Whats the problem.
We are constantly bombarded with retail cons, such as "half price sofas", "Free Child Places", cars sold at "trade prices". Even the LCCs give away "free flights" that for some reason see to require a credit or debit card to pay for!
Come on, the airline seat selling business is not that much different from retail. And retailers use whatever tools they have in their armoury to con the public.
So whats new?