Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

indiehackers.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

181–190 of 244 posts

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#181

Post by s0rce »

OkGoDoIt wrote: post #168
chrisballinger wrote: post #64

Something I've noticed that's lacking from most aggregators like Kayak and SkyScanner (my current fave), is the ability to increase the price of the ultra-budget carriers by adding their carry-on baggage fees and whatnot. I don't care about checked bag fees, but some of the carry-on fees are ridiculous ($60 per overhead item?). These budget carriers are cheating the system by looking like the cheapest option, when in…

I 100% percent agree with you. But on a practical note, some advice for those traveling on these budget airlines: if you pack your carry-on in a backpack rather than a suitcase, every budget airline in Europe and the US that I have flown on will not give you a hard time about it. I personally use a very large backpack that holds at least as much as a carry-on suitcase, yet the fact that it is in backpack form means t…

This is also the best plan if you want to use the Basic Economy level on United and possibly other carriers. They will charge you for a conventional roll-a-board carry on suitcase.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#182

Post by joelrunyon »

izacus wrote: post #179
joelrunyon wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well in that case, by signing up for the giveaway, you're consenting to "giving" your email address to ALL of those companies that are sponsoring it. So in that case, you should have a nice little talk with yourself about whether the trip you want to win is worth 5 new services having your email address. Either way, the person making that call is YOU, not SCF (or any of the other companies participating).

Can you show me exact notification on the website where he consented to sharing the email address? And you REALLY believe that using a search on a site suddenly is enough for your private data to be just given to any shady exploitative company on the planet? You really want to live in a world where you're badgered constantly and without pause by ads, scammers and phishers just because you want to use the internet?

Yes,

Here's a version that's hosted on ProductHunt - https://giveaway.producthunt.com/landing?promo_id=83848bb5-f...

Specifically, you might be interested in this text right before the big "enter" button:

> By entering this campaign I agree and consent to recieve emails, communications and promotions from Product Hunt Inc., theSkimm (a daily email newsletter to stay in the know), Scott's Cheap Flights, Journy, The Wirecutter and Conde Nast Traveler.

You can hate the promotion, but you're certainly not required to join it. And, it's certainly not the same thing as Scott selling addresses of people already on his mailing list.

As for this:

> And you REALLY believe that using a search on a site suddenly is enough for your private data to be just given to any shady exploitative company on the planet?

Using your words, can you show me the exact phrasing where that is happening anywhere in this example?

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#183

Post by s0rce »

downandout wrote: post #117
chrisballinger wrote: post #64

Something I've noticed that's lacking from most aggregators like Kayak and SkyScanner (my current fave), is the ability to increase the price of the ultra-budget carriers by adding their carry-on baggage fees and whatnot. I don't care about checked bag fees, but some of the carry-on fees are ridiculous ($60 per overhead item?). These budget carriers are cheating the system by looking like the cheapest option, when in…

Add-on fees have gotten out of control, both in the hotel and airline space. There is a race to the bottom for having the lowest price to show on booking sites. This is a form of SEO for airlines and hotels. I am not familiar with any airlines that charge for carry-ons, but for example I know that many hotels in downtown Las Vegas have mandatory "resort fees" that on many nights actually exceed the nightly rate shown…

This is just like used books and various items on ebay coming up for 1cent with $15 shipping charges.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#184

Post by s0rce »

ghostly_s wrote: post #153
joelrunyon wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spirit airlines. Also many airlines are rolling out "basic economy fares" that don't include food/drink/carry-on and compete with low-cost carriers, but run on normal flights. What used to be "normal economy" now requires an "upgrade" or "add-on" - ugh.

Flew United recently and just after boarding they made an announcement asking if anyone had purchased one of these "basic economy" fares, presumably so they could exclude them from the twelve cents worth of pretzel+soda service. What a ridiculous and insulting system (not to mention poorly-managed!).

Another ridiculous thing about United Basic economy that doesn't seem like it would save them money is that you can't check in online early you have to do it at the airport...

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#185

Post by njarboe »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #165
OkGoDoIt wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

United is piloting a new program called "Basic Economy" for flights to Chicago and probably other cities, which effectively turns them into Spirit or Frontier Airlines. It's incredibly crappy. My guess is within a couple years all airlines will be doing this. https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/bas...

Hopefully Southwest never goes this route. They are my favorite carrier.

I like them a lot also. Full credit on cancellations up to 10 minutes before take-off, two bags checked free, and no hubs (point to point, non-stop is the way to fly). At least they are unlikely to be bought by another airline at his point. With a market cap of $37.6 billion, they are the second biggest airline world wide and just under Delta's $39.4 billion.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#186

Post by dragonwriter »

OkGoDoIt wrote: post #168
chrisballinger wrote: post #64

Something I've noticed that's lacking from most aggregators like Kayak and SkyScanner (my current fave), is the ability to increase the price of the ultra-budget carriers by adding their carry-on baggage fees and whatnot. I don't care about checked bag fees, but some of the carry-on fees are ridiculous ($60 per overhead item?). These budget carriers are cheating the system by looking like the cheapest option, when in…

I 100% percent agree with you. But on a practical note, some advice for those traveling on these budget airlines: if you pack your carry-on in a backpack rather than a suitcase, every budget airline in Europe and the US that I have flown on will not give you a hard time about it. I personally use a very large backpack that holds at least as much as a carry-on suitcase, yet the fact that it is in backpack form means t…

> I personally use a very large backpack that holds at least as much as a carry-on suitcase, yet the fact that it is in backpack form means they count it as my personal item and don't give me a hard time.

Interesting; they always officially state that the “personal item” must fit under the seat in front of you, which clearly a large backpack won't. No airline's ever enforced it that I've noticed, but then I've never flown Basic Economy (and haven't flown since it was a thing.)

I wouldn't rely heavily, though, on that laxity not changing without notice.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#187

Post by FTA »

OkGoDoIt wrote: post #168
chrisballinger wrote: post #64

Something I've noticed that's lacking from most aggregators like Kayak and SkyScanner (my current fave), is the ability to increase the price of the ultra-budget carriers by adding their carry-on baggage fees and whatnot. I don't care about checked bag fees, but some of the carry-on fees are ridiculous ($60 per overhead item?). These budget carriers are cheating the system by looking like the cheapest option, when in…

I 100% percent agree with you. But on a practical note, some advice for those traveling on these budget airlines: if you pack your carry-on in a backpack rather than a suitcase, every budget airline in Europe and the US that I have flown on will not give you a hard time about it. I personally use a very large backpack that holds at least as much as a carry-on suitcase, yet the fact that it is in backpack form means t…

Do they even check if you've paid for a full carry-on as opposed to a personal bag? I've flown Frontier a few times worried about the size of my backpack, and I never saw anything on the computer when I scanned my boarding pass to indicate any of that information. I'm fairly certain the gate agent didn't even look at my baggage.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#188

Post by doingmyting »

OkGoDoIt wrote: post #168
chrisballinger wrote: post #64

Something I've noticed that's lacking from most aggregators like Kayak and SkyScanner (my current fave), is the ability to increase the price of the ultra-budget carriers by adding their carry-on baggage fees and whatnot. I don't care about checked bag fees, but some of the carry-on fees are ridiculous ($60 per overhead item?). These budget carriers are cheating the system by looking like the cheapest option, when in…

I 100% percent agree with you. But on a practical note, some advice for those traveling on these budget airlines: if you pack your carry-on in a backpack rather than a suitcase, every budget airline in Europe and the US that I have flown on will not give you a hard time about it. I personally use a very large backpack that holds at least as much as a carry-on suitcase, yet the fact that it is in backpack form means t…

Do remember that there are airlines that charge explicitly for use of the overhead bin cough United cough, but apart from that this is solid advice.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#189

Post by jacquesm »

s0rce wrote: post #184
ghostly_s wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Flew United recently and just after boarding they made an announcement asking if anyone had purchased one of these "basic economy" fares, presumably so they could exclude them from the twelve cents worth of pretzel+soda service. What a ridiculous and insulting system (not to mention poorly-managed!).

Another ridiculous thing about United Basic economy that doesn't seem like it would save them money is that you can't check in online early you have to do it at the airport...

That's in case they overbook you're end of the queue.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#190

Post by wyclif »

dreamrider wrote: post #176
dmalvarado wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Resort fees drive me crazy. It's one thing to charge for add-ons if you're taking a flight, because they're technically optional and there is a way to avoid them. But resort fees are mandatory. There's no way to opt of using the gym or the pool or whatever it is that they're charging for. That they are somehow not included in the list price defies logic.

And the worst of this is in Vegas. You wouldn't use any of their amenities and there they are collecting resort fee from you and then you end up spending another shit load of money gambling.

It's because Vegas is for suckers, and they know this. The entire purpose of Vegas is to separate tourists from their money.
Post reply on HN