[sansoucci]

On 8/12/13 went to united.com to book a rountrip flight from Bermuda to Newark, NJ, the fare was $423. Sometimes the fare can be as low as $281, but I went to book, because the flight is in about 10 days. I then immediately entered my one pass number and pin to book, the flight then goes to $443. So I then log out and the price is back to $423! I then re-enter my one pass and pin to try booking again and the price again is $443. This time the price stays at $443. All this over 2 minute period. Teed off the airline is trying to gauge an extra $20, I call the 1-800 number. They tell me there is no way the price can go back to $423, that best they can do is hold the $443 price (by the way, the price 5 minutes later goes up to $548!). Assure you no one was booking a trip for the days I was planning to travel within this short time period. Really sucks the airlines have a monopoly and gauge loyal customers. I was told next time don't enter your one pass number, just book the flight because the "system" thinks I'm taking the seat, when in fact I have not processed anything. Shame on United and the airline industry.

[The_Judge]

Prices change by the minute, literally. Buy the ticket when you see the price you want. Have a nice day.

[sansoucci]

Agree there is a supply/demand issue. However, merely taking 20 sec to log into my one pass account to purchase the ticket should not cost me $20 extra, I never exited out of the original screen. After the fare went up $20, I logged back out and the price went back to the original $423 price. But then logging back into my one pass account, again, the fare went up to $443 and remained there. No one else was buying a ticket in the world for that flight at that time. Yet then the price sky rocketed to $548, all in a matter of minutes to further gauge the customer when there was no increase in demand for the ticket.

The ticket price should not go up just because I'm trying to enter my one pass number in, no one else was buying a ticket, they've rigged the system unfairly.

[The_Judge]

I read your original post, no need to repost the exact same story. I stand by my post that prices change by the minute, so indeed, you are incorrect when saying, "Yet then the price sky rocketed to $548, all in a matter of minutes to further gauge the customer when there was no increase in demand for the ticket."

[sansoucci]

Realize prices change, but it is unethical for them to change during the the transaction process judge? I don't think you read or understand the post. Realize if I left the transaction (exited out) and came back even a minute later it could be another story. So your telling me that I can get a price quote of say $420 on 8/12/13 at 10am, and during the ticket process at the completion of booking and paying for the ticket at 10:02am, the price can just change to $440, or $540, as it did in my case? I never exited out of the transaction and was processing the transaction in a reasonable amount of time.

[The_Judge]

Yes, that's what I'm telling you. Have a nice day.

[sansoucci]

Great, every business should adopt the same model-

that cup of coffee that was $2 when you came into the store, guess what, it's now $3 upon check-out time at the cashier...

[jimworcs]

You are right... How is it not switch and bait? Any other industry would have the book thrown at them, but somehow airlines are exempt.

[stonecold_1981]

Could it be possible that the prices shown while selecting a file do not include Taxes? In other words, you were shown $423 (without taxes) and when you are ready to book, the site shows you $443 (with taxes).

[dominiko_m]

Originally Posted by stonecold_1981

Could it be possible that the prices shown while selecting a file do not include Taxes? In other words, you were shown $423 (without taxes) and when you are ready to book, the site shows you $443 (with taxes).

I asked once their customer service and that was exactly what they said - taxes make the difference. A reasonable question is why it's not mentioned, or maybe we simply don't notice it.