I'd be really curious if that causal though. Airline pricing is an extreme black box, subject to tons of factors. Maybe the other flight is just at a better tim

I'd be really curious if that causal though. Airline pricing is an extreme black box, subject to tons of factors. Maybe the other flight is just at a better time for people traveling before/after some event? Or it's on an airline that more people prefer? So much of flying is done by corporate travel where you barely have a choice of time or layover or airline, let alone which plane you fly on. By contrast, I was booking a flight next month and could have gotten an Airbus flight for $150, but on an airline I loathe, so I took a 737 flight for $250 because assuming I don't die, it'll be a much better experience.