Fare Code Puzzle
 

Ok, I often get tickets online, either through our travel agency, or, just myself on UAL, or elsewhere. At any rate, after I buy the tickets, I'd like to determine what farecode I've bought, so I'm able to determine as to how many miles it would cost to upgrade. I'm looked at the reciept available on UAL.com website, but can't quite seem to find what fare. In the example below, I'm sure it's one of those that will cost 10,000, but, for future reference I'd like to know how to determine post-purchase. Thanks!

[I Edited it for various for sensitive info]

Fare Details: FP VIxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx EXPxxxx/ 20576 FC 14JAN SEAUA X/IAD UA BUF 96.45 UA X/IAD UA SEA 96.45 USD192.90 END ZPSEAIADBUFIAD XT 12.00ZP 16.50XFSEA4.5IAD4.5BUF3IAD4.5
Baggage Allowance - 2PC
Penalty: N/ASEE C*CVA Name of my company here TICKET NON REFUNDABLE

For some reason, the fare basis is not on the receipt line you gave.

20576 - I believe that's the credit card authorization for the transaction.

SEA-IAD-BUF-IAD-SEA at $96.45 each way.

Hmm...That's all I got to work with, other than the PNR, which I was pretty sure is failry close to random. Although, if you book a whole bunch of travel very quickly at once, you can kinda see in incrementally going up..But, that's a different topic all-together. The only other info that UAL.com reciept has is the ticket number 016... my MP number, name and how much I paid.

Which service are you using? "My itineraries" and "My active itineraries" are separate; sometimes one will work when the other will not.

http://www.ual.com/site/primary/0,10017,3771,00.html

You could also stop by a United ticketing location and get a hardcopy receipt.

The data you included in your post is missing all the fare info.
Call your premier desk on the phone, they can tell you quickly.

I'm using "All United Itineraries" (the left hand side one). But, still can't find the code in the electronic reciept. I did call and ask, and it is W (which I suppose is so-so), but, the point of this, is to determine if it is actually possible to determine the fare code within the e-reciept without calling them every time. The quest shall continue...

Here's one without a corporate discount:
Fare Details: FP AX3xxxxxxxxxx1000 EXP0202/ 215255 FC 10FEB SFO UA LAS R79.07VO141NX UA SFO R50.24WOE7ANQ4 END ZPSFOLAS XT 6.00ZP 7.50XFSFO4.5LAS3

As you can see, the first segement is a V and the second is a W. If you have a corporate discount, your display can and will vary. My corporate bookings don't even display currently so I can't provide one for example purposes.

Somewhat off topic - I haven't flown through SFO in more than a year. Just realized from the fare data above that SFO has gone from a $0 PFC to $4.50. Thanks for the info.

The fare code is often nested somewhere or plainly hidden. I had plenty of surprises in over 3 years of 1K.
I posted a question elsewhere about SWU when you buy at Orbitz. Clearly that is one example where you can get a CHEAP transatlantic ticket that is a junk fare code like S or so and it will not be upgraded. Same for consolidator's ticket. No info is disclosed by Orbitz about the fare code. Certainly not when you shop or try to copmare fares.

Intrepid,

You stated "No info is disclosed by Orbitz about the fare code." I think you will be pleased to know that the fare basis is readily available on Orbitz prior to purchase of ticket. After you select your flights and get past the log in screen, the next page has a link to the "Fare Rules" at the bottom of the page.

Doug