Who Deserves Better Prices? People with Advance bookings or Last Min. Bookings?

Question

I'm curious on how people feel about this subject.

In the past it has been where several people could get last minute deals. This is somewhat the case still, except the airlines did this and to many people waited last minute thus one of the reasons most domestic carriers are in bankruptcy status.

I for one am all for the people that plan in advance getting the better prices and fortunately the travel industry is changing towards this. It is all in about re-training travelers to not wait last min. It will take some time, but eventually travelers will understand the changes.

I often get asked, wouldn't they want to at least "fill the empty seats to get something". In the past, yes they did thats why they had the last min deals, but again it got the airlines in major financial trouble! They were/are actually losing money doing it this way.

Look forward to reading everyones thoughts/opinions on this!

Travel Specialist - 8 Years

Hushnow, thanks for your post.

I think you were misunderstanding what I was trying to ask.

There is not standby any longer, that is a thing of the past.

You say the airlines pay the same amount so why not make money on the unfilled seats. The problem is too many people got used to "last min cheap deals" and that is the airlines fault, yes. However they are changing this.

For flights of people who are unable to plan in advance due to a funeral those are called bereavement fares to make the ticket price reasonable for the person.

Unfortunately from your reply, it tells me just how many misunderstandings there really are out there with travel.

What I was trying to ask is how people feel about the last min. deals virtually out the window? I mean it isn't that you won't be able to get good prices just that planning a vacation in advance will be the better way to go for prices.

Answer 1

I am for the advance booking...
You're right that people got used to last minute deals, and that's why there are so many airlines in bankrupcy right now. Anyway, travel industry, being so complex, is always misunderstood, there are people who cannot accept the fact that booking one day in advance costs them a lot more than the other booking a month in advance, for example...

Answer 2

When seats are booked in advance, it helps the airline to know how many people are going to be on the flight, but the flight will still be going so I don't see how it would save the airline money except in incidentals like the amount of meals they would carry if the flight is that long.

It is good for the passengers to book in advance as that pretty much insures that they have a seat.

Flying standby is good because it does help the airline fill in seats that might otherwise be empty on a flight that's being made whether there are 2 passengers or 200.

Flying standby also encourages air travel as many people need to fly without having the option of preplanning such as a flight to go home for a funeral.

So I don't think it really makes any difference who gets a "deal" on their seat. The airlines make it up in one manner or another. If an airline goes bankrupt, it's poor management in every area, not just a question of passengers booking in advance or going standby.

Answer 3

It would be lovely if these airline companies gave the deals to people who book in advance as an incentive or at least shared the savings out with advance bookers, I am far too nervous to wait for a last minuet deal in case its goes belly up, preparation is what works for me.

Answer 4

People with bookings well in advance - planning is everything.
Sock it to the Last Minute People!!