What's wrong with United?

[Lthouseprincess]

The airfare for MSP to MCO RT is $114, this sounds really good, but it makes you wonder why it is so cheap? Are they in trouble or a bad airline, going out of business????

[DaveKr]

Well, I've heard that their mechanics are on the verge of striking... (thank God Delta's pilots settled!)

never heard of an airline reducing fares during an impending strike...

Dave

[Beverly Lynn]

where have you been? they are buying out Usairways! hardly in jeopardy of going out of business. its called an airfare sale!

[kimmar067]

In your post you mentioned United buying out US Airways. I just got a GREAT price for R/T in Nov out
of Newark on the internet (YAHOO!Travel). Do you
think I should look elsewhere? If I purchase, do you
think United will honor my tickets.....?

kimmar067

[TravelSheryl]

United will definitely honor your tickets. Don't worry.

[classicpooh]

UAL's flight attendants may have work stoppages this summer... kind of like what the pilots did last summer:mad:

[kimmar067]

Nothing worse than buying something that is NOT
transferable and NOT refundable and your DH gets
all "bent out of shape"!

(I am trying to surprise my DH and 3 DS with a
"mini" vacation in Nov and I don't want to lose
my money if a buyout takes place. I have already
booked S/D for $99/nite. With the $179 R/T air
and $99 room rate, it sounds too good to be true!)

[travelcoupons]

This sale is an example of airlines sending messages to each other.

Normally what happens is airline A will have low bookings at airline B's hub city so they will offer a few seats at a ridiculously low price on a few routes. Then airline B will counter by doing the same back in the hub city of airline A.


I think this one started by Continental offering
RT between Orlando and
Chicago (United's hub) for $108 RT

United (hub cities : Chicago and Denver) then
offered this sale $ 114 RT between Orlando and...
Minneapolis (Northwest's hub)
Cleveland (Continental's hub)
Dallas (American's hub)
Pittsburgh (US Airways' hub)

Continental then offered RT $114 between Orlando and
Denver (United's hub)

United then lowered Dallas - Orlando to $104 RT.


The airlines usually do this for very short periods of time (usually just a few hours) as to prolong it would cost them to much in revenue $$.

It's another reason to keep checking daily if you are looking for a low fare on an upcoming trip.