Bizarre DRW pricing (and availability)

[penegal]

I am looking at seats from MEL to DRW in what would be the old Flexi Saver fare buckets (e.g. K & M classes being preferred from memory with Y, B & H being the higher ones).

MEL-ADL on QF 671 shows J8 C8 D8 I4 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 G0
ADL-DRW on QF 754 shows J0 C0 D0 I0 Y9 B0 H9 K9 M9 L0 G0

MEL-ADL-DRW on the same flights shows J0 C0 D0 I0 Y9 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 G0 for both sectors (therefore some-kind of "lowest common denominator").

The question is why is one segment B0 when they are willing to sell much cheaper M class seats? Or is this total phantom availability? The B0 seems to have doubled the price on this particular combination on this day (e.g. to Full Y in the Y fare bucket), yet I can see M fares on both segments.


Given I am HLO, one option would be to purchase two tickets and check in for both via web/mobile? Assuming it all works, I should be fine?
NB - For those worried about connections, these two flights are operated by the same air-frame and tech crew, but with a cabin crew change in ADL.

Has anyone seen this before? Or is it some kind of cheeky discriminatory pricing against connections?

 

[penegal]

I don't want to screen dump our corporate booking tool as the fares are negotiated (and somewhat confidential), but the same effect and magnitude of fare difference for Flexi Economy can be seen on the QF.com public website.










In this example $309 + $605 = $910

Booking directly as a connection is $1474 for exactly the same segments (This is the full Y fare). Usually it should be slightly less as it should pick up the MEL-DRW fare with 1 connection allowed.

 

[penegal]

My hypothesis is that the B0 causes the system to ignore anything "below" that bucket (e.g. the rest of the available Y segments), even though there are seats in M on both flights.

However my knowledge of GDS systems and ticket construction isn't as good as some here.

Any tips or insight will be appreciated.

 

[Steady]

I just booked a ticket DPO-DRW for tomorrow into flex and the return was over 2K.

I don't know if it is relevant, old news or even correct but I was told today that J* are removing some of there ADL-DRW redeyes

 

[penegal]

I just booked a ticket DPO-DRW for tomorrow into flex and the return was over 2K.

I don't know if it is relevant, old news or even correct but I was told today that J* are removing some of there ADL-DRW redeyes

Let's grab a drink in DRW - Where are you staying?

 

[RichardMEL]

I doubt it's the B0, but could be (nobody likes bad B0 )

remember often city pair pricing and Yield Management(YM) is not just a simple mix of the 2 underlying operational sectors, but the way the airline is deciding to price out that particular combination. It could well be that fares offered in the market only exist for certain fare classes and/or YM wishes to limit on that date to Y sales (ouch) - YM may also be working to try to force other options to DRW (eg: to JQ perhaps, or another connection).

I don't have time now to look, but that 1400 fare may not be Y, but it could even be M, K or H.

It could also just be some sort of a glitch or that EF is showing inaccurate results (it's been known to happen)

 

[penegal]

Quite possibly RichardMEL - Another friend PMed me to suggest it was a case of "married segment" availability which is one of Yield Management's favourite tools.

A good TA could probably wade through / around the mud, but I have just purchased two separate tickets, "Saving" the company (and client) $564 in the above example, but then costing a little more in fees. On the negotiated fares the saving is a bit less, but still a substantial number.

 

[bam71]

Qantas revved up its Yield Management/ Married Flights back in Feb.

http://www.qantas.com/agents/dyn/qf/policies/Revenuemanagement.pdf

 

[penegal]

Interesting reading bam71 - The things you learn.

I can see why they might do that, but $1400 one way is getting towards unpalatable territory for this client, so I dare say QF would prefer some revenue rather than me canning the whole trip.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

A good TA could probably wade through / around the mud, but I have just purchased two separate tickets, "Saving" the company (and client) $564 in the above example, but then costing a little more in fees. On the negotiated fares the saving is a bit less, but still a substantial number.

Qantas revved up its Yield Management/ Married Flights back in Feb.

http://www.qantas.com/agents/dyn/qf/policies/Revenuemanagement.pdf

Well, it looks like the cost of your cheaper fare is that you are getting married (or at least your flight segments are).

 

[penegal]

Well, it looks like the cost of your cheaper fare is that you are getting married (or at least your flight segments are).

Again?

Or aren't getting married?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Qantas revved up its Yield Management/ Married Flights back in Feb.

http://www.qantas.com/agents/dyn/qf/policies/Revenuemanagement.pdf

Does this change mean some of the QF SC runs will disappear. I'm thinking of things like SYD-MEL-LST $79 for example?*

*and yes, I realise these are by no means as good as runs available overseas.

 

[RichardMEL]

Cranky just came out with an article on how US airlines are closing these things down too which may be of interest to some:

American, Delta, and United Have Tweaked Their Multi-City Pricing Problem and It’s Now Even More Confusing | The Cranky Flier

 

[snabbu]

Qantas revved up its Yield Management/ Married Flights back in Feb.

http://www.qantas.com/agents/dyn/qf/policies/Revenuemanagement.pdf

Thanks for that link bam71, interesting reading.

 

[Awesom Andy]

http://www.qantas.com/agents/dyn/qf/policies/Revenuemanagement.pdf

21. Can Married Flights be 'divorced'... No. Once connecting flights are Married they are unable to be 'divorced' from each other.

I lol'ed at this one.

 

[penegal]

For those playing at home... 2 separate bookings worked fine. Checked in for both on mobile - 2 BPs. Seamless ~45 mins in ADL (approx 25 mins in QP). Priority Boarding worked, and same operational aircraft, same gate, etc.

I guess I would warn amateurs that there is some risk with this (45 mins between separate bookings, essentially "unprotected"). But given I knew that it was the same air-frame that risk is substantially minimised IMHO.

 

[CaptJCool]

Well that does explain why the dog-leg trips jumped suddenly in pricing.

In effect, you are now paying for A circuitous distance travelled instead of point-to-point UNLESS the airline deigns it necessary to offer fares like the $74 SYD-MEL-LST or for that matter any fares connecting to Tasmania...... Where it would be unreasonable to charge more

is Bass Strait swimmable these days? Damn where is the Magic School Bus when you need it..)

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Does this change mean some of the QF SC runs will disappear. I'm thinking of things like SYD-MEL-LST $79 for example?*

*and yes, I realise these are by no means as good as runs available overseas.

That's not going to change considering qf dont fly the route direct.

 

[CaptJCool]

Jester JQ does.. SO YES surely it does have an impact ?