An increase in discount AA F (YUP/KUP) fares?

[gibbo8]

Has anyone noticed a fairly hefty increase in discount F AA fares. I have been working on a few flight options over the past month and went back yesterday to check some new routings and noticed at least 50% in the cost of fares. Even checking some previous itineraries (about a week old) and the price had doubled in some cases. After checking dates further forward, the same increase seems to apply.

I wonder if anyone else has noticed a change to the pricing structure of some of the cheaper status run options from USA to destinations in central america?

 

[Nizar]

Has anyone noticed a fairly hefty increase in discount F AA fares. I have been working on a few flight options over the past month and went back yesterday to check some new routings and noticed at least 50% in the cost of fares. Even checking some previous itineraries (about a week old) and the price had doubled in some cases. After checking dates further forward, the same increase seems to apply.

I wonder if anyone else has noticed a change to the pricing structure of some of the cheaper status run options from USA to destinations in central america?

BOS-SJU return still $656 for 360 SCs @ $1.82 per SC.
Not the best value that exists but doable in a single day. Just checked and its the same price now as it was last month.

 

[gbetox]

Has anyone noticed a fairly hefty increase in discount F AA fares. I have been working on a few flight options over the past month and went back yesterday to check some new routings and noticed at least 50% in the cost of fares. Even checking some previous itineraries (about a week old) and the price had doubled in some cases. After checking dates further forward, the same increase seems to apply.

I wonder if anyone else has noticed a change to the pricing structure of some of the cheaper status run options from USA to destinations in central america?

IAD/DFW/LAX/SLC increased from ~$530 to $907.

 

[Danger]

The thread title is ambiguous. Can we change it to ". . . fare cost?"

 

[drewbles]

Fares fluctuate, and YUPP/KUPP fares are no different.

Fares out of BOS are not typically great value anyway. There are far better runs if you're doing it just for the SC's.

Likewise, IAD/DFW/LAX/SLC is not a very optimised routing. It all depends where and when of course

I can still find good value ones, but as always, the best value are not bookable online, only via a travel agent (purely to maximise fare routing rules that are tricky or near impossible to get online sites to do).

 

[will2rob]

Has anyone noticed a fairly hefty increase in discount F AA fares. I have been working on a few flight options over the past month and went back yesterday to check some new routings and noticed at least 50% in the cost of fares. Even checking some previous itineraries (about a week old) and the price had doubled in some cases. After checking dates further forward, the same increase seems to apply.

I wonder if anyone else has noticed a change to the pricing structure of some of the cheaper status run options from USA to destinations in central america?

Playing around with the AA booking engine last week showed that a 1260SC run I had identified has increased from USD $1795 to USD $3128.91 overnight irrespective of when you plan to travel and whether you tick "with restrictions" or "full fare". It has since gone down a little to USD $2428.28 in the window of March-May 2014.

One thing to check when you're selecting options is to make sure that in the section "select carrier" you select the first option: AA, American Eagle and AmericanConnection. Selecting either AA, American Eagle, AmericanConnection and oneworld or All Carriers increases the price considerably.

 

[gibbo8]

Sorry for the ambiguous title. Happy for a change.

 

[gibbo8]

Yes I have exactly the same experience. Fares that were US $1000-1500 are now $2100-$3000. Drewbles, I may have to consider a travel agent when booking next time, but it would be nice to do some research first (with potential costings) before attempting to book a multi-stop itinerary.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Not at status run but I just checked a straightforward P fare I'm planning to book for Dec and it hasn't increased at all in price.
FWIW I find the AA multicity booking engine notoriously unreliable. I can search and price an 8 segment run easily one day and the next cannot get the booking engine to spit out anything remotely comparable.

 

[amaroo]

Are YUP/KUP fares - known as "instant upgrade" on AA website?

About to book my first (of a few) AA flight in 16 years......a little lost!

Not doing a status run.

 

[JessicaTam]

Fares fluctuate, and YUPP/KUPP fares are no different.

Fares out of BOS are not typically great value anyway. There are far better runs if you're doing it just for the SC's.

Likewise, IAD/DFW/LAX/SLC is not a very optimised routing. It all depends where and when of course

I can still find good value ones, but as always, the best value are not bookable online, only via a travel agent (purely to maximise fare routing rules that are tricky or near impossible to get online sites to do).

If you can't book them online, are you able to research them online? Or do you have a very friendly TA to help out?

 

[serfty]

If you can't book them online, are you able to research them online? Or do you have a very friendly TA to help out?

I believe a very understanding TA.

Those offered online rarely get close to what can be achieve for the same/similar cost via a knowledgeable TA.

It really a case of knowing yon routing rules.

e.g. For a USD435 oneway LAX-SJU they are:Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Fare Routing Search:
Departing LAS on 02/06/14 for SJU
Fare basis code MCE5UPZ1
Flying AA
Routing code 606

    V FARE BASIS     BK    FARE   TRAVEL-TICKET AP  MINMAX  RTG
  1   MCE5UPZ1       I X   403.00     ----     14/1  -/  -  606
PASSENGER TYPE-ADT                 AUTO PRICE-YES              
FROM-LAS TO-SJU    CXR-AA    TVL-02JUN14  RULE-VP02 VPDR/867
FARE BASIS-MCE5UPZ1          SPECIAL FARE  DIS-E   VENDOR-ATP
FARE TYPE-END      OW-ECONOMY NON-DISCOUNTABLE
USD   403.00  0606  E25JUL13 D-INFINITY   FC-MCE5UPZ1  FN-     
SYSTEM DATES - CREATED 25JUL13/1531  EXPIRES INFINITY
 
PUBLISHED RTG LAS-SJU/AA606 /TAR-VPDRG   EF-25JUL13 DIS-INDEF
 
 1. LAS-CHI-BDL/BOS/BWI/PHL/WAS-SJU
 2. LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-FLL-MIA-SJU
 3. LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-FLL/MIA/TPA-ORL-SJU
 4. LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-MIA-FLL-SJU
 5. LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-ORL-FLL/MIA/TPA-SJU
 6. LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-FLL-MIA-SJU
 7. LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-FLL/MIA/TPA-ORL-SJU
 8. LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-MIA-FLL-SJU
 9. LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-ORL-FLL/MIA/TPA-SJU
10. LAS-LAX-LAS-CHI-BDL/BOS/BWI/PHL/WAS-SJU
11. LAS-LAX-LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-FLL-MIA-SJU
12. LAS-LAX-LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-FLL/MIA/TPA-ORL-SJU
13. LAS-LAX-LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-MIA-FLL-SJU
14. LAS-LAX-LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-ORL-FLL/MIA/TPA-SJU
15. LAS-LAX-LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-FLL-MIA-SJU
16. LAS-LAX-LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-FLL/MIA/TPA-ORL-SJU
17. LAS-LAX-LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-MIA-FLL-SJU
18. LAS-LAX-LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-ORL-FLL/MIA/TPA-SJU
.

so the following routing would be conceivably valid if you can find the flights with valid connection times and booking class:

LAS-LAX-ORD-LGA-MIA-MCO-SJU

In practice it may be difficult.

 

[madrooster]

LAS-LAX-ORD-LGA-MIA-MCO-SJU

In practice it may be difficult.

Good luck finding a MCO-SJU flight!

 

[MelUser]

I am just in the middle (ie at ORD Flagship lounge) of LAX-ORD-KFK-BDA-JFK-BOS-LAX on my way to BDA. ALL in A and I.

One thing worries me - AA is jumping up and down with excitement about their new A319s.

The only problem for us on here is that they will only have 8 F seats.

So whilst the aircraft they are replacing (MD80) has 16, a reduction to 8 F seats will reduce P/A etc cheapish fares.

 

[madrooster]

So whilst the aircraft they are replacing (MD80) has 16, a reduction to 8 F seats will reduce P/A etc cheapish fares.

At the same time we need to keep in mind that a lot of these F seats are being filled by EXP upgrades a lot of the time on non-premium-heavy routes. These are the routes the A319's are intended to run on (initially at least).

 

[serfty]

At the same time we need to keep in mind that a lot of these F seats are being filled by EXP upgrades a lot of the time on non-premium-heavy routes. These are the routes the A319's are intended to run on (initially at least).

I think the A/P purchasers will get first dibs over the X class upgraders.

Still, with less seats, it's becomes a more 'exclusive' product likely commensurate higher fares likely.

 

[CaviAck]

10. LAS-LAX-LAS-CHI-BDL/BOS/BWI/PHL/WAS-SJU
11. LAS-LAX-LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-FLL-MIA-SJU
12. LAS-LAX-LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-FLL/MIA/TPA-ORL-SJU
13. LAS-LAX-LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-MIA-FLL-SJU
14. LAS-LAX-LAS-CHI-EWR/MSY/NYC/RDU/STL-ORL-FLL/MIA/TPA-SJU
15. LAS-LAX-LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-FLL-MIA-SJU
16. LAS-LAX-LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-FLL/MIA/TPA-ORL-SJU
17. LAS-LAX-LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-MIA-FLL-SJU
18. LAS-LAX-LAS-DFW-MSY/RDU/STL-ORL-FLL/MIA/TPA-SJU
.
[/CODE]so the following routing would be conceivably valid if you can find the flights with valid connection times and booking class:

LAS-LAX-ORD-LGA-MIA-MCO-SJU

In practice it may be difficult.

Switch MCO and MIA around and that should be a valid routing (if you can get flights...)

But with the quoted routings above am I reading something wrong to think that you can go from LAS to LAX and then back to LAS before going onwards to SJU?!

 

[serfty]

Switch MCO and MIA around and that should be a valid routing (if you can get flights...)

But with the quoted routings above am I reading something wrong to think that you can go from LAS to LAX and then back to LAS before going onwards to SJU?!

It would indicate so but does not seem to be possible in practice. Note that in the routings, any -xx_- is optional, so -LAS- can be omitted.

 

[CaviAck]

It would indicate so but does not seem to be possible in practice. Note that in the routings, any -xx_- is optional, so -LAS- can be omitted.

On a quick look scheduling doesn't seem a problem to do the quick LAS-LAX-LAS before onward journey to SJU, however what's the time frame limit to complete the entire journey? First flight out of LAS doubling back into LAS and last flight into SJU may just be possible for a 7 segment journey! Otherwise a 6 segment journey should be able to be found with a TA and occasionally online.

 

[kempvet]

I haven't searched for a few days, but believe that are still good value fares ex LAS via the east coast to SJU and STT for about 820 dollars for 720 SCs as long as you book ahead a few weeks.