Strange problem with Orbitz -- 1 vs. 2 passengers -- have you noticed this?
Sep 18th, 2004, 03:35 PM
#21
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Hi 111op,
If you go to http://airtravelcenter.com/onetrav.htm
you will get two tickets for 2X the price of 1 ticket every time.
If they don't have two seats, they won't do the booking.
If you go to http://airtravelcenter.com/onetrav.htm
you will get two tickets for 2X the price of 1 ticket every time.
If they don't have two seats, they won't do the booking.
Sep 18th, 2004, 03:38 PM
#22
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So you're saying this never happens on airtravel, ira?
It's interesting. I found the same problem with Expedia. The flights on Continental for one traveler is about $30 less than the base fare for two travelers.
Very interesting. I think that there must be some way of benefitting from this -- but obviously there's a risk that you get to book one at a low price and then can't book the other (which was what happened to me with the Delta flights).
It's interesting. I found the same problem with Expedia. The flights on Continental for one traveler is about $30 less than the base fare for two travelers.
Very interesting. I think that there must be some way of benefitting from this -- but obviously there's a risk that you get to book one at a low price and then can't book the other (which was what happened to me with the Delta flights).
Sep 18th, 2004, 03:43 PM
#24
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I'm surprised that British universities don't offer doctorates, m_kingdom.
And I can't imagine you're allowed to teach math when you can't even figure out that the function whose deriviative is itself is an exponetial function + constant, then I think that it's probably good that you not teach any mathematics.
You should stick to Jil Sander and Helmut Lang. My knowledge of that is not comprehensive at all. I'm not going to be able to catch you on that.
And I can't imagine you're allowed to teach math when you can't even figure out that the function whose deriviative is itself is an exponetial function + constant, then I think that it's probably good that you not teach any mathematics.
You should stick to Jil Sander and Helmut Lang. My knowledge of that is not comprehensive at all. I'm not going to be able to catch you on that.
Sep 18th, 2004, 03:58 PM
#25
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I've never used Orbitz, but can offer some suggestions:
i) Some sites charge various kinds of so-called 'booking fees' that are charged on a per ticket basis. However, I admit that would only explain differences of around $30 - $40 at most.
2) Then there's the fact that airline ticket prices fluctuate quite a bit anyway. But yes, this should mean that if you make enough attempts, sooner or later the second ticket ought to be lower priced than the first. The tricky part would be to have a big enough sample to rule out price increases due to market fluctuations (but I assume that's why you're conducting this informal 'poll.' )
3) There is more than 1 seat left on the flight, but only 1 seat left in the booking category the site initially promoted. For example, the first seat might be in the lowest discount category, but the second seat must be drawn from the seats allocated to the next category up (or two or three or whatever) thus bringing up the average. Or the first seat is a teaser price limited to a quantity of one.
Alas, the ways of yield management are mysterious. Good luck!
i) Some sites charge various kinds of so-called 'booking fees' that are charged on a per ticket basis. However, I admit that would only explain differences of around $30 - $40 at most.
2) Then there's the fact that airline ticket prices fluctuate quite a bit anyway. But yes, this should mean that if you make enough attempts, sooner or later the second ticket ought to be lower priced than the first. The tricky part would be to have a big enough sample to rule out price increases due to market fluctuations (but I assume that's why you're conducting this informal 'poll.' )
3) There is more than 1 seat left on the flight, but only 1 seat left in the booking category the site initially promoted. For example, the first seat might be in the lowest discount category, but the second seat must be drawn from the seats allocated to the next category up (or two or three or whatever) thus bringing up the average. Or the first seat is a teaser price limited to a quantity of one.
Alas, the ways of yield management are mysterious. Good luck!
Sep 18th, 2004, 04:04 PM
#26
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But, you see, Sue, I'm not sure if that really explains it. It seems to me that I could buy one ticket at a lower price, and the second ticket at a higher price, but if I buy two tickets at once, then they can both be charged the higher price.
In other words, the per-ticket price for two tickets doesn't seem to be an average of the low and the high price.
Also, on Orbitz, each ticket is charged at $10 service fee, so the service fee consideration is the same however you book the tickets. I'm more intrigued by the way the per-ticket price is generated.
Of course, I realize that perhaps there could really be one ticket left in a lower price category -- at least that seemed to be the case with the Delta flights I wanted. But even in that situation, it seemed to me that I would have been better off buying the two tickets separately.
Anyway, I guess I'll wait some more. I can't believe that I've not yet bought my tickets and I'm supposed to be leaving in two weeks. Maybe it's a good recipe for disaster, and I can just stay at home instead.
In other words, the per-ticket price for two tickets doesn't seem to be an average of the low and the high price.
Also, on Orbitz, each ticket is charged at $10 service fee, so the service fee consideration is the same however you book the tickets. I'm more intrigued by the way the per-ticket price is generated.
Of course, I realize that perhaps there could really be one ticket left in a lower price category -- at least that seemed to be the case with the Delta flights I wanted. But even in that situation, it seemed to me that I would have been better off buying the two tickets separately.
Anyway, I guess I'll wait some more. I can't believe that I've not yet bought my tickets and I'm supposed to be leaving in two weeks. Maybe it's a good recipe for disaster, and I can just stay at home instead.
Sep 18th, 2004, 04:13 PM
#27
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Sorry, I forgot that of course the site would probably break down the ticket costs at least to the extent of displaying the booking fees, not just display some lump total price for the tickets ordered.
If it isn't a question of a higher average, then frankly my friend, I'm at a loss. (But then we're talking not just yield management systems of the airlines, but the consolidators' systems on top of that. I think NASA space programs are probably easier to comprehend....)
I gotta admit, your nerves are a lot stronger than mine when it comes to buying airline tickets. Two weeks? Yikes! But who knows, you might cadge a real deal. Or get to have a really cheap vacation at home....
If it isn't a question of a higher average, then frankly my friend, I'm at a loss. (But then we're talking not just yield management systems of the airlines, but the consolidators' systems on top of that. I think NASA space programs are probably easier to comprehend....)
I gotta admit, your nerves are a lot stronger than mine when it comes to buying airline tickets. Two weeks? Yikes! But who knows, you might cadge a real deal. Or get to have a really cheap vacation at home....
Sep 19th, 2004, 04:45 AM
#29
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I know you can do this on Expedia but not sure about Orbitz - but have you tried taking out a 24 holding option on the first seat and then checking for the second. You'll have 24 hours to find a matching fare without having to actually pay for anything and no penalty to pay if do not confirm the first seat reservation.
Sep 19th, 2004, 12:15 PM
#31
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Hi, kyb, the two browsers were both in Orbitz. Basically I was only able to get one at the lower price. When I tried to book the other, it was gone.
David, I don't know about the hold option in Orbitz. There could be one, but I didn't investigate. They charged me $10 for my cancelation.
Anyway I'm going to look again now. I guess if prices are through the roof, I don't have to go.
David, I don't know about the hold option in Orbitz. There could be one, but I didn't investigate. They charged me $10 for my cancelation.
Anyway I'm going to look again now. I guess if prices are through the roof, I don't have to go.
Sep 19th, 2004, 12:30 PM
#32
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I'm happy to report that there's a happy ending to all this.
I just bought two tickets from Orbitz on Delta at $617 each. I'm leaving for Frankfurt and flying back from Madrid. I just have to book the rest of the flights now or tomorrow -- I'm planning to start with the Rhine, then fly to Lisbon, and then visit Andalucia.
I just bought two tickets from Orbitz on Delta at $617 each. I'm leaving for Frankfurt and flying back from Madrid. I just have to book the rest of the flights now or tomorrow -- I'm planning to start with the Rhine, then fly to Lisbon, and then visit Andalucia.
Sep 19th, 2004, 12:37 PM
#34
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Yeah, now I need to book the rest of the tickets. I guess I can't do it today though because I need to go meet some people now.
It's just funny how I've ended up on a trip that I had no intention of doing -- Andalucia was never high on my list. But I figured that since I'm going to Lisbon, I really should see Andalucia. But after reading more about Andalucia, I'm much more excited about it.
It's just funny how I've ended up on a trip that I had no intention of doing -- Andalucia was never high on my list. But I figured that since I'm going to Lisbon, I really should see Andalucia. But after reading more about Andalucia, I'm much more excited about it.
Sep 21st, 2004, 02:23 AM
#35
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111op, what you're forgetting is that Brits get very excited about their degrees. I used to work with a woman with a BS in physics. She referred to herself as a physicist, even though she had completed her degree 20 years ago, and had never worked in the field, or obtained an advanced degree.
Many Brits also announce the fact that they have a degree on their business cards, along with the "type" of degree they received, as in Miles Kingdom, BA Acc Comm, 2.2.
Many Brits also announce the fact that they have a degree on their business cards, along with the "type" of degree they received, as in Miles Kingdom, BA Acc Comm, 2.2.
