Jace

I'm trying to fly ORD-DFW 9/7 4PM-6PM, return 9/8 DFW-ORD 7PM-9PM

AA 67 ORD 09/07/2004 05:30 PM arrive DFW 07:52 PM
AA 2372 DFW 09/08/2004 07:00 PM arrive ORD 09:16 PM
$556.20

UA 771 ORD 09/07/2004 04:50 PM arrive DFW 07:14 PM
UA 984 DFW 09/08/2004 07:25 PM arrive ORD 09:44 PM
$168.19

First of all the fare differences are just plain nuts, I'll never understand the pricing structures.

I called the EXP desk and they told me that they are only matching UAL's fare out of MDW... is there someone you can speak to during normal hours that will accept my $200 or am I destined to make my first couple of legs on UAL this year?

JonNYC

The latter.

mwhitted

Hopefully I can help a little. Think about buying soda. I prefer Coke, some like Pepsi. If I want the best deal on Coke, I'm going to buy a 2-liter bottle at a discount grocery store. Or even better, 2 2-liter bottles at Sam's/Costco. If I by a six-pack, even at the same store, I'll pay more per ounce. If I buy a single can from the machine out front, still more. And if I have to buy from the vending machine at the hotel, holy crap! And the prices for Pepsi at each of these outlets are going to be about the same as Coke. Now, if I go to Sam's to buy a couple of 2-liter bottles of Coke and they have sold out, I have a couple of choices. I can go to one of the other outlets and pay more for Coke. This would be like paying more for your seat on AA because the cheaper inventory is sold out. Or I can buy 2 2-liter bottles of Pepsi from Sam's. This would be flying UA because they have the cheaper seats available. Now this may be because they stocked more in the first place, or it may be because more people preferred AA's Coke over UA's Pepsi. And AA may even restock "Sam's" before your flight leaves. But if you want to ensure you have a seat, you have a decision to make.

(If you like that one, I've got one about buying candy at the theater vs. Wal-Mart. )

Hope that helps.

JonNYC

As long as you don't hit us with "if the airlines sold paint..." we'll all get along just fine.
Actually, IMHO, your soda example is pretty good in this case.

mwhitted

Thank you, thank you.

FlyAO2

Enjoy your flight on United....

mwhitted

It must be the lack of a Sat. night stay. These flights are EMPTY.

zachary

There was a thread about price matching a month or two ago. I think the bottom line is that travel agents may have a way to get a price match, but the agents on the phone certainly cannot.

JerryFF

I just put that AA itinerary into our agency computer and it fares out at $178.20. Maybe it just took AA a few hours to load in the new fare to match UA.

Try booking it again. If you can't get it, send me a PM.

JonNYC

Or, just book it on Travelocity.com-- $183.20

Skyman65

Just priced at $188.20 for me on AA.com.

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