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Ticket prices were already based on machine-learned algorithms. This is no different; they're just calling it AI, because investors want to hear that. There are

Ticket prices were already based on machine-learned algorithms. This is no different; they're just calling it AI, because investors want to hear that. There are entire organizations out there, across industries, which do this already (e.g., hotel prices) so this isn't simply Delta and/or airlines.

ghaff 1y ago
There's a lot of haggling/negotiation that's gone on long before there was ML/AI but people in cultures where the price is the price (for most things) just don't like it. Some is more transparent than others.
antithesizer 1y ago
Well aside from the difference mentioned in the title
matwood 1y ago
Yeah, prices have been dynamic for a long time. My method for getting better sats is buy the cheapest ticket that can be upgraded. Then, check for upgrade pricing daily. You'll see prices move all over day to day. Buy the upgrade if the price hits your threshold. I've received a number of upgrades very reasonably priced this way. It also helps that airlines would rather sell the seats for small amounts than give away 'free' loyalty upgrades which keeps seats open.
- const_cast 1y ago
  Side note: but this is also why online privacy matters. If there's little to no data on you, you will appear as a new customer, and you can get really sweet deals. Use a new browser session, use something like Tor that protects you from fingerprinting, poke around on a VPN, try changing your user agent. Don't log into anything. This is the ideal way to shop.
jasonthorsness 1y ago
I don't mind variable ticket prices as much as I mind PERSONAL ticket prices. Maybe it's an immature point of view, but if the airline is screwing everyone that's one thing, but if everyone else is getting a good deal except for me and I am subsidizing other tickets by paying more for my incompetence it feels worse.
sva_ 1y ago
This is about individual pricing tailored to each customer though. There has been a bit in that direction before, like hotel websites showing higher prices to users of Apple devices, but not individualized prices as far as I know.
- lotsofpulp 1y ago
  That was never substantiated.
xnx 1y ago
> This is no different; This is different. The personal price discrimination is what's new.
- garciasn 1y ago
  No it’s not. They’ve been using your identification via cookies for years.

ghaff 1y ago

There's a lot of haggling/negotiation that's gone on long before there was ML/AI but people in cultures where the price is the price (for most things) just don't like it. Some is more transparent than others.

antithesizer 1y ago

Well aside from the difference mentioned in the title

matwood 1y ago

Yeah, prices have been dynamic for a long time. My method for getting better sats is buy the cheapest ticket that can be upgraded. Then, check for upgrade pricing daily. You'll see prices move all over day to day. Buy the upgrade if the price hits your threshold. I've received a number of upgrades very reasonably priced this way. It also helps that airlines would rather sell the seats for small amounts than give away 'free' loyalty upgrades which keeps seats open.

const_cast 1y ago
Side note: but this is also why online privacy matters. If there's little to no data on you, you will appear as a new customer, and you can get really sweet deals. Use a new browser session, use something like Tor that protects you from fingerprinting, poke around on a VPN, try changing your user agent. Don't log into anything. This is the ideal way to shop.

jasonthorsness 1y ago

I don't mind variable ticket prices as much as I mind PERSONAL ticket prices. Maybe it's an immature point of view, but if the airline is screwing everyone that's one thing, but if everyone else is getting a good deal except for me and I am subsidizing other tickets by paying more for my incompetence it feels worse.

sva_ 1y ago

This is about individual pricing tailored to each customer though. There has been a bit in that direction before, like hotel websites showing higher prices to users of Apple devices, but not individualized prices as far as I know.

lotsofpulp 1y ago
That was never substantiated.

xnx 1y ago

> This is no different; This is different. The personal price discrimination is what's new.

garciasn 1y ago
No it’s not. They’ve been using your identification via cookies for years.