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Airlines are charging solo passengers higher fares than groups

thriftytraveler.com

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Re: Airlines are charging solo passengers higher fares than groups

#2
I never would have understood this as a young, single person. Now that I have a family there are several times per year where we price out the cost of a solo ticket for one parent, the price of taking one or two kids, or the cost of all of us going for something. Having a quantity discount would absolutely tip the scales for us for certain trips.

People will look at this as penalizing single travelers and want everyone to have the lowest fare, but that’s not the real alternative. A flat fare would bring solo prices down and group rates up so the blended average is the same.

Re: Airlines are charging solo passengers higher fares than groups

#5

Apparently the article author hasn't heard about the concept of a "group discount"

The point is that the extent of the group discount is absurd. E.g., the ORD-LEX one, $214 for a single ticket, and then only $1 more for a second one.

Re: Airlines are charging solo passengers higher fares than groups

#8

Apparently the article author hasn't heard about the concept of a "group discount"

The point is that the extent of the group discount is absurd. E.g., the ORD-LEX one, $214 for a single ticket, and then only $1 more for a second one.

I’ve been pricing tickets for a family trip recently and I have not seen anything that extreme.

That’s definitely a cherry picked example for the article, not the common scenario.

Re: Airlines are charging solo passengers higher fares than groups

#9
post #4

I would guess this is about middle seats. No one wants them but if you’re part of 2+ party you’re much more likely to take one. The alternative is two aisles side by side but those are tricky to get as the plane fills up.

The business traveler who is less price sensitive and almost always books a solo itinerary.

Re: Airlines are charging solo passengers higher fares than groups

#10

Apparently the article author hasn't heard about the concept of a "group discount"

Part of what makes it seem shady here is that airline ticket prices are pretty opaque. If they advertised it as a group discount, it would be received differently.
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