Airline Rant

[kaytieeldr]

I, on the other hand, find it EASY to believe your airline-of-choice's fares will fluctuate frequently over the next nine or so months.

 

[VAN]

Just a thought ... if you do split your party up into two reservations, can they be linked so that you get the 1 checked bag free with an American Express Delta card?

Just wondering because it is the AMEX holder plus others up to 9 listed on their reservation. If you are a cc holder and each of you plan to check a bag, that would be a savings of $40 each RT.

Just another thought.

 

[Tara]

I, on the other hand, find it EASY to believe your airline-of-choice's fares will fluctuate frequently over the next nine or so months.

I totally agree.

 

[Lewisc]

If you want to make a reservations for 9 passengers and only 1 seat is available in the coach section of the plan do you think your group should get a complimentary upgrade to first class? If there are only 7 seats available on the plane should the airline overbook to accommodate your group?

The airlines make it simple. Specify the number of people in your party and they'll give you the lowest one fare available to everyone in your group. Some smart passengers know they can save money if they split up their group.

Sometimes the yield manager may release additional seats in the lower fare bucket. One strategy is to book the number of seats available in the lowest fare bucket then check again in a day or two. This is less likely if the fare you're looking at is a very low promotional fare.

You ask for other examples. Hotels have a limited number of discounted rooms available. Try to book 8 room and all 8 might not be available with a AAA discount. Rental cars are capacity controlled. Your brother who books minutes after you book might not get the same rate. This is more likely to occur if you're booking a specialty vehicle or a one way rental. Black Friday the door busters limit the quantities. Some stores have large quantities of the item ready to put out at a higher price after the quantity promised at the lower price sell out. Some stores limit the number of items you can purchase at a sale price. Purchase more items and you're technically not eligible to pay the sale price. Stores aren't looking to let customers stock up and sell on eBay.

Internet gives us knowledge. Prior to the internet passengers would call their TA or the airline. They'd indicate the number of passengers and probably would never know they could have paid a lower total price if they booked passengers individually. OK some TAs would have done that.

You could book a fully refundable fare. Everyone in your group would pay the same fare. Once we book discounted, capacity controlled fares, all bets are off.

Let's say a flight has 100 seats. The airline knows they need to make $20,000 ($200/seat) to make $$. They could do that by selling 50 seats @ $100 and 50 seats @ $300, or any other ratio. Now, they've apparently figured they can sell 2 seats at $100, say 10 more at $150, 10@200, 10 @ 250, etc, etc. My OPINION though is let a party book at the lowest price available at the time they book. That might mean the next price tier (or two) might be eliminated. I think it would even out over the number of seats.

ETA: All that being said, I think you and I can go around and around each stating the same thing. I'm not looking for sympathy (ok, maybe a little ), but I'm not as upset as maybe I sound like.

 

[verticalchaos]

You ask for other examples. Hotels have a limited number of discounted rooms available. Try to book 8 room and all 8 might not be available with a AAA discount. Rental cars are capacity controlled. Your brother who books minutes after you book might not get the same rate. This is more likely to occur if you're booking a specialty vehicle or a one way rental. Black Friday the door busters limit the quantities. Some stores have large quantities of the item ready to put out at a higher price after the quantity promised at the lower price sell out. Some stores limit the number of items you can purchase at a sale price. Purchase more items and you're technically not eligible to pay the sale price. Stores aren't looking to let customers stock up and sell on eBay.

Hotels also often have multiple rates over multiple days. For example, when my parents come up to NYC over Thanksgiving, they will be staying in a Hampton Inn Thursday-Monday nights. They have three different rates during their stay, and will be paying different rates on different nights. It's how it works.

 

[NancyIL]

PLUS, I get to select my seat, AND (I think) get a free checked bag for each ticket since I have a frequent flyer card. I really shouldn't complain.

Sorry, but you'll be paying at least $23 per person for the first checked bag each way if you pay the fee online, or $25 if you pay at the airport. Only Medallion Delta Sky Miles members, those flying in first or business class, those paying full-fare coach, or those with Gold, Platinum, or Reserve Delta Skymiles credit cards get free checked bags: http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/checked/index.jsp

 

[NancyIL]

Just a thought ... if you do split your party up into two reservations, can they be linked so that you get the 1 checked bag free with an American Express Delta card?

Just wondering because it is the AMEX holder plus others up to 9 listed on their reservation. If you are a cc holder and each of you plan to check a bag, that would be a savings of $40 each RT.

Just another thought.

Checked baggage fees have gone up. You would normally pay either $46/pp roundtrip if you check-in online, or $50/pp roundtrip if you check-in at the airport.

 

[shoes99]

Just a thought ... if you do split your party up into two reservations, can they be linked so that you get the 1 checked bag free with an American Express Delta card?

Just wondering because it is the AMEX holder plus others up to 9 listed on their reservation. If you are a cc holder and each of you plan to check a bag, that would be a savings of $40 each RT.

Just another thought.

No, if the reservation is split, only the primary cardholder gets the one free checked bag. I am the primary, DH holds the secondary card, but because we were flying on miles, only my reservation was eligible for one checked bag free. When both names are on one reservation number, we both get a one checked bag free.