Dave Stadt wrote:
"Matt Barrow" wrote in message
...

"Dave Stadt" wrote in message
...

"Matt Barrow" wrote in message
news
First, the "business traveler" typically fly's on one or two days
notice...that's why they spend more.

That makes absolutely no sense. The airlines have used it as an excuse

to

rip off the business travler for years.

If everyone waited until the last 24-48 hours to book a reservation (due

to

no cost difference) , imagine the chaos that would result. Hotels do it,
concerts do it. Why do you think that is?


Not the concerts I go to. You walk up at the last minute and you get a
discounted ticket. I know of no hotels that discount for early
reservations. The airlines should sell open seats for less the closer it is
to departure. Any fare is better than an open seat. I have no idea what
chaos you are talking about or what would cause it. The admin involved is
the same if you reserve a year in advance or a half hour in advance.

Much of the following is conjecture since I have never worked with/for
any airline or in any aviation position. However ...

Passengers booking their trips well in advance tend to be vacationers,
college students, and the like. They have more flexibility in setting
up their schedule, and they are willing to accept the loss of that
flexibility when they buy their ticket. In addition, they are turning
their assets (cash) over to the airline. In return for the passenger's
committing to a flight, and for the earlier access to the passenger's
money, the airline is willing to give the early bookers a discount.

The business travellor often has limited ability to schedule his
travel in advance, and few 'timely' alternatives to air travel. The
service has a high 'value' to the customer ("if I don't make it there
tomorrow, we lose this sale," etc.), and the airlines recognize this.
High demand equals high cost.

Once a flight departs, though, things change. Empty seats represent
lost revenue that can never be recovered. Airlines recognize this, and
have therefore established "stand-by" procedures. As a stand-by
passenger, you are accepting some of the airline's risk of an empty
seat. The airline "rewards" you by sharing some of the financial reward
for that flight with you.

If you check, you'll probably find that 'popular' flights that
usually operate at or near capacity don't often provide late discounts.
Flights with a large number of empty seats are more likely to do so, and
the likelihood increases as departure nears. The point at which this
occurs is up to each airline, and probably varies from flight to flight.

Rich Lemert