airline websites raising prices at every click

[Laurie]

I just touched on this topic on another post, but what is going on with every website I try raising prices by several hundred dollars every time you click through and are just about ready to purchase? Is this for real, or are they doing bait and switch here?? I'm talking about Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz - often with multi-carriers.

 

[danb]

Airline Prices

Sometimes if you delete your cookies then go back you will look like a first timer. It might work. I have been finding better deals at the airline sites like aa.com

 

[sfwilshire]

I just got burned by United. I booked a government rate for just over $400. A week or so later when the travel agency got ready to actually buy the ticket, it had gone up to $1300. I've always seen a disclaimer on these fares that they reserve the right to raise them, but I've never had it happen before.

I had to get a much less convenient flight on another airline, getting me to my destination about eight hours after I really needed to be there.

I agree with your other post that the airline part of travel planning is painful, unlike some of the other parts where it's fun to look for a bargain.

Sheila

 

[mikey0531]

We just experienced the same thing -- it was ridiculous. It made me quit looking at these companies and I went right to the airline websites. I had a fare at travelocity that went from $500 to about $1200!!

 

[RonaldCol]

American Airlines Little Trick ...

I noticed this several months ago and it's been confirmed by further observations.

American Airlines charges a $50 fee to allow you to make changes to your reservation. If you can find your same flight at a cheaper, reduced price, you can ask for the difference as a credit, less the change fee.

So, to make it worthwhile, the price drop of your reservations has to be more than $50 to ask for a difference credit.

Because of the change fee, I've noticed American Airlines has been pricing their advanced ticket sales about $50 higher than other competing airlines for the same flying period. Somewhere before the departure dates they will then drop the price to market pricing. Since the market pricing is about $50 cheaper, you are entitled to ask for the difference, but the change fee of $50 makes it a wash. This then permits American Airlines to sell tickets $50 higher than other competitors.

I caught on to the trick and delay my purchase of tickets from American Airlines as long as possible. If I can't get the tickets in time, I go elsewhere.

The other airlines haven't caught on to this clever selling strategy yet.

 

[gidat1]

Little Diffrent..

My Exp. with similar situation has been little different. Once I start the search through all the travel sites. Somehow I feel that with each click or search prices keeps going up. As if one local business knows that you are looking for an item. Somehow all the local suppliers knows that you are looking for that part and they will keep the price higher or same. I think I have experienced this when I was shopping for a used auto parts.

I have Sidesteps intalled in my system. I feel SideStep tries to match what your current prices are showing on the right. If they are low than Sidestep will be lower and vice versa. I wonder why they can't give a lower price to begin with.

May be DaveM can shade some light on to this.

Phil