LOL...I think Matthew said exactly the same thing about WN when I posted a similar message almost 2 years ago. ...but if two back-to-back tickets on WN save a few dollars, what difference does it make if the fare is based on point to point? ...I haven't worked the numbers, but the point to point fare concept at WN, for the max advance purchase choice, goes out the window at about 750-1000 miles when the fares are usually topped at $99 one way. This is where it works like a champ if needed. Back-to-back will probably not work or segments shorter than 750 miles or there abouts where point to point fare structuring is more apparent. I've used back-to-back 3 times now at WN after discovering their allowance with never a problem; saving funds for another trip. Walter DCA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Liam Tully" <lrtully@sprint.ca> To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> > As Matthew correctly pointed out, there is a BIG difference between > the practice at WN and the "Majors". The latter are NOT happy > with back to back tickets and are making significant inroads into > their elimination - TA's beware!. > > Liam. > YVR. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Matthew Montano" <mmontano@direct.ca> > To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> > Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 8:41 PM > Subject: Re: If I ran United... > > > > Most, if not all airlines try and catch back-to-back by having a clause > tha= > > t > > threatens cancellation of all outstanding segments if you book segments > tha= > > t > > you don=B9t intend to travel on. The classic definition of back-to-back > yield= > > s > > a situation where you physically can=B9t take the flights you=B9ve booked. > > > > WN may permit it, but they have clauses regarding the use of unused > segment= > > s > > that make it unappealing. WN also have pricing that differs from major=B9s > > standard pricing practice; their pricing is mostly segment based rather > tha= > > n > > round-trip discounting. > > > > Matthew=20 > > > > > > > > On 5/6/02 8:18 PM, "Addison Schonland" <addison@schonland.com> wrote: > > > > > back to back is illegal - but buy one ticke on airline 1 and another on > > > airline 2, you pick up the cheap fare and can't be caught doing anything > > > "bad".... > > >=20 > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU]On Behalf Of > > > Liam Tully > > > Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 8:09 PM > > > To: AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU > > > Subject: Re: If I ran United... > > >=20 > > >=20 > > > Mark. > > >=20 > > > My understanding is that "back to back" tickets are somewhat > "frowne= > > d" > > > upon > > > by most, if not all carrier's - is that not correct? I might suggest to > y= > > ou > > > that in the > > > event of an IROP situation, or having to make a change en-route, your > cli= > > ent > > > with > > > a B2B tkt. could find him/herself in a most uncomfortable situation. > > >=20 > > > Liam. > > > YVR. > > >=20 > > >=20 > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Mark Greenwood" <mgreenwood@telus.net> > > > To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> > > > Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 6:56 PM > > > Subject: Re: If I ran United... > > >=20 > > >=20 > > >> > We don't get a stream of random customers walking through our doors > > > because we > > >> > are not a store front agency. Yes it is more profitable to look > after= > > the > > >> > clients I already have. 80% of your business comes from 20% of your > > >> > customers. Very few of my clients travel on unrestricted tickets. > Wi= > > th > > > the > > >> > business climate the way it is, they are planning in advance or using > = > > back > > > to > > >> > back tickets. Many of them are top tier frequent flyers and are > often > > >> > upgrading from the 14 day advance purchase fare. > > >> > > > >> > Nick Laflamme wrote: > > >> > > > >>> > > At 07:37 PM 5/3/2002 -0700, Mark Greenwood wrote: > > >>>> > > >How would doing away with FC adversely affect yield? Right now > y= > > ou > > > have > > >>>> > > >someone who has paid the lowest fare possible occupying a high > yi= > > eld > > > seat. > > >>> > > > > >>> > > You're kidding, right? They people who fly the most often fly on > > >>> > > unrestricted tickets or on very short notice. They may have a 5% > > > corporate > > >>> > > discount worked out by their employer (I did when I was with > Nortel= > > ), > > > but > > >>> > > that's 5% off a very high fare, not 5% off what the cheapest fare > o= > > n the > > >>> > > plane is! > > >>> > > > > >>> > > United got my business last year on four IAD-MSP round trips > (throu= > > gh > > > ORD, > > >>> > > no less!) instead of NW because they treat me well, because I did > l= > > ots > > > of > > >>> > > Star Alliance miles in 2000. (UA and LH were by far the easiest > way= > > to > > >>> > > Hamburg when I was doing lots of IAD/HAM trips.) When I say "treat > = > > me > > >>> > > well," I mean extra leg room in Economy Plus and a less busy > check-= > > in > > >>> > > counter at most UA airports. If United decides the only perk I get > = > > for > > > my > > >>> > > consistent patronage of them is the occasional free flights, I'll > s= > > pend > > >>> > > down my current Mileage Plus balance on free tickets and then go > ba= > > ck to > > >>> > > choosing between Midwest Express (I miss Legend Airlines!) and > Sout= > > hwest > > >>> > > depending on when I'm in economy mode or more-room-please mode. > And > > > instead > > >>> > > of counting on my patronage to fill seats on twenty or fifty > flight= > > s a > > >>> > > year, UA will have to win over someone else to be their customer. > > >>> > > > > >>> > > Was I part of a niche worth being catered to when I worked for > Nort= > > el > > > and > > >>> > > travelled a lot as a consultant? United thought so. That's the > whol= > > e > > > basis > > >>> > > of the FF programs: it's easier to retain (and milk) an > established= > > FF > > > than > > >>> > > it is to compete for other airlines' frequent fliers. > > >>> > > > > >>> > > Tell me, Mark (and you other travel agents), is it more profitable > = > > to > > > take > > >>> > > care of your established customers or to try to make a profit on a > > > stream > > >>> > > of random customers walking through your doors? > > >>> > > > > >>> > > Sigh, > > >>> > > Nick > > >> > > > >=20 > >