Confused about flight prices..

[sherbet]

I was getting ready to book a flight today with Continental for $284 and when i went back 2 hours later it was $332. This is what i dont understand, there are 5 of us and it comes up $332 each but when i just put one person, it comes up $284 !! What does that mean? when i look at the plane seats the plane is empty !!

 

[ancestry]

This is normal for many airlines. What happens is that they only allocate X number of seats at a certain price. After X number of seats are sold the price goes up to the next highest level. Apparently your five seats is over the X number of seats that are allocated at the lower price.

What you can do is make two reservations. Try entering the number of people one at a time -- i.e. try for 1, then 2, then 3, to determine at which point the price goes up. If you can book three people at $284 then do than and then book the other 2 at the $332. If you are traveling with children make sure to put at least one adult on each reservation though just in case.

 

[sherbet]

Its really weird, i can book 4 tickets at that price and one ticket at that price, but not all together? So they must have 5 seats at that price.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Are you ACTUALLY booking, as in have you purchased four tickets and one ticket? Or are you 'testing' - checking the price for four tickets then checking the price for one ticket, either by changing the number of passengers or in a new browser window?

If the latter, there are apparently four tickets at the lower price. Once those four tickets are purchased - by you or by one or more other passengers - the ticket price will go up to the next tier.

 

[sherbet]

Thank you, i just realised i was testing instead of booking !! Too early in the morning for me and the first thing i wake up to is Disneyworld

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Its really weird, i can book 4 tickets at that price and one ticket at that price, but not all together? So they must have 5 seats at that price.

You're quoting, not purchasing. The system will quote prices all day long, but until the tickets are actually booked the tickets are still available.

Many people have had the prices go up as they are going through the purchase process, because again, the ticket is still "for sale" up until the payment is made for it.

 

[dburg30]

And what will really get your undies in a bunch, is probably the time we've been discussing it, when you go and check you'll only be able to do 3 at the lower price