J cheaper than Y

[kiwitripper64]

I have heard about flights that have a cheaper J ticket but this is the first time I have seen and had the opportunity to get one. AA1417 CUN -ORD had Y seats for $1100 and J seats for $500. I had the feeling it was too good to be true but AA have taken the booking.
Is this common? Anyone else had this recently? Are there routes this is more common on? And why would anyone not book the J instead of Y for half price?

 

[TomVexille]

I've booked MEL-AKL return in the past where J was $200 cheaper than Y.

For the second part of your question, most people don't ever look at J fares, and many companies have Y only policies, even if it is more expensive.

 

[Denali]

About a year ago I got SEA>SFO>LAX J with Virgin America that was either the same or just slightly over Y (I cant remember exactly).

Departure time makes a difference.

I bought ATL>BNA>ATL tickets "J" at $327pp (Y is approx $300+pp) but if I left a couple of hours earlier or later, its up to $1K pp.

 

[ButFli]

For the second part of your question, most people don't ever look at J fares, and many companies have Y only policies, even if it is more expensive.

It's always rough having to book Y when J is cheaper because that's what the rules say. I'm sure there's an alarm in the CEO's office that rings whenever J is booked on the company account.

 

[Ben170292]

I had a flight last year JFK-YYZ on TAM that was about $10 cheaper in J than Y.

 

[Gremlin]

I used to work for a company that allowed you to book J from your own pocket and they would reimburse you the cheapest Y fare on the same or similar flight. I had a few trips to NZ where I actually made money from this policy.

 

[Colster]

Last September I scored an F that was cheaper than J! Syd-LAX-BOS-DFW-SYD through AA (Qantas aircraft for long haul). It was 2k cheaper!!

 

[TomVexille]

I used to work for a company that allowed you to book J from your own pocket and they would reimburse you the cheapest Y fare on the same or similar flight. I had a few trips to NZ where I actually made money from this policy.

That sounds like a reasonable policy

 

[serfty]

That sounds like a reasonable policy

Sure ... one that requires documentation and lots ...

 

[TomVexille]

Sure ... one that requires documentation and lots ...

Surely a screenshot of the Y fare would suffice...

 

[footy99]

We got 2 tickets from Rio to New York one way in J for cheaper than the Y fare last year. Interestingly was only available on the US version of the site.

 

[CaptJCool]

This atypically happens when away team sports fans are all clamouring to get to the Big Finals game BEFORE start time

For example, last years A league final, J became cheaper than Y. It was cheaper in economy to fly SYD-BRI/OOL-ADL and it was less to fly SYD-PER-ADL than Y direct to SYD-ADL



last years Swans v Crows final had same circumstances. On that occasion it was far cheaper to book ADL-SYD-OOL than ADL-SYD. (And this route was cheaper for Business fares too)

 

[RichWings]

Yes two years ago I flew SYD AKL on Emirates in J cheaper than on JETSTAR same flight departure!

The AA First class fares domestically for multi city trips (i.e. mileage and QF status credit runs) are always extremely good value.

 

[Catweazle]

I booked GLA to BRR (Isle of Barra) once in 'premium economy' because that was half the price of a regular airfare.

Funny though, because the seats are all pretty much the same in a tiny little prop-powered Twin Otter which doesn't even have a galley for that in-flight feed. The only added perk, aside from a premium % on frequent flyer miles (I presume) was lounge access.

That said, when you're struggling to walk after overloading at the GLA Holiday Inn hot buffet breakfast, I really don't see the point of drinking and munching pretzels in the GLA FlyBe lounge :mrgreen:

 

[samh004]

It's always rough having to book Y when J is cheaper because that's what the rules say. I'm sure there's an alarm in the CEO's office that rings whenever J is booked on the company account.

Seems absurd to me that you could get in trouble for saving the company money. Regardless of our motives, of course.