Originally Posted by
Herb687
If you think this is a simple exercise, you really do not understand airline pricing and yield management. I do understand it which means that I would never get to be a juror if one of these things ever went to trial. But, realistically, AA is highly unlikely to ever sue for damages in these cases because among those who don't understand the nuances of airline pricing, they might very well say screw the airline and jury nullify or find the contract to be an unconscionable and unenforceable one.
Imagine having to explain to a jury of normal people (non flyertalkers) that I owe more money because I didn't fly the whole itinerary that AA (willingly) sold me. Probably why, as far as I can tell, an airline has never been successful suing anyone in court.
Originally Posted by
Herb687
Heck, I could even make a pretty compelling case that AA's economic damages are negligible or negative as the fact of the matter is their costs were decreased by the hidden city passenger. AA still received the full revenue benefit of my hypothetical PHL-DFW-AUS ticket but didn't have to incur the incremental costs of flying me DFW-AUS.
They may have been able to put a standby in that seat too and sell his later ticket.