You're still missing it. I think most people are. I know about booking early and all the rest. Trust me. This isn't about booking early etc. It's about $800 more to go a shorter distance on the same plane continuing on to YEG
And no, they would not charge me more for getting off in YXE. I would just walk off the plane wit my carry on (no checked baggage for them to unload) in YXE and tell the gate agent I was done flying here. Seat is now empty. See Ya. That's the end. Now there is an extra seat for them to sell last minute or give to a Stand-By. No penalty.
Pie Lot,
You might want to reconsider your planned actions, I am NOT a sky cop but what you are planning to do will cause alot of grief for alot of workers dealing with your decision.
I am sure not a big deal, but you could end up being banned from flying the airline for awhile, but I am sure you are justified, go for it!!
Heck this type of market pricing has been around for years and practiced by many carriers around the world. In the past the airlines frowned upon passengers getting off at the intermediate stop but looked the other way. Since 9-11 however those folks practicing such folly might find themselves with a free ticket on the no-fly list.
As others have already pointed out, when the cheap fares are gone the rate goes up. This is a business after all.
The individual who mistakenly believes that the airlines charge too much probably failed economics 101.
Rebel wrote:Heck this type of market pricing has been around for years....
Rebel is right....it's as old as prositution...may actually be invented by the hookers of the Biblical age. It's refered to by many in the industry as the Mary Magdalene Maneuver ...not that there is anything wrong with it?
Doc wrote:Higher prices due to special events. What a concept! Hotels have been doing this for years. Even the hookers charge more on Grey Cup weekend! Hookers/Air Canada....see the relationship?
Tell us Doc....what does a hooker go for now a days for Grey Cup Weekend? Would YYZ hookers cost more over say....YWG or even YHD hookers on a regular school night?
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Last edited by ... on Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
clunckdriver wrote:I think the logic is that anyone dumb enough to watch the CFL is stupid enough to pay any price asked!
It's rare comedic timing like this that brings me to this site time and time again! I watch CFL...and your post still made me laugh because it's just simply funny.
And no, they would not charge me more for getting off in YXE. I would just walk off the plane wit my carry on (no checked baggage for them to unload) in YXE and tell the gate agent I was done flying here. Seat is now empty. See Ya. That's the end. Now there is an extra seat for them to sell last minute or give to a Stand-By. No penalty.
This practice is known as "throw-away ticketing". That practice and the "back to back" ticketing where people buy two return aifares so they can fly cheap and avoid staying a Saturday is banned by many airlines and entrenched in their tariff rules.
If you don't show up for that flight to Edmonton, you may be charged for the difference. (Or worse)
This really is a no brainer. The YYZ-YXE flight is more expensive because it is the ONLY direct flight offered by anyone. Sure you can book on Westjet and pay $600 or so to get to YXE but it will take you up to 9 1/2 hrs to get there verses around 3 1/2 on AC. For folks going to toontown on business, those extra 6 hrs spent travelling is worth alot more than the difference in prices.
CID wrote:
This practice is known as "throw-away ticketing". That practice and the "back to back" ticketing where people buy two return aifares so they can fly cheap and avoid staying a Saturday is banned by many airlines and entrenched in their tariff rules.
Correct me if I'm wrong but there hasn't been a required Saturday night stay for years in the airline industry in Canada. And you can buy as many one way tickets as you like on AC or West Jet.
As for getting off the flight in YXE and not getting back on, the agent will probably spend a few minutes looking to make sure you didn't go drink yourself under the table at the bar and then send the flight on it's way. You paid for your seat, and they will not be coming after you for more money. If you never got on the plane in YYZ they wouldn't be trying to charge you extra.
However you might be in for a shock when you show up in YYZ and find that they have put you on an extra flight to YEG non-stop to make room for those going to YXE on your original flight.
Correct me if I'm wrong but there hasn't been a required Saturday night stay for years in the airline industry in Canada. And you can buy as many one way tickets as you like on AC or West Jet.
Note, some sale fares require a Saturday night stay.
You paid for your seat, and they will not be coming after you for more money. If you never got on the plane in YYZ they wouldn't be trying to charge you extra.
Sorry, that's incorrect. They may (and have) gone after people who don't show up for the second leg. You may also be risking your reward miles on that airline. I know a guy personally who tried to get a cheap fare like that to Houston on Continental. He got off in Houston instead of flying on to Phoenix. Continental sent him a bill.
As for not showing up in YYZ, if it was a cheap fare, there's a very good chance you won't be getting a refund or even a credit.
200hr Wonder wrote:I agree with both of you. Increasing prices just for a big weekend... Grey Cup for example is gouging... but yes prices as a whole are way too low.
who says prices are too low? competition exists to bring the best deal/service to consumers - not to the employees. when you buy a 800$ computer you don't say gee i wish only ibm was in business so i can spend 4000$ so all the ibm employees can have a great pension plan. don't fly if you have a problem with the wage. if anything canada needs another westjet.
have a look at westjet's stock and decide if prices are too low.
If you had 1000 willing to pay $500 for something that normally costs $100 would you still charge them $100.
If you picked the $100 answer then you shouldnt go into business.
Like i said.I agree with you,but sometimes you have to see if from the other persons side too..........Just my 2 cents
No. I'd just make the YEG fares the same. Or I'd make the flight a YXE only (I'm sure the demand is there). Good business practice dictates that you don't let your customer that you are trying to build repeat loyalty with (Especially in WJ Country) know that you are deliberately screwing him because you can! Kind of gives a prelude to what AC would do to markets if competition pulled out of them.
Flying is a premium mode of transportation. It costs. If you don't like to pay for the premium maybe you should drive or take the train. I guess that takes to long for most people. Hence you pay.
No. I'd just make the YEG fares the same. Or I'd make the flight a YXE only (I'm sure the demand is there). Good business practice dictates that you don't let your customer that you are trying to build repeat loyalty with (Especially in WJ Country) know that you are deliberately screwing him because you can! Kind of gives a prelude to what AC would do to markets if competition pulled out of them.
OK. Let’s say you’re Air Canada and you have a flight that goes from Toronto to Edmonton direct. Then let’s say Westjet has one too. Now you have a competitive market which drives the price down. In order to maintain presence in that market and even gain some customers you may be willing to slash prices to at least the price of the competition even if you are close to “break-even” wouldn’t you?
Now let’s say Air Canada also has a Toronto - Saskatoon flight but there’s little competition and high demand. The market dictates the price and it’s high enough for a good profit margin.
Now let’s say Air Canada also has a flight that goes YYZ-YXE-YEG. What would you do?
Good business practices say that demand drives the price and you need to protect your turf. If you don't make a profit you might as well go out of business.
Please understand that I wasn't a fan of Air Canada's practice of predatory pricing in the great Canadian airline wars a few years ago, but I think they've learned their lesson.
I can't believe the lack of logic in trying to explain the lack of logic.
This is a revenue management error. It has AC trying to sell product for a lower price than they apparently think they can get. Let's assume the yyz-yxe leg is almost full, so they are charging big prices. But the yxe-yeg leg is almost empty, so they still have great deals to fill it up. But think about it--would you rather get $1000+ for the yyz-yxe leg, and have the yxe-yeg sector remain empty, or fill up the seat by offering a great deal from yyz-yeg for only $500? It is dumb, as it is trying to encourage lower yield overall.
Obviously it would make sense to offer the yxe-yeg leg cheap cheap, but why would you sacrifice overall revenue just to get a seat filled on the slow route?
As for trying to penalize someone for getting off, is there actually someone at AC that is that petty? Ah, forget that question. You'd think if anyone would be in trouble if they discovered the little scheme, it would be the revenue management types that are creating a situation that encourages lower yield.
I have seen this situation on WestJet on a rare occasion, where some sharp person notices an error and gets off at a mid point, and our only wish was they had told us what they were doing so that we weren't doing everything possible to find them to make sure they made their flight.
Maybe some airlines have occasionally tried to get punitive about something like this on occasion, but I've never heard of it.
But they are still trying to make LESS overall money? Doesn't that seem illogical? Wouldn't as an employee and possibly shareholder you want them to maximize revenue, instead of trying to fill up high demand seats with low revenue passengers?
...not that there is anything wrong with it?
