Internet Booking
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canada
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Internet Booking
I just completed booking flights for my wife and myself (direct, non-stop, return, dep late Feb) using the internet, because everyone (including the airline) says you can get better deals on the net rather than through a human airline rep.
Well, I tried for two seats, return price = $980. ea. I declined.
Decided to re-check for one seat, return....result = $460. ea.
WOW, less than half original quote, so booked one seat (non-refundable), intending to book a second single seat immediately for same $.
Checked for second seat same flight, price =$1,600. return. I declined. mmm, almost the same combined price as my first quote, ie approx $1,000. ea seat on average.
Waited overnight, re-booted computer next morn, checked same trip for one seat, got price $433. return. I booked the flight.
What is going on here !!...does the airline computer track you, ( IP address of your computer) and do a 'bait and switch' routine on you when you want more than one ticket ie: low-ball the first ticket to get your attention, then overcharge the second ticket??
This has nothing to do with 'advanced booking or any restrictions....all inquiries were for the same conditions.
In the course of 10.hrs I went from $2,060. to $893. for the same trip for two. If I had not re-run the bookings, i would have been out of pocket a considerable sum.
Computers are not smarter that humans, but they are faster... 'the hand is faster than the eye'... but computers are faster than the hand.
Booking an airline ticket is getting like a visit to the casino, and as we all know, the house always has the advantage.
(Incidently, I did call the airline three times to try to get an answer to why I had to play the 'bait and switch' game, all said they were helpless since they did not have access to the internet system. They offered manual booking at approx $1,000. ea seat, then told me I should do better on the net!!...no job security there!!)
So, it's the airlines with their super computers, against the individual customer trying to get a decent fare.....good luck!!
OK, its man against machine....so, are there other ways to outsmart the computer code on these poker playing airline systems??
I'll raise you $1.K......
Well, I tried for two seats, return price = $980. ea. I declined.
Decided to re-check for one seat, return....result = $460. ea.
WOW, less than half original quote, so booked one seat (non-refundable), intending to book a second single seat immediately for same $.
Checked for second seat same flight, price =$1,600. return. I declined. mmm, almost the same combined price as my first quote, ie approx $1,000. ea seat on average.
Waited overnight, re-booted computer next morn, checked same trip for one seat, got price $433. return. I booked the flight.
What is going on here !!...does the airline computer track you, ( IP address of your computer) and do a 'bait and switch' routine on you when you want more than one ticket ie: low-ball the first ticket to get your attention, then overcharge the second ticket??
This has nothing to do with 'advanced booking or any restrictions....all inquiries were for the same conditions.
In the course of 10.hrs I went from $2,060. to $893. for the same trip for two. If I had not re-run the bookings, i would have been out of pocket a considerable sum.
Computers are not smarter that humans, but they are faster... 'the hand is faster than the eye'... but computers are faster than the hand.
Booking an airline ticket is getting like a visit to the casino, and as we all know, the house always has the advantage.
(Incidently, I did call the airline three times to try to get an answer to why I had to play the 'bait and switch' game, all said they were helpless since they did not have access to the internet system. They offered manual booking at approx $1,000. ea seat, then told me I should do better on the net!!...no job security there!!)
So, it's the airlines with their super computers, against the individual customer trying to get a decent fare.....good luck!!
OK, its man against machine....so, are there other ways to outsmart the computer code on these poker playing airline systems??
I'll raise you $1.K......
Last edited by peasoup; 12th Dec 2004 at 15:48.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: not a million miles from old BKK
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If the airlines would only understand. There is a fortune to be made out there in 'cyberspace booking land'. No Travel Agents commissions to be paid. Forget the cost of downtown and airport booking offices. Let people select the seat they want in advance. etc etc etc.
And the really big one. Obtain the cash for the ticket, in full, in advance. No more huge waiting lists caused by multiple reservations on different flights created by people who haven't actually paid for anything!!!
But it requires honesty. The prices quoted on the internet have to be the same as the ones you get by shopping around. Its no good looking at (say) Yahoo Travel and being quoted 6,500 USD for a flight that you could actually get for 2,300 USD.
And the really big one. Obtain the cash for the ticket, in full, in advance. No more huge waiting lists caused by multiple reservations on different flights created by people who haven't actually paid for anything!!!
But it requires honesty. The prices quoted on the internet have to be the same as the ones you get by shopping around. Its no good looking at (say) Yahoo Travel and being quoted 6,500 USD for a flight that you could actually get for 2,300 USD.
