I must be missing something

[stroh]

Pappy.Boyington.surrenders

LOL  I grew up watching that show!  Kick ass.

I'm probably more like:

[Clive]

I think you're looking at it wrong.  United isn't scrapping all fares save those with the minimum-stay requirement.  If staying 2 nights isn't in your cards, there's a higher fare you can buy from United that will suit your preferences.  I suspect they're banking on the majority of folks buying that higher-cost fare instead of extending the trip.

[gleek]

I think you're looking at it wrong.  United isn't scrapping all fares save those with the minimum-stay requirement.  If staying 2 nights isn't in your cards, there's a higher fare you can buy from United that will suit your preferences.  I suspect they're banking on the majority of folks buying that higher-cost fare instead of extending the trip.

IOW, why does United hate Korprit 'Merka?

[Clive]

Because they hate bankruptcy more?

[gleek]

Because they hate bankruptcy more?

I have no problem with their strategy. I'm just reiterating my first point that their motivation was to force more business travellers to purchase full fare tickets in order to increase revenue originally lost by business travellers buying up the economy fares intended for leisure travellers.

[Fuzzy]

I think you're looking at it wrong.  United isn't scrapping all fares save those with the minimum-stay requirement.  If staying 2 nights isn't in your cards, there's a higher fare you can buy from United that will suit your preferences.  I suspect they're banking on the majority of folks buying that higher-cost fare instead of extending the trip.

I guess my point was to just raise fares then and don't play games with minimum stays (and paying for checked luggage).

But at least they can still advertise a $400 fare that really is $800 once you dig into it.

[gleek]

I think you're looking at it wrong.  United isn't scrapping all fares save those with the minimum-stay requirement.  If staying 2 nights isn't in your cards, there's a higher fare you can buy from United that will suit your preferences.  I suspect they're banking on the majority of folks buying that higher-cost fare instead of extending the trip.

I guess my point was to just raise fares then and don't play games with minimum stays (and paying for checked luggage).

But at least they can still advertise a $400 fare that really is $800 once you dig into it.

They need to advertise the $400 fares to fill the empty seats when they need to, but they don't want the people who can afford to pay $800 (i.e. business customers) to take up all the $400 fares, leaving the leisure traveler to choose between paying 800 bones and staying home. Leisure travelers theoretically should have more flexibility in scheduling their travel.

[Fuzzy]

I think you're looking at it wrong.  United isn't scrapping all fares save those with the minimum-stay requirement.  If staying 2 nights isn't in your cards, there's a higher fare you can buy from United that will suit your preferences.  I suspect they're banking on the majority of folks buying that higher-cost fare instead of extending the trip.

I guess my point was to just raise fares then and don't play games with minimum stays (and paying for checked luggage).

But at least they can still advertise a $400 fare that really is $800 once you dig into it.

They need to advertise the $400 fares to fill the empty seats when they need to, but they don't want the people who can afford to pay $800 (i.e. business customers) to take up all the $400 fares, leaving the leisure traveler to choose between paying 800 bones and staying home. Leisure travelers theoretically should have more flexibility in scheduling their travel.

You missed my point, it's not $400. It's $400 plus fees and taxes plus $ for checked luggage plus $ for 'oh, you want to come home tomorrow instead of Thursday' equals $800.

There are no such thing as "business fares" and "leisure fares". Just fares. When I traveled a lot for business anybody could buy the ticket at the price given by the airline. They didn't ask if it was for business or leisure. And we booked through travel agents and by ourselves.

And business travelers have always paid the freight for the airlines. They usually do not have the luxury of booking weeks and months ahead like vacationers. This typically means they were paying higher prices anyway.

I would almost guarantee airlines would trade repeat business travelers for once a year leisure travelers all the time.

[gleek]

I think you're looking at it wrong.  United isn't scrapping all fares save those with the minimum-stay requirement.  If staying 2 nights isn't in your cards, there's a higher fare you can buy from United that will suit your preferences.  I suspect they're banking on the majority of folks buying that higher-cost fare instead of extending the trip.

I guess my point was to just raise fares then and don't play games with minimum stays (and paying for checked luggage).

But at least they can still advertise a $400 fare that really is $800 once you dig into it.

They need to advertise the $400 fares to fill the empty seats when they need to, but they don't want the people who can afford to pay $800 (i.e. business customers) to take up all the $400 fares, leaving the leisure traveler to choose between paying 800 bones and staying home. Leisure travelers theoretically should have more flexibility in scheduling their travel.

You missed my point, it's not $400. It's $400 plus fees and taxes plus $ for checked luggage plus $ for 'oh, you want to come home tomorrow instead of Thursday' equals $800.

There are no such thing as "business fares" and "leisure fares". Just fares. When I traveled a lot for business anybody could buy the ticket at the price given by the airline. They didn't ask if it was for business or leisure. And we booked through travel agents and by ourselves.

And business travelers have always paid the freight for the airlines. They usually do not have the luxury of booking weeks and months ahead like vacationers. This typically means they were paying higher prices anyway.

I would almost guarantee airlines would trade repeat business travelers for once a year leisure travelers all the time.

I know they're not called "business fares" and "leisure fares", but placing the minimum stay/weekend restrictions on these so-called "economy" fares makes these tickets unattractive to business travelers who need more flexibility. These become fares for leisure travelers by default.

I remember when I had to travel occasionally for business about 15 years ago, the cheap-ass company I worked for would pay the extra per diem and hotel stay to have us stay Saturday night if the difference between economy and full-fare coach tickets warranted this. Of course, since we were salaried, they didn't give a *feces* how many days we were away from home. So, admittedly, sometimes the minimum stay restriction doesn't necessarily work as planned, but I understand the motivation.

[Clive]

Did United state that they were not filling the gap with anything?  If two-day flight was $400 and proper-stayover was/is $400, perhaps they're just bumping two-day to $550 or so.  Same-day stays unchanged $800, in the example.

[Fuzzy]

stuff.......

I know they're not called "business fares" and "leisure fares", but placing the minimum stay/weekend restrictions on these so-called "economy" fares makes these tickets unattractive to business travelers who need more flexibility. These become fares for leisure travelers by default.

I remember when I had to travel occasionally for business about 15 years ago, the cheap-ass company I worked for would pay the extra per diem and hotel stay to have us stay Saturday night if the difference between economy and full-fare coach tickets warranted this. Of course, since we were salaried, they didn't give a *feces* how many days we were away from home. So, admittedly, sometimes the minimum stay restriction doesn't necessarily work as planned, but I understand the motivation.

We must have worked for the same company. I remember for a while having to do Saturday stays. 

[Fuzzy]

Did United state that they were not filling the gap with anything?  If two-day flight was $400 and proper-stayover was/is $400, perhaps they're just bumping two-day to $550 or so.  Same-day stays unchanged $800, in the example.

Good point. I don't know.