No no, please, let me pay more to sit in coach (Consolidated Pricing Oddities Thread)
#91
#92
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Canada
Programs: AS, DL, UA, Hyatt, SPG
Posts: 2,575
Main Cabin fares lower than Basic Economy
I've been seeing a lot of fares recently in my markets where the Main Cabin fares are actually lower than the Basic Economy fares. No big conspiracy theory, just thought it was a bit strange of a pricing strategy. Maybe they are reducing Main Cabin fares to match competitor(s) fares in the same markets?
#93
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,297
#94
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,186
Basically, it might not be a strategy. In some respects, I don't think BE has been fully integrated into the sorts of faring restrictions which usually (for example) tie First fares to MC fares (so that if a "cheap" MC fare vanishes, it can knock out a low F fare as well). Though there's often a connection, BE and MC don't seem to have nearly as close of a tie to one another as MC/F.
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,749
In a number of cases (but not all), the cheaper main cabin fares involve a connection (with a broken fare) in one direction while the BE fares are non-stop. This is because most BE fares do not permit end-on-end fare combinations while there can be cheaper main cabin fare combinations that do allow it. When pricing these out, you need to look at both outbound and return flights to see if this the case. Simply looking at RT pricing based on outbound flights while not looking at the return options can paint an incomplete picture (as the outbound flights may be indentical, but the cheaper MC option requires a connection on the return). In other cases, the cheaper main cabin fares appear to be limited duration competitive fare filings. For example, DL matches B6 fares in some markets with main cabin fares as B6 does not yet have a BE fare offering.
#97
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,776
That's an amazing Z fare if it's really D1 suites in both directions, although I'm confused that the top of the page says one way since AFAIK Z fares tend to require RT purchase. OTOH a Z RT for about $4400 is what I would expect, nothing special, and even high around Thanksgiving.
#98
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,591
#99
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,776
Isn't PS food just a subset of the D1 offerings with different wines? AFAIK PS dinner main courses are either chicken or vegetarian pasta from the D1 menu, with no beef or fish possibility.
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,456
That's an amazing Z fare if it's really D1 suites in both directions, although I'm confused that the top of the page says one way since AFAIK Z fares tend to require RT purchase. OTOH a Z RT for about $4400 is what I would expect, nothing special, and even high around Thanksgiving.
And while I agree $4400 r/t isn't particularly great, this close to departure it is (assuming it's available on a reasonable return flight).
But I'm not really sure I see the dilemma here.
#101
#102
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: CVG
Programs: DL 3MM, AA 0.0 (US .975), Marriott Lifetime Plat, Nurburgring in 8:29
Posts: 2,266
No no, please, let me pay more to sit in coach.
I don't even know if we're allowed to fly to the EU at the moment but I was sniffing around with wishful thinking that maybe I could take a trip this fall and I noticed this.
It's not a cheap fair by any standard, but I've never seen First/One priced under the main cabin.
It's not a cheap fair by any standard, but I've never seen First/One priced under the main cabin.
#103
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,776
Did you by chance click the box for refundable/changeable fares? Also, are you searching for a OW or RT?
Also, do you have any idea whether the flight is full on this particular day? Have you looked at seat maps? Any special events?
Also, do you have any idea whether the flight is full on this particular day? Have you looked at seat maps? Any special events?
#104
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,961
#105
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: CVG
Programs: DL 3MM, AA 0.0 (US .975), Marriott Lifetime Plat, Nurburgring in 8:29
Posts: 2,266
Straight up RT returning back to CVG on Nov 13th.
I don't even know if we can travel on a US passport to the EU yet, so part of me was wondering if they were for some reason priced this way for EU citizens on their return trip.. Sort of like how we can upgrade very cheaply with cash TO the EU but not while returning home. I don't know. Struggling to figure out what the logic is here and that's the only theory I could come up with.
Personally (all things considered) I'm shocked that the prices are this high.
I don't even know if we can travel on a US passport to the EU yet, so part of me was wondering if they were for some reason priced this way for EU citizens on their return trip.. Sort of like how we can upgrade very cheaply with cash TO the EU but not while returning home. I don't know. Struggling to figure out what the logic is here and that's the only theory I could come up with.
Personally (all things considered) I'm shocked that the prices are this high.