fastair

You are right on the marginal cost is impossible to figure, but it MUST be far less than that. That includes all of the fixed costs...the property, the debt, the equipment. The addl labor is minimal...the flight attndts and pilots are scheduled based on capacity and equipment, so no extra cost there. The labor for ramp/CS...well, there could be a tiny cost there added. The cost of catering and fuel...well there is a cost there, but relative to the total cost, it can't be that much. The only true incremental cost to UA is the distribution cost, which is pretty much on a per ticket/reservation basis.

There is a displacement cost, but that exists more on full flights, where the lower inventory buckets aren't available, and if you are buying only lower fare inventory, the relative displacement risk should be low.

For an airline to truly price BELOW their marginal cost would be anticompetitive, and there are serious repercussions if that could be proven in a competitive market.

LAX

Theoretically, some of the few things OP can do that would cost UA without giving it a dime includes:

1. Accessing non-RCC *A lounges via UA status while flying *A carriers that do not share revenue with UA (assuming UA will reimburse that lounge visit)

2. Booking awards on *A carriers using UA miles (assuming UA will reimburse that ticket)

3. Accessing RCCs & consuming whatever amenities available via UA status while flying *A carriers that do not share revenue with UA

I am sure there are more creative ways that I can't think of right now. Feel free to correct the above list and/or add to it.

LAX

gengar

Indeed. I had this problem earlier this year during irrops on an A fare in DEN of all places. Perhaps it's long overdue that we start bugging UnitedPR about this.

HunterSFO

I really think that it is unfair that so many people are basically telling OP that he got what he deserved b/c he booked an itin with a lot of connections. I think he has EVERY RIGHT to expect UA to have a better attitude and follow their own policies when attempting to accomodate the IRROPS!

Don't get me wrong - I DO think it's warranted that OP should manage his expectations that there is the possibility of IRROPS happening and causing him to miss his boat. But I think he should also be able to expect that UA honor his A fare by either providing compensation or else re-booking him in F cabin when finding alternative transport. They also should have at least tried to move his bags for him off the original flight! Both of these expectations are perfectly reasonable whether booking an itin with lots of connections or not!

If it's an ITIN that OP "shouldn't have booked" then I'd say it's REALLY an itin that UA "shouldn't have sold" so it's still their responsibility.

vandalby

Well, technically when you purchase any ticket, whether at a profit or loss to UA, you're providing them with revenue.

TA

Above, I asked if it was a mileage run -- if so, it was more trouble than it was worth. But if it was a regular ticket (as OP later says), then it is UA's responsibility to take care of him/her in a reasonable manner after offering such a routing. And that includes the A fare / F class seating.

I am surprised that it was even offered as a valid itinerary. Aside from the fiasco of the A/F misunderstanding by agents, it is something to watch out for, and I would try to avoid such extra stop itineraries in the future myself.

us2

At least the OP was a bit more restrained than the poster on this (now closed) thread over on the US board: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...ancer-die.html

The problem in trying to be a "cost center" is that the marginal cost of carrying an extra passenger is very low. Even a $150 one-way fare overseas probably covers marginal cost and then some. Even when you buy a very cheap ticket, you're contributing revenue that would otherwise not be collected if the seat would otherwise go empty, according to the theory at least.

SFOtoORD

I know how an A fare works. The OPs original rambling was hard to follow and I missed that part. Definitely a bummer for the OP. At the same time, trying to be a cost center to UA is arguably the dumbest idea I've seen on this board. Just take your money elsewhere. That is the best revenge.

gaobest

Considering that OP wanted/needed to be in MIA for Labor Day Weekend diving, I'm really stunned that OP didn't just take a nonstop on AA. I'd prefer spending the time diving or hanging out in MIA than being on UA metal!

I seriously thought this SNA>SFO>IAD>MIA routing was a MR gone wrong! Can't believe that an elite would need to get somewhere on a holiday weekend and would rely on UA with connections through SFO and IAD, regardless if an F or A or S/T fare.

Even an F fare could result with Y routing for the missed SFO/IAD.

As for the luggage, I can believe that the agents "knew" where the luggage was on the MX plane, but couldn't/wouldn't help OP get it.

Next time fly nonstop when time is of the essence! No bonus RDM/EQM is worth this hassle

hobo13

I misread the thread title and thought the OP wanted to be a CALL center for UA.....

then again, maybe there isn't that much difference between a call center and a cost center.

UAAAPeter

Well, without wishing to sound like a smart-a, perhaps I am risk averse, but if I had the money for the A fare I would have also sent the diving gear ahead on that special UA ship-ahead for bags thing that I will never use for sure. I see that this H-UP fare is $1384 +++ whereas there is an L fare in this market for $198+++. I have to thank our friend for keeping UA going is my initial thought, as I would have been sitting next to him in the L fare. Equally fuming by the way, but on the phone to the 1K desk with AA alternatives in mind.

This H-UP is really coach with an automatic upgrade isn't it? Mind you $1384 is more than I have ever paid to go to Europe and I have done that more times than I care to think. So I'd be more than a little upset in his position.

On the other hand you take a double connection, and you pretty much know that one of those flights is going to be a problem.

So I don't know what to say. I always tell the agent that I love things going wrong as it always works out better than the original plan. While this is not quite true it generally is - like non stops on competitors, more miles, a nice night in a pleasant hotel instead of with the inlaws - you name it. And the agent is so happy that you are nice unlike the 150 who are going to follow you that she/he'll do anything. And of course they can do anything, and I find most often they do.

Good luck. You'll be back my friend. The others are even worse. Try getting support out of AA when things go wrong is all I can say. UA are a dream. Of course AA has never gone bankrupt. Same goes for BA and Singapore and all those foreign carriers that are truly vicious when stuff goes wrong. Air Asia is THE worst - but what do you expect for $25. I know. Been there done that. And I always come back to our buddies at UA, like I know you will. We're hooked! It's a disease. And it is incurable.

WineCountryUA

Put your flack jacket on -- some of the other FTers may react strongly to this ...

H-UP is a H fare that books into A -- it is a discounted first class, not a coach + auto upgrade. A very distinctly different set of circumstances.

JBLUA320

I guess some things you could do. Complain, get SkyKits, use them for cash. Take as many bumps as possible and use the cash certs, then repeat bump cycle on school vacations.

yogi

Techinically speaking, HUAUP is an "Economy Restricted" fare, with a booking code of "A". Fares that don't initially book into the the first letter of the fare basis code are unusual on the marketing carrier's own metal, (not as unusual once code shares are involved), but this is one of them.

"A" happens to be in the first class cabin on most UA flights.

If you still don't believe me, look it up on Expertflyer, it is an ATPO "E" fare, not an "F" fare.


All that being said, the CS reps need get their act together and treat their best customers better.....even if they try to make a time sensitive trip on a holiday weekend with multiple connections and CHECKED LUGGAGE.

ryan182

clearly you've never seen a dive bag or the gear associated with diving, but not checking a bag isn't an option. I also find it interesting that apparently I should always expect at least a 50% failure rate on UA since apparently having more than 1 stop should indicate automatic failure.