Will somebody please explain how airfare rates can so drastically change overnight?

[BeachBaby]

On Wednesday night, I priced flights from Minneapolis to Philly - and I found several for $218.00. Yesterday afternoon, I go to the website again, and the same flight is now $440.00.

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

Now....someone had told me before, that flights change back and forth....so does this mean that the rates will drop again? Not only do I not understand the rate scale, but I don't understand how this is legal.

FYI - I've been to CheapTickets, CheapFlights, Expedia, Orbitz, Hotwire and SideStep.

[malta blue]

1. the closer the departure date, the pricier the ticket....

Plus, there are usually a certain number of seats released for a certain price, and then it goes up. That's why you will see "1 ticket left at this price" etc.

:hug:

Sorry gorgeous!

[HopeHoops]

2. And at every airline within seconds!

They claim they don't participate in price fixing, but that's always been bullshit.

[av8rdave]

3. That's the result of "yield management" software

It tracks demand for flights (based on bookings) constantly, as well as factors in competitive considerations (do any competitors operate the exact route at similar times? If so, what are they charging?). Prices are automatically adjusted based on the circumstances. If a flight is selling tickets at a certain rate or greater, or if it passes a predetermined percentage of seats booked, the price goes up.

Technology plus deregulation makes life interesting for airline customers.

[Wapsie B]

4. I had tickets for one trip put on hold for a day before I made my purchase.

Just for the heck of it when I sat down the next day to buy those tickets I did another search; same flights, same connections everything. I ended up saving $80 in the process. Curiosity don't always kill the feline it seems.

[Kali]

5. yes they will go down immediatly after you purchase yours

and on your flight the person next to you will have gotten theirs for half what you paid.

[Parche]

6. airlines are so stupid

They price by market share, and by advance purchase

when they should be pricing by yield

21day advance is the least expensive, usually a sat night stay, sometimes not
14day
7day
3day

and it depends on how full the flight is, once those lower yield seats go
the price goes higher

and it depends on which airline also

southwest has the best pricing, as they only have up to 5fares on a certain flight
compared with the other ones, who have a million fares it seems like

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

where are you going, i will direct you to the best airline