I don't think this would work mgkimsal makes a good point. When you ring up to get a price for a ticket from a reseller, they actively log into the airlines system to get the current price. The price could change from minute to minute based on supply and demand.
The problem you have with group buying tickets to airlines is that they need to sell those tickets, you cannot reserve space without paying for it. An airline would not set you aside x amount of tickets in the hope that you sell it.
I have done a website for a company that offers group tickets to resellers, they deal with BA. BA do not deal with their own group tickets, they use a company who sort all the headache out. That company take the order on behalf of resellers and they can reserve the space.
To make this work, you would need to ensure you booked months in advance and you could actually fulfil the ticket needs if you do get enough people on board.
I like the idea, the logistics would be a nightmare though
i am not saying its easy. in fact i think its actually very-very hard thing to do. but if someone can do this - this is something i am willing to pay for. and i am sure its doable in some way, but not sure if new startup can do this or it will be a feature of some big player (kayak, groupon, etc..)
I think it would have to be someone with some real credentials, not just in airlines but in general.
I personally think you would not get a welcome reception from airlines either as they try make as much as possible from each ticket so anything that allowed a group of people that were going to get on that flight anyway to save money would not go in your favour.
You could possibly do it on less popular flights where they do not always get full?
Like I say, I am not putting the idea down, I love things like this. I feel this would literally be a 24/7 job though.
Comments
I don't think this would work mgkimsal makes a good point. When you ring up to get a price for a ticket from a reseller, they actively log into the airlines system to get the current price. The price could change from minute to minute based on supply and demand.
The problem you have with group buying tickets to airlines is that they need to sell those tickets, you cannot reserve space without paying for it. An airline would not set you aside x amount of tickets in the hope that you sell it.
I have done a website for a company that offers group tickets to resellers, they deal with BA. BA do not deal with their own group tickets, they use a company who sort all the headache out. That company take the order on behalf of resellers and they can reserve the space.
To make this work, you would need to ensure you booked months in advance and you could actually fulfil the ticket needs if you do get enough people on board.
I like the idea, the logistics would be a nightmare though
i am not saying its easy. in fact i think its actually very-very hard thing to do. but if someone can do this - this is something i am willing to pay for. and i am sure its doable in some way, but not sure if new startup can do this or it will be a feature of some big player (kayak, groupon, etc..)
I think it would have to be someone with some real credentials, not just in airlines but in general.
I personally think you would not get a welcome reception from airlines either as they try make as much as possible from each ticket so anything that allowed a group of people that were going to get on that flight anyway to save money would not go in your favour.
You could possibly do it on less popular flights where they do not always get full?
Like I say, I am not putting the idea down, I love things like this. I feel this would literally be a 24/7 job though.