UA Greed IAD-PVD
Mar 26, 2009, 10:06 am
#31
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: DC
Programs: DL gold; UA - 1k; AA gold; Marriott Platinum; Hyatt Diamond; SPG gold; Groupon Falcon;
Posts: 747
Mar 26, 2009, 10:16 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,392
True, and that is even more reason why this is ridiculous! Have you ever flown Mesa out of IAD? If the OP books this itin, I've got $5 that says this flight will post some sort of delay.
Mar 26, 2009, 10:32 am
#33
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Assuming your numbers are right then the lower price probably would be better. However this higher fares are last minute fares and not the average. So how many additional passageners would lower last minute fares generate? What is the basis of your 2 versus 10 example? That is the question and the issue behind yield pricing.
Mar 26, 2009, 11:17 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,613
You'll be pleased to know that if you were a college student or faculty, you could pay UA $258 for IAD-PVD on those dates via studentuniverse.com - and if that doesn't tell you what's going on with this kind of pricing, nothing will. Customers who can demonstrate that they would never pay $900 for this (ie students and professors, or those who can make plans 10 days in advance, or who bid on Priceline) don't get charged $900. Those who can't demonstrate it, do. Price discrimination working well. (No sarcasm intended.)
If this isn't a business trip, use miles.
If this isn't a business trip, use miles.
Mar 26, 2009, 11:29 am
#35
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Oakland
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,109
...but, your other options for that day -that don't involve 8 hours in transit and an airport change from LGA to JFK- don't involve flying into PVD and on that route, UA is pretty competitive on those alternative routes..
It just seems a little odd to jump ship over this single outlier price instead of just adjusting... Right now, the average price in April of a single night IAD-PVD is $356 ($276, if you toss out the top two and bottom two). If you exclude UA from your future flights to PVD from IDA, the average price in April for a single night is $343 ($283, if you exclude the top two and bottom two as above) and require at least an extra 3 hours and 40 minutes and in transit per round trip.
Economically, I don't think that's a good deal. Isn't it possible that this is a little bit of an overreaction?
It just seems a little odd to jump ship over this single outlier price instead of just adjusting... Right now, the average price in April of a single night IAD-PVD is $356 ($276, if you toss out the top two and bottom two). If you exclude UA from your future flights to PVD from IDA, the average price in April for a single night is $343 ($283, if you exclude the top two and bottom two as above) and require at least an extra 3 hours and 40 minutes and in transit per round trip.
Economically, I don't think that's a good deal. Isn't it possible that this is a little bit of an overreaction?
Mar 26, 2009, 11:49 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
Not sure what your schedule is like, but if you have the time, why not MR it.
I priced on your dates:
IAD-LAX-IAD-PVD
PVD-PHL-DFW-LAX-JFK-IAD
for $591.
That's just an example, but if you have the time, why not use the system to your advantage?
I priced on your dates:
IAD-LAX-IAD-PVD
PVD-PHL-DFW-LAX-JFK-IAD
for $591.
That's just an example, but if you have the time, why not use the system to your advantage?
Mar 26, 2009, 11:51 am
#37
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,392
That's awesome! I was gonna suggest something utilizing PVD-PHX (at $150 all in) but didn't want to put in the work to see if it was available.
Mar 26, 2009, 1:11 pm
#38
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AS MVP, HH Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 1,848
PVD-WAS is about the only route where I don't fly UA. I've never done it. The pricing has never made sense. Lots of connections in IAD, but if I need to go to WAS, it's WN to BWI (<$200) or US to Reagan (which is priced like UA, but puts you in the city).
That said, the PVD-IAD flights are almost always full (though I've been grounded for the last six months, unrelated to the economy), so it may be that UA wants to price that segment to put people on connecting flights that net them a higher yield (given their contract with the regionals).
That said, the PVD-IAD flights are almost always full (though I've been grounded for the last six months, unrelated to the economy), so it may be that UA wants to price that segment to put people on connecting flights that net them a higher yield (given their contract with the regionals).
Mar 27, 2009, 3:55 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
And anyone could. IAD and PVD aren't slot restricted. The domestic airline industry was deregulated fully thirty years ago. Get an operating certificate (buying a liquidating carrier seems the easiest way), satisfy rules for ownership, and set up Hermann's Airlines to fly anywhere you wish within the U.S.A.
So much for the Free Market mantra
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Mar 27, 2009, 7:50 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,123
I want to fly IAD-PVD on 4/1 and return 4/2. Cheapest UA fare is $917.20. This is unbelievable. I checked SeatCounter and the flights are wide open. This is what makes me hate UA. I had been a 1K for a number of years. But finally got fed up last fall with UA being a pig to the northeast from IAD. Hopefully, SW will start flying this route and I'll never have to fly UA again. 
A) You have run into the Glenn Tilton Express, what happens when you use inefficient regional jets with fewer seats. The cost/mile is higher, so you have to charge more to make a profit. They sell some seats at lower costs, but have to sell some seats at very high costs to try and eake out a profit on the flight.
B) Yay, United is trying to make a profit. I'm with others that say airlines are not in the charity business, they charge what they need to charge to make a profit. They are not the oil companies making billions/qtr, they haven't made money in years, so I don't think they are overcharging and gouging for a product. They have been giving it away for years unfortunately.
C) I am all for reregulation. At least then airlines were profitable, employees happy, and airlines gave a good, equal level of service. I loved flying back in regulated times, it was a nice time to fly.
D) Why get on and complain about an airfare? I just went around looking for fares yesterday. My normal airline Delta was higher than a different carrier, so I decided to pay the higher fare to stay with Delta and my status. But I didn't get on the Delta board and whine about it, it was my choice. I could have bought a ticket on someone else, but I would have come back to Delta on some other flight, not say I'm leaving in a huff. I just find that as a big overreaction really. But hey, it's your money and choice. Good luck with whoever you go with.