priceline was a good start at this years ago, but failed to disrupt as much as I'd thought it would. You're typically buying only one ticket at a time.
What they could do is expand to groups. For example, if I could create a signup site for a particular trip (RDU->LAX) and get X people to purchase from my site, we'd all get the deal at $Y instead of $Z.
I think this would throw off the current models airlines live by. If you and I each buy the same ticket on the same route, even just a few hours apart, we may pay different prices, because of the complex pricing models airlines use. Group/demand pricing would seem to make sense, but it may shake up the status quo too much, and since they own the data and the product for sale, there's little that could be done. I suspect groupon may be in a financial position to approach airlines about this to test some ideas, but it's a pretty big change to existing systems for any airline to 'experiment' at that level.
good points. i know this is going to be very tough sale to airlines but still believe that if someone will be able to offer some win-win deal and partner with some (or maybe just one) airlines it might be huge.
airlines want to make more money and sell more seats, while not decreasing current sales. while some segment of buyers are interested in cheap deals - and have very flexible schedule. I am sure someone can find some smart scheme to balance these needs in win-win solution. This may be "last second" un-guaranteed purchases of free seats on flights, group purchases or something else.
Anyway these are just my 2c, i dont have any experience in this field, but if someone here does - i'd love to use this kind of site.
Comments
priceline was a good start at this years ago, but failed to disrupt as much as I'd thought it would. You're typically buying only one ticket at a time.
What they could do is expand to groups. For example, if I could create a signup site for a particular trip (RDU->LAX) and get X people to purchase from my site, we'd all get the deal at $Y instead of $Z.
I think this would throw off the current models airlines live by. If you and I each buy the same ticket on the same route, even just a few hours apart, we may pay different prices, because of the complex pricing models airlines use. Group/demand pricing would seem to make sense, but it may shake up the status quo too much, and since they own the data and the product for sale, there's little that could be done. I suspect groupon may be in a financial position to approach airlines about this to test some ideas, but it's a pretty big change to existing systems for any airline to 'experiment' at that level.
good points. i know this is going to be very tough sale to airlines but still believe that if someone will be able to offer some win-win deal and partner with some (or maybe just one) airlines it might be huge.
airlines want to make more money and sell more seats, while not decreasing current sales. while some segment of buyers are interested in cheap deals - and have very flexible schedule. I am sure someone can find some smart scheme to balance these needs in win-win solution. This may be "last second" un-guaranteed purchases of free seats on flights, group purchases or something else.
Anyway these are just my 2c, i dont have any experience in this field, but if someone here does - i'd love to use this kind of site.