Stupid Pricing

Do you think that 25+25=3? Then you have the math skills United Airlines is looking for in a product pricing specialist. Apply today! Seriously, what are those folks thinking? I needed to fly from San Diego to San Francisco at the last minute, and colleagues of mine were on a UA flight, so I went to the UA web site and looked for the flight. It came back with $626.40 for a non-refundable, non-stop coach class ticket and $214.40 for a refundable first class ticket. That's right, $412 more money to fly coach than first class. Mind you, this was a flight that was less than half full. I actually talked to a UA web support person and asked about it. At first she said that 1st class was not less expensive, but I had her take a look. This was a few weeks ago, so I checked again today and it is still the same. Of course, Alaska Airlines has first class for a couple of dollars less than United, coach for about $450 less than United and if you have a problem with Alaska you don't have to wait on the phone listening to the same song for 6 hours like you do when you call India for help with a problem with United airlines.

Go figure.