Does BA get advance warning of major events and adjust prices accordingly?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: South Glos, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver/OW Sapphire
Posts: 1,157
Does BA get advance warning of major events and adjust prices accordingly?
I'm trying to second guess the date of England's trip to Rome for the 6 Nations 2022 by looking at spikes in fares.
There is a huge spike from 10-12 February departures (£45 on 9/2, £342 thereafter) which would suggest the rugby MIGHT be that weekend but no dates have been officially announced yet for 2022.
For the record Alitalia's fares are also much higher during the same period.
So, as the thread header say, do airlines get advance notice so they can adjust prices for expected demand?
For info, despite the crazy cash fares, there is RFS availability on all flights and in all cabins for the same dates, so this has nothing to do with number of seats already sold as the award seats would almost certainly go first in this case.
If anyone does have inside info on next years dates, do please share!
There is a huge spike from 10-12 February departures (£45 on 9/2, £342 thereafter) which would suggest the rugby MIGHT be that weekend but no dates have been officially announced yet for 2022.
For the record Alitalia's fares are also much higher during the same period.
So, as the thread header say, do airlines get advance notice so they can adjust prices for expected demand?
For info, despite the crazy cash fares, there is RFS availability on all flights and in all cabins for the same dates, so this has nothing to do with number of seats already sold as the award seats would almost certainly go first in this case.
If anyone does have inside info on next years dates, do please share!
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,258
I'd say blanket price increase for half term and other standard holiday periods ?
Also, booking the furthest possible date out often yields horrendous prices which will settle down shortly after
Also, booking the furthest possible date out often yields horrendous prices which will settle down shortly after
#3
Original Poster
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Location: South Glos, UK
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I did wonder about half term, but it is the following week. Also, mid-February dates have been available to purchase for a few weeks now so it not like they have only just come out. Also, prices come back down to normal levels after the 4 day spike.
#5
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Reckon I'll hedge my bets and take advantage of RFS seats then. If the dates are wrong and I'm not quick enough to rebook on the right dates, I've only lost the fees. A gamble worth taking.
#6
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#7
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Revenue management work on the theory that if they've got the dates wrong they can always lower the prices later.
#8
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
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Sure. I don’t know how they collect it, but they’re certainly not going to offer many sale fares during a period of historically peak demand. Same for hotels.
#9
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No reason to discount ticket prices this far out. Anybody booking in February 2022, is likely price insensitive and thus, willing to pay top fares. If BA can't sell at those prices, then closer in, it can open up discounted fare buckets.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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Not sure if they get advance notice precisely, but they do monitor all of this.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Sussex, UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 489
I'm trying to second guess the date of England's trip to Rome for the 6 Nations 2022 by looking at spikes in fares.
There is a huge spike from 10-12 February departures (£45 on 9/2, £342 thereafter) which would suggest the rugby MIGHT be that weekend but no dates have been officially announced yet for 2022.
There is a huge spike from 10-12 February departures (£45 on 9/2, £342 thereafter) which would suggest the rugby MIGHT be that weekend but no dates have been officially announced yet for 2022.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,578
There is also an element of automation in there: If people start booking for certain dates and BA sells a lot more seats than expected this far out, then prices go up. So even if BA does not know when the game is, the algo would still adjust prices automatically (though maybe a little later and with less precision).
#13
Original Poster
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Location: South Glos, UK
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There is also an element of automation in there: If people start booking for certain dates and BA sells a lot more seats than expected this far out, then prices go up. So even if BA does not know when the game is, the algo would still adjust prices automatically (though maybe a little later and with less precision).
#14
Original Poster
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