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From an ecological point of view, this is very problematic. As far as it's value as a business idea goes, I'd say this an interesting idea.
1. Fly Southwest.
2. Board earlier than most others.
3. When someone eyeballs the adjacent seat, yell into your phone, "The ointment works much better than the lotion when the boils open!"This is really interesting from a game theory perspective. What's really going to matter is how it's executed. If someone bids $100 to keep a seat empty and the flight is empty, do they still get charged the $100? Or is it only when there's a limited number of empty seats and more people that will pay to have an empty seat next to them. One interesting way would be that each person gets charged the lowest amount of e…
What possible incentive would an airline have to do that, then?
> If someone does book the middle seat, we just trade aisle/window for the middle, so we're together, and he other person feels like he got an upgrade.
This infuriates me. My wife and I traveled cross country last month and due to a maintenance issue the previous night, our 6am flight was cancelled and we were pushed to 10am. What resulted was us trying to select seats when every row on the plane was either full or window-aisle. Had people flying together actually selected seats next to each other, it stands to reason some of those would have opened up and we may have been able to sit together.
Not a big deal for a 30-minute connecting flight, but not the best 5 hours to start a trip with.
This is really interesting from a game theory perspective. What's really going to matter is how it's executed. If someone bids $100 to keep a seat empty and the flight is empty, do they still get charged the $100? Or is it only when there's a limited number of empty seats and more people that will pay to have an empty seat next to them. One interesting way would be that each person gets charged the lowest amount of e…
For sure they will, and probably that's what they are after. Think of it like this, when you pay for an economy seat and get 2 adjacent seats for free because the plane is half empty you're basically winning the lottery since many travellers are randomly assigned. The airline will monetise on this from now on by opening up the bids.
It's very interesting also to see to what degree prices will go up since this would create some scarcity. The airline is probably happier to accommodate as few passengers as possible due to the extra passenger overhead (check-in, bags, service) though the math is quite hard considering upsales and all.
All in all, I have always been fascinated about the complex problems the airline industry is solving and this only adds more to it. Would really like to see the software implementing all this.
Doesn't go into how it works - if I bid $50 to have an empty seat next to me, and the flight ends up being fully booked, is my $50 refunded?
From an ecological point of view, this is very problematic. As far as it's value as a business idea goes, I'd say this an interesting idea.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So basically you find market economics is unsettling? If it makes you feel any better there's not a single flourishing command economy anywhere in the world right now. China, Cuba, etc. are all moving towards market systems for a reason. If history has taught us anything, it's that humans will create power gamification in all situations. The market system is the only way to harness those instincts to a somewhat great…
Yes. Markets are a means, not an ends. When markets undermine basic fairness, they are gross.
My two tips for how to keep the adjacent seat empty on normal flights: 1. If you book when there are still many empty seats, choose a window/aisle seat near the back of the plane. Those middle seats are usually the last to be filled. 2. If you're traveling in a group of 2 and there are 3 seats per section, choose the window and aisle of an empty section (preferably near the back of the plane). Chances are good that i…
This is really interesting from a game theory perspective. What's really going to matter is how it's executed. If someone bids $100 to keep a seat empty and the flight is empty, do they still get charged the $100? Or is it only when there's a limited number of empty seats and more people that will pay to have an empty seat next to them. One interesting way would be that each person gets charged the lowest amount of e…
From game theory perspective best option is bidding something like 1$ etc. (considering probably not many people will bid)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the concept of letting people with enough money get to do whatever they want is a bit unsettling.
> "Do whatever they want" People with enough money can already just buy a second seat or pay for business/first class. This actually opens up increased comfort options for those with less money.
This is also a part of the game to avoid listing high fares on affiliate travel sites but then charging more through upcharges like this in an attempt to mask overall increases to average fare prices.