007 and UA still doesn't understand how to run a website.
Then again, it's 2007 and UA still doesn't understand how to run a website.
I do agree that UA seems to be way out of the ballpark, fare-wise, at times. It takes a certain amount of creativity for me to make it practical. Fortunately, I can easily choose between SFO or SJC outbound, and most of my destinations (aside from CDG & MSN) are served by multiple airports as well... a bit of juggling will usually give a decent fare.
Apr 7, 2007, 2:02 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
Yeah, but WN's walkup is $240.80 RT on BWI-PVD. That's three times less than what UA wants on the similar IAD-PVD. It's almost like UA is inviting WN competition.
Apr 7, 2007, 3:39 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Apr 7, 2007, 5:30 am
#12
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,257
Ever since the demise of FlyI, the money-grubbers at UA having been inflating the fares IAD-BDL and IAD-PVD. Need to travel 6/14 to BDL. Over 60 days out and the cheapest fare is $769! I can fly to LAX, SFO or nearly anyplace on the west coast cheaper than that. I can't justify passing that cost along to my employer when I can have a car service take me to/from BWI and fly Southwest for less than half the UA price. If Jet Blue ever decides to fly BDL or PVD from IAD, UA - You're Fired! This is nothing more than just basic greed on UAs part.
I can fly to LAX, SFO or nearly anyplace on the west coast cheaper than that. I can't justify passing that cost along to my employer when I can have a car service take me to/from BWI and fly Southwest for less than half the UA price. If Jet Blue ever decides to fly BDL or PVD from IAD, UA - You're Fired! This is nothing more than just basic greed on UAs part.
I just priced IAD-BDL-IAD at $129 RT on UA with a one-night stayover. I've seen it at $99 RT within the past month.
Apr 7, 2007, 10:22 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
Even if it is only three people a day, that's nearly 1,000 people a year that United is telling "we don't care about brand loyalty; give us the opportunity and we'll take you for every cent you've got." And this isn't the only route UA does this on.
Apr 7, 2007, 10:31 am
#14
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
On the other hand, based upon UAs complete cluelessness in terms of marketing flights that would be of interest to me (based upon past patterns), maybe not?
Apr 7, 2007, 12:06 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
My guess, and it's only a guess, is that UA has financial modeling routines and profiles, created for maximizing profit, that are just a tad bit more sophisticated (and accurate) than sampling opinion on FT.
On the other hand, based upon UAs complete cluelessness in terms of marketing flights that would be of interest to me (based upon past patterns), maybe not?
On the other hand, based upon UAs complete cluelessness in terms of marketing flights that would be of interest to me (based upon past patterns), maybe not?