Expedia and US seats
Jun 1, 2007, 8:28 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: PHL
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Expedia and US seats
Apologies if this belongs in a broader forum, please move if you feel appropriate.
Does Expedia BUY US seats and resell them, or are they merely a broker?
Specifically, I booked a flight on an E170 via USAirways.com. I was reconfirming my due dilligence in competitive pricing with my client and noticed that several choice and preferred seats were seemingly available when purchasing via Expedia that were not when purchasing via USAirways.com. As a sanity checked, I immediate rechecked US and there'd been no substantive change.
Is this bait and switch by Expedia, do they actually "own" those seats or is US "hiding" seats via its interface?
Any insight is appreciated in advance.
Marc
Does Expedia BUY US seats and resell them, or are they merely a broker?
Specifically, I booked a flight on an E170 via USAirways.com. I was reconfirming my due dilligence in competitive pricing with my client and noticed that several choice and preferred seats were seemingly available when purchasing via Expedia that were not when purchasing via USAirways.com. As a sanity checked, I immediate rechecked US and there'd been no substantive change.
Is this bait and switch by Expedia, do they actually "own" those seats or is US "hiding" seats via its interface?
Any insight is appreciated in advance.
Marc
Jun 1, 2007, 12:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: DL-Silver; BA-Bronze
Posts: 1,162
Expedia is merely a broker. I believe that while they might offer the preferred seats, if you attempt to book them you stand a good chance of getting moved to another seat. This may be similar to Orbitz which has a disclaimer on their seat map stating that if you choose a preferred seat you must be eligible to sit there or else you will get moved.
Jun 1, 2007, 8:37 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: PHL
Programs: US/*A, Marriott, ICH, Budget, Avis
Posts: 762
Expedia is merely a broker. I believe that while they might offer the preferred seats, if you attempt to book them you stand a good chance of getting moved to another seat. This may be similar to Orbitz which has a disclaimer on their seat map stating that if you choose a preferred seat you must be eligible to sit there or else you will get moved.
I'm very curious why Expedia shows seats being available for sale that USAirways.com does not.
Thanks!
Jun 2, 2007, 6:04 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: BUF
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Jun 2, 2007, 8:03 am
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Location: RDU
Programs: TSA/INS/FBI Platinum (stopped last 12 of 13 int'l returns - the computer broke once)
Posts: 2,638
Because, as much as I hate to say it, Expedia knows how to do business?