Fare Inventory Idea
Aug 13, 2000 | 3:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: SQ, LH, AMEX, Citi, Cap1
Posts: 4,113
Fare Inventory Idea
Woes about airlines giving you the run-around with regards to availability for upgrades, award tickets, or those deeply discounted fares?
I propose this idea. I think almost everyone here is familiar with itn.net and its "expert mode" features that shows all the inventory classes.
Idea: Display all codes, including the upgrade classes and award classes. ALSO, I think they should show how many seats have been alloted for each class (9 can still mean 9+), in addition to the number avail.
I believe its a consumer's right to know if seats are allotted for a specific fare class.
e.g. NW Airlines
9/9F 0/0A 9/9J 9/9C 0/0D 9/9Y 9/9W 9/9B 9/9Q 9/9V 9/9K
What do you think? The only downside with this idea is that the customer will know more, and the airlines will have a harder time lying or making up stories. <sarcasm>
- Pat
I propose this idea. I think almost everyone here is familiar with itn.net and its "expert mode" features that shows all the inventory classes.
Idea: Display all codes, including the upgrade classes and award classes. ALSO, I think they should show how many seats have been alloted for each class (9 can still mean 9+), in addition to the number avail.
I believe its a consumer's right to know if seats are allotted for a specific fare class.
e.g. NW Airlines
9/9F 0/0A 9/9J 9/9C 0/0D 9/9Y 9/9W 9/9B 9/9Q 9/9V 9/9K
What do you think? The only downside with this idea is that the customer will know more, and the airlines will have a harder time lying or making up stories. <sarcasm>
- Pat
Aug 13, 2000 | 5:15 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: PDX
Programs: On a collision course with Kettledom
Posts: 25,550
That would be nice, but if the consumer knows it, the competitors know it.
That might be regarded as collusion or price fixing. I'm no expert on this, but I have had a lot of contact lately with the U.S. Dept. of Justice -- and they seem sensitive about these things.
That might be regarded as collusion or price fixing. I'm no expert on this, but I have had a lot of contact lately with the U.S. Dept. of Justice -- and they seem sensitive about these things.
Aug 13, 2000 | 7:35 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: SQ, LH, AMEX, Citi, Cap1
Posts: 4,113
Good answer to counter my suggestion.
So to compromise then, what about indicating whether or not seats are released? Sounds fair enough?
eg. airfare specials/award tix (hypothetically) $800 airfare on WestNorth Airlines (
) from JFK-MNL RT for outbound travel in December xx-yy, return any time. Book in "V" class only. But WestNorth does not have any "V" class seats released at all between Dec xx-yy. Or perhaps they just have one-two seats released on one day to technically make it legal.
I just get irritated when airlines tell me discounted fares/award tix are not avail because they're "sold out", when in fact that not seats have been allotted or will be allotted (and it's not a black-out date). And they tell me that I should have booked earlier. (No need to get into the details. :|)
- Pat
So to compromise then, what about indicating whether or not seats are released? Sounds fair enough?
eg. airfare specials/award tix (hypothetically) $800 airfare on WestNorth Airlines (
) from JFK-MNL RT for outbound travel in December xx-yy, return any time. Book in "V" class only. But WestNorth does not have any "V" class seats released at all between Dec xx-yy. Or perhaps they just have one-two seats released on one day to technically make it legal.I just get irritated when airlines tell me discounted fares/award tix are not avail because they're "sold out", when in fact that not seats have been allotted or will be allotted (and it's not a black-out date). And they tell me that I should have booked earlier. (No need to get into the details. :|)
- Pat