Yes, fare categories have been around for a long time.

However, TFA isn't about fare categories in general. It's about fare categories based on the number of people on a booking, which IS relatively new.

> Airlines have been charging different customers different prices based on ability to pay for decades. Leisure pax book in advance and biz pax book last minute. Then there is class and buckets.

I used to work in the air travel sector. Airlines started nickel and diming fliers after 9/11, accelerated these practices during the financial crash of 08', and they've never looked back since. These "trends" are over 20 years old.

This is literally discriminating based on the size of one's family. If you are a single person, unlike in the past, it does not matter how far you book in advance you will pay more than someone with a wife. Imagine going to a restaurant and seeing different prices for single people and couples. It would be insane. At least with a restaurant, single people cost the restaurant more (taking up a whole table) though they usually leave sooner so it's not that much of a difference.

Once upon a time, the differentiation was a Saturday night overstay. Prices could be half if you departed on Saturday vs. Sunday. Some cheap companies forced employees stay longer to get the deal. I did it when on work travel and used a good portion of the savings on some very nice dinners.

What is the amount of money a slick (not early) neat (one carry on) prepared bussiness traveler (all the accessories already purchased) spends at the airport compared to a family of 6 who shows up 5 hours early. As an airline all the 90lb 12 year old girls with 90 lbs. of luggage surcharge is ideal. The airlines know as does every travel agent ever, Solo/Single/Manager class passengers are more likely to cancel or modify their itenary at the last moment, this isnt targeted at a demographic, just the ch

> It doesn't cost the venue any more to service you than it does a couple.

It does for sleeping accommodations. It's perfectly reasonable for a hotel to charge $200 for a single-occupancy room and only $110/person for a double-occupancy room.

Ditto things like a restaurant table where the restaurant doesn't have single-person or "meet a stranger-table" seating arrangements: Part of the cost is for the entire table, no matter how many people are involved.

Ditto for taxis or car-services: Part of the cost is shared by everyone in the car at a given time, the more people, the more t

Any VCs in the audience? Someone should launch a new matchmaking service, FlightWife.com

Weekend getaways where they pair you for transfers to airports, flights, hotel stays and restaurant bookings to maximize the couples discounts.

i have to ask, why did you post this? why not say why you think they are death tubes and what alternative you use, that might be, well, something instead of nothing

> to climb on one of the death tubes

Well, there's part of your problem. The rest of us get in the death tube.

Statistically speaking you are far more likely to die in the car on the way to the airport than in the plane.

> Can't wait for them to start charging to use the goddamn washroom.

Gérard Depardieu gave them a very convincing argument not to ever try charging for that.

> Can't wait for them to start charging to use the goddamn washroom.

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The short haul Chicago - Cleavland route is just going to cost more for that single flyer than the family of 6 that is priced next to 6 hours on I-80 in the minivan, (about 60 dollars per passenger) Single flyers are more likely to cause a underutilized plane be added to the schedule during the week. The family is going to most likely avoiding wed flights, where most airlines would rather not be flying 45% loaded aircraft at all, rather have it dwelling at hub.

Only a bussiness traveler would take a

> A long time ago, the airline industry was regulated. It's time to bring that back, there are many reasons why this is better for everyone.

Adjusting for inflation, the prices during regulation were generally higher than today. And for many, price is the only factor that they consider during purchase.

Pre-1970s-deregulation, domestic US airline travel on major routes was a lot more expensive than it is now, adjusted for inflation.

There's a reason "the jet set" used to mean "rich folks."

Source: [1]Now is a great and cheap time to fly, even if airlines aren't perfect [usatoday.com], Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, August 7, 2024

[1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/2024/08/07/air-travel-history-evolution-cruising-altitude/74684960007/

I imagine they'll treat the two as some sort of package deal. You cancel both and then re-book the one you really wanted as a single. For the single price.

There is only so much inconvenience, regulation, and add-ons people can take. Is it really surprising airlines would attract attention?

Most airline reservation systems require a saved booking (PNR = Passenger Name Record) before they can issue a ticket. So, the booking class and seats are locked in before you can make a payment. Once that's done, they can't really change the price, and you can pick which card you use. So, I would suspect that they aren't trying to identify a corporate card as part of their segmentation strategy.