A passenger writes that he wants to know the booking class before he books because in some booking classes he earns only 50% of the miles flown and in other booking classes 100%. So far, he booked on sites of airlines, but recently he tried to do it at Expedia. When he looked for the booking class, however, he could not find it. He uses appropriate language by asking who would want to book a black box. Each airline has many booking classes – indicated by letters - each with their own fare rules that vary across airlines. For example, in one booking class you cannot change your flight, in another you can change for a fee, and in yet another booking class you

Leisure travelers may not care, but frequent flyers do consider the miles they will earn. At some airlines you earn even less than 50%. At Air France/KLM, for example, you earn only 25% of the miles if you buy a reasonably priced ticket.

Most airlines show the booking class before you book. Expedia, however, does not do so until you have booked.
When we contacted Expedia, they appear to blame the airlines: “We cannot determine the booking class until you have booked the flight, as the airline maintains the prices and availabilities of the flights that we offer online. We are bound to the rules and restrictions of the airlines.”

Going to any other travel office - such as Orbitz or Travelocity - does not help. They do not show the booking class either. If you want to know the booking class before you book, you can visit the airline’s web site.

Related articles: “Where should I book my ticket?”  and “Airline loyalty costs you money”

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