New airline policy harming solo passengers

He told The Independent: "People must wrap their heads around the concept that seats are commodities and just like all other goods, bulk discounts often apply. When we buy a six-pack of beer from the supermarket, we get a discount, for example."

This is a funny statement. It is true, there are discounts for bulk, but the guy behind me with the same six-pack still pays the same price per six-pack even if he buys three six-packs.

Can't wait for "buy one, get one free!"

Do you suppose if travelers banded together and placed an order for say, 24 seats, they would get big discount pricing? I doubt it.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/higher-airfares-for-solo-travelers

I didn't click on your link but presume it relates to this thread.

This policy has already been sent to pasture due to backlash.

That's too bad. Quantity discounts are good things.

Mr. E.

Except when my grocery store has a Buy One Get One Free offer on a 10 pound bag of potatoes.

"harming solo passengers" since when was giving a discount to one group "harming" another. Well, maybe I guess because the airline is trying to work the sales in a way to maximize profit. Thats a good thing too. I dont think anyone will get an adjustment on their solo ticket, because I dont think you ever paid MORE because of this, the couples just paid less and maybe that sold a few more tickets which filled the plane, which brought everyones ticket price down ... or at least didnt require them to go up.

But generally we have become a world of professional victims. Its what sells clicks which sells advertising, which makes money. If I gave my house to a homeless person on the street I would be accused of victimizing all the other homeless people and have to take it back.

harming solo passengers" since when was giving a discount to one group "harming" another

Mr. E - It is one thing to transparently give a volume discount. I would not object if airlines gave a “reasonable” discount to a second traveler and advertised it (e.g., buy two tickets and get a 25% discount).

I do object when an airline charges half the price to two travelers. There were cases where the airlines were doing that (e.g., A solo traveler would pay $200 for their seat and two travelers would pay $100 each for their seat.). Something like this is just taking advantage of solo travelers.

I live my own life. I don't care what someone else is getting as long as I get what I am paying for and I suspect the solo ticket price was consistent with the prices of the competition that did not give quantity discounts. And if the discount goes away, the solo traveler will still pay $200, so the complaint is they got something I didn't get. So what?

Threadware: Yes. They do: https://www.exploreamerican.com/globalsales/group-fares/

And if the discount goes away, the solo traveler will still pay $200, so the complaint is they got something I didn't get. So what?

If it costs $200 for one seat and also $200 for two seats, I’d like to know. Maybe the solo traveler could buy the second seat next to them for an additional $0.

Maybe so. It might have been worth a try. I am going to guess on the whole the discounts were generally not nearly that great. But these articles are full of inflammatory accusations and distortions to rile people up and sell clicks; and contain very little factual information like how often, how much on average, what was the purpose and how did it affect the solo travel cost. If it were true that solo travelers paid “MORE” because of the discounted tickets, don’t you think the lead line would be something like “Delta solo passengers pay more than those of competitor airlines on the same route to subsidize discounted couples tickets”. But no one made that claim that I saw.

Maybe it's an attempt to increase income from business travelers and not a victimization of widows and orphans?

Threadware: Yes. They do: https://www.exploreamerican.com/globalsales/group-fares/

Thanks. Now that I have read this, it makes sense. This is how tour companies include airfare in their tours.

Harming?

Do people not read posts in the thread? This policy was quickly dropped. No reason to keep discussing a policy that was essentially dead on arrival…….

Apparently it went on for quite some time until the media decided to misrepresent it in an effort to sell clicks to professional victims at which time the airlines said "F" it and pulled the plug on the benefits to small groups. Ot, that's all wrong. But none of the reporting made any real attempt to uncover and report the facts.

I live my own life. I don't care what someone else is getting as long as I get what I am paying for

Exactly. Stop wringing your hands that someone is having a different experience to you. Just enjoy your trip.

Maybe it's an attempt to increase income from business travelers and not a victimization of widows and orphans?

Tim is correct. And there was reporting that covered the facts. The original intent of airlines was to go after the business traveler's money, since most don't dicker over prices and most travel solo. However, there was a backlash as soon as the websites like Thrifty Traveler caught on, and the airlines quickly walked it back. https://viewfromthewing.com/airlines-scrubbed-cheap-fares-after-getting-caught-charging-solo-travelers-more-but-prices-wont-stay-high/

As Carol said, it's a non issue now. I read an article the other day that say up to 50% of Americans who travel will be solo next year.

I read an article the other day that say up to 50% of Americans who travel will be solo next year.

WOW! 50%

Here is a very hard fact. Even if you don’t travel solo today, there will come a time when you, or your spouse, will travel solo. It is a reality that many people here have already experienced. My advice is to enjoy all the time that you have with your spouse while you can and share travel jobs so whoever is left going solo won’t feel completely lost when that time comes.