Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 20, 1990 TAG: 9003202563
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DEBORAH EVANS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
USAir spokesman David Shipley said last week that the problem occurred when a recent fare reduction was inadvertently omitted from the fare-quote computer, leaving Roanoke flights costing more than those originating in Greensboro. He said the problem had been fixed.
But on Saturday, James Gauldin of Rockbridge County was told that Roanoke passengers were being charged $42 more for a Houston flight than those flying out of Greensboro.
A USAir ticket agent said a two-week advance ticket for a round-trip flight from Roanoke to Houston would cost $322; the same trip would cost $280 out of Greensboro, Gauldin said.
The ticket agent, whom Gauldin called on the airline's toll-free line Saturday, did not know Roanoke and Greensboro fares should have been the same, he said.
After talking with Gauldin on Monday, a reporter called USAir to check fares to St. Louis. A ticket agent said the round-trip flight from Roanoke would cost $556; the same trip from Greensboro would cost $524.
Shipley said Monday that he did not know there were still fare discrepancies. "Let me look into it and see that our people know about it so we can get it corrected," he said.
Last week Shipley said the problem had been corrected. He commented in response to a complaint about the different fares that appeared in the Letters section of the Roanoke Times & World-News editorial page.
A premerger agreement by Piedmont Airlines to maintain fare parity between Roanoke and Greensboro is being honored by USAir, Shipley has said.
by CNB