V-Flyer

Been watching the "Upgrade this Sector" prices to lift myself from EC to PE on a booked Thanksgiving trip back to UK. I bought the outbound sector upgrade for a sweet $150, but the return (LHR to NYC) seems to yo-yo about wildly. First it was $250, then it was $725 then it dropped back to $225 two days ago, and today its back to $705.

Does anyone have an idea what is going on with the up/down pricing? I'm kind of finding it amusing more than anything!

A similar thing is happening with my booking too. First it was £280 Economy to PE, then £548, then £260.

It's weird isn't it?!

I wonder whether there's some form of algorithm in play that reacts to people expressing an interest over a certain period; all businesses will try and modify their pricing in the face of changing demand. I remember a couple of years ago trying to buy some 1st Class tickets to Edinburgh on Trainline.com and, being a bit of a ditherer, didn't take the price there and then. Each time I looked again during the day, the price rose. I don't believe that there was mad dash for buying tickets on the day I wanted to travel.

I also wonder that, where there is limited availability, if the upgrade price is affected by quotes on the website? I know that if someone keeps checking multiple times for the same route/date etc it can temporarily affect fare code availability.

(nothing more than a guess!)

Cal346 wrote:I also wonder that, where there is limited availability, if the upgrade price is affected by quotes on the website? I know that if someone keeps checking multiple times for the same route/date etc it can temporarily affect fare code availability.

(nothing more than a guess!)

That happens with ordinary fares too. People doing dummy bookings to check prices / availabilty can distort the inventory and thus the prices - especially if the dummy booking takes possible sales over the number in the lower price bucket. The next person to look will then be shown a higher price.

The VS systen allows 20 minutes 'hold' withing the booking process.

I think that over the last week the sale fares ended and were then reinstated/extended. This would have had an effect as the K prices would have changed. Coupled with the fact that availability obviously changes as seats are sold/held and RevMgmt may release/move fares between buckets, and buckets become unavailable the closer you get to take-off.

It's a real moving target.

and today... its back to $226!

we need a site like Farecast, just dedicated to tracking VS price roller coaster!

...and when I try to buy it, its 'no longer available'.

Go back to my booking, offered it again at $226, try to purchase it again: 'no longer available'

Go back to my booking and now its gone. UC only for $3200 one way.

Log out. Log back in, back to 'Your Future Flights' upgrade to PE offer re-appears at $226, and once again when you immediately try to buy it, it's 'no longer available'.

Give up.

Same on HKG rewards, they always appear on page 1 but whenever you try to go on to purchase you get an error page.

narikin wrote:...and when I try to buy it, its 'no longer available'.

Go back to my booking, offered it again at $226, try to purchase it again: 'no longer available'

Go back to my booking and now its gone. UC only for $3200 one way.

Log out. Log back in, back to 'Your Future Flights' upgrade to PE offer re-appears at $226, and once again when you immediately try to buy it, it's 'no longer available'.

Give up.

Thats happened to me a few times, and I just gave FC a call and got the offer rate

narikin wrote:...and when I try to buy it, its 'no longer available'.

Go back to my booking, offered it again at $226, try to purchase it again: 'no longer available'

Go back to my booking and now its gone. UC only for $3200 one way.

Log out. Log back in, back to 'Your Future Flights' upgrade to PE offer re-appears at $226, and once again when you immediately try to buy it, it's 'no longer available'.

Give up.

I've also experienced that! Print screen then a call to FC should do the trick (v frustrating!)

$226 seems reasonable! Well....when compared to $3k for J

narikin wrote:...and when I try to buy it, its 'no longer available'.

Go back to my booking, offered it again at $226, try to purchase it again: 'no longer available'

Go back to my booking and now its gone. UC only for $3200 one way.

Log out. Log back in, back to 'Your Future Flights' upgrade to PE offer re-appears at $226, and once again when you immediately try to buy it, it's 'no longer available'.

Give up.

I had this a few weeks ago... I called up VS and spoken to a very nice lady there and she said that this should not be happening and she could not get the fare on her system but she saw the price as I stated. so she spoke to the powers to be and done a manual upgrade for the price stated on the web site y) y) y) y)

Just did the same. complete waste of time on the website.

I was only dithering because, you know, sometimes you're better off in EC than PE on an empty flight. a whole row of seats with the armrest up is a very nice thing to have! Still. All done now.
If only UC had been $250 extra!

narikin wrote:Just did the same. complete waste of time on the website.

I was only dithering because, you know, sometimes you're better off in EC than PE on an empty flight. a whole row of seats with the armrest up is a very nice thing to have! Still. All done now.
If only UC had been $250 extra!

Same, same here - always consider EC over PE if the flight is empty or light. UC @ £250 - never gonna happen, except maybe at the gate!

saverton wrote:

narikin wrote:Just did the same. complete waste of time on the website.

I was only dithering because, you know, sometimes you're better off in EC than PE on an empty flight. a whole row of seats with the armrest up is a very nice thing to have! Still. All done now.
If only UC had been $250 extra!

Same, same here - always consider EC over PE if the flight is empty or light. UC @ £250 - never gonna happen, except maybe at the gate!

£250 wont happen had £369 for BOS>LHR just couldn't afford it so settled for just over £120 for PE y) y) y)