Originally Posted by
mre5765
Regarding "gaming the system" ...
I really want to understand this. IME, the last flight of the day is the most expensive because it is the one that maximizes the business traveler's work time and personal time. IME the first flight of the day is the least expensive, because few people want to wake up at 3am or earlier to make a 6am flight.
What website offers me these cheap deals on the last flight of the day; I really would like to take advantage of them.
Depends on the route, I suppose. I think the reasoning is that people who book flights not intending to take them (e.g., because they fully expect to leave on an earlier one) do all of us a disservice.
Perhaps the last flight of the day is more expensive
because too many travelers book it 'just in case', thus making prospective travelers go to other airlines when they compare fares. However, when many people take earlier flights, UA is left with empty seats on the last flight of the day, with no opportunities to sell them. Just playing devil's advocate...