Ethics and the $20 BA fare.
#1
Original Poster


Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Third planet from the Sun
Posts: 7,024
Ethics and the $20 BA fare.
Everyone who tried to buy one of these $20 BA fares was aware that this was a mistake. Is it ethical to go after these types of obvious mistakes? Where do you draw the line?
#2


Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: arlington, va
Programs: AA Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Plat
Posts: 660
Is paying $20 any less ethical than the airlines charging $10,000 to fly from London to most points in the US? I realise that's the going rate for First, but just what does it cost to deliver this service- maybe $1,500 tops? How about the $2,200 domestic US carriers extract for last-minute economy coast-to-coast?
#3

Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Sunny Switzerland
Programs: BD / BA / AF
Posts: 4,388
We seem to go through this dilemma every time a deal like this comes up, and there is always a divide in people's views about the ethics of taking up such an offer.
The $25 Starwood Rate thread has plenty of examples: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/002866.html
So before this thread degenerates into page after page of "you're a thief" and "no, I'm not -- it's their fault for publishing the rate and relying on technology", try visiting the old thread.
The $25 Starwood Rate thread has plenty of examples: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/002866.html
So before this thread degenerates into page after page of "you're a thief" and "no, I'm not -- it's their fault for publishing the rate and relying on technology", try visiting the old thread.
#4
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Join Date: Apr 1999
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Posts: 4,129
I don't see anything ethically wrong with it, though I would strongly urge the participants to formulate at least one backup travel plan in the event BA has a different view (esp. if the pax is already in Europe)...
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#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
Great Point MC
go read all the prior threads from airlines to hotel rooms
or
If you think it is unethical; then don't buy it; If you don't have a problem with it and can get in on it: go for it
go read all the prior threads from airlines to hotel rooms
or
If you think it is unethical; then don't buy it; If you don't have a problem with it and can get in on it: go for it
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MatthewClement:
We seem to go through this dilemma every time a deal like this comes up, and there is always a divide in people's views about the ethics of taking up such an offer.
The $25 Starwood Rate thread has plenty of examples: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/002866.html
So before this thread degenerates into page after page of "you're a thief" and "no, I'm not -- it's their fault for publishing the rate and relying on technology", try visiting the old thread.
</font>
We seem to go through this dilemma every time a deal like this comes up, and there is always a divide in people's views about the ethics of taking up such an offer.
The $25 Starwood Rate thread has plenty of examples: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/002866.html
So before this thread degenerates into page after page of "you're a thief" and "no, I'm not -- it's their fault for publishing the rate and relying on technology", try visiting the old thread.
</font>
#6
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Flyertalk Cares




Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,926
Agree this has been hashed out many times and is probably not worth doing again. In the end it's a very personal decision and we all must decide for ourselves where we draw the line.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: BA, AA, DL, KLM, UA
Posts: 37,489
Tango, I presume you didn't get in on the deal? When people run into a deal like this ethics come second, travel comes first. BA screwed up, they were honest enough to honour most of the reservations so I guess nobody should feel too bad.

