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These calculations of the airlines "losses" on these pass holders strikes me as similar to the software industry's claims of billions of losses due to piracy, c

by coleca 14y ago

These calculations of the airlines "losses" on these pass holders strikes me as similar to the software industry's claims of billions of losses due to piracy, counting all pirated copies as lost revenue, even if the pirate would have never purchased the software in a perfect world. Did they realize that if these guys are taking up what would have otherwise been an empty first class seat that it really costs the airline almost nothing (just the increase in jet fuel costs due to their weight and anything they might eat)? It's not like there were special flights just for these guys, they are scheduled flights. I know folks that work as baggage handlers for just a few hours a week so they can buy $5 unsold tickets anywhere they want. This program is not that different from what they offer their employees, except for the first class designation.

MBCook 14y ago
According to the article, some of these people would book dozens of seats then cancel them at the last minute (with no cost) when they decided they didn't want to go. On flights no one was taking, this wouldn't have been much of an issue. But on flights that are regularly full, this could have easily prevented normal paying customers from purchasing the seats.
- excuse-me 14y ago
  Regular full-price business tickets let you do this anyway - that's why flights are overbooked. Airlines prefer not to overbook first and business class - because these are the sort of customers you don't want to piss off - which is why there are normally upgrades available. With 3hour checkin requirements it's got a lot easier for the airlines to manage who is missing up front and pick the tactically best customer in cattle class to upgrade - or just to sell the upgrades, sometimes they even sell them after you get onboard.
pavel_lishin 14y ago
> I know folks that work as baggage handlers for just a few hours a week so they can buy $5 unsold tickets anywhere they want. This program is not that different from what they offer their employees, except for the first class designation. I was not aware this was a thing.

by coleca 14y ago

MBCook 14y ago

According to the article, some of these people would book dozens of seats then cancel them at the last minute (with no cost) when they decided they didn't want to go. On flights no one was taking, this wouldn't have been much of an issue. But on flights that are regularly full, this could have easily prevented normal paying customers from purchasing the seats.

excuse-me 14y ago
Regular full-price business tickets let you do this anyway - that's why flights are overbooked. Airlines prefer not to overbook first and business class - because these are the sort of customers you don't want to piss off - which is why there are normally upgrades available. With 3hour checkin requirements it's got a lot easier for the airlines to manage who is missing up front and pick the tactically best customer in cattle class to upgrade - or just to sell the upgrades, sometimes they even sell them after you get onboard.

pavel_lishin 14y ago

> I know folks that work as baggage handlers for just a few hours a week so they can buy $5 unsold tickets anywhere they want. This program is not that different from what they offer their employees, except for the first class designation. I was not aware this was a thing.