FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - What if many travellers boycott paid advance seat selection ?
Old Jun 22, 2019, 5:18 pm
  #40  
Often1
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Originally Posted by EdGordon007
That will bring the airlines to their knees, and they will be begging for customers, just like it was in 2008. I predict there will be reshaping of the fees at the same time.
That is a fallacy which seems to pervade FT.

The carriers' mistake the last time round was that they decreased price in order to drive sales. The lesson learned was that this does not increase net revenue. PRASM means cutting availability. Either fewer flights or smaller aircraft or a bit of both.

Seat fees are particularly not subject to boycott because one need not reserve a seat if one is not eligible for free advance seating. Others will pay or book late and nab a decent seat and you can sit in the middle seat next to the lav.

The bottom line here is that passengers are not always the customer. When third parties, e.g. pay the tab, they drive unbundled pricing and the individual has little choice or market share.

Or you could fly WN and never pay to have a seat assigned.
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