Archive

‘Tweaking’ airlines’ yield management

Have you been accused by airline agents of trying to “game the system” by asking if they could open up for mileage redemption seats they obviously won’t sell for cash? Now a top airline executive is encouraging fliers to alert agents when the system fails in its predictability, so it can be “tweaked.”

Before you do that, however, make sure you know what you are talking about — learn all booking codes used by the respective carrier, if you haven’t already, and be able to access and understand its inventory data. Just because there are dozens of open business-class seats months before a flight doesn’t mean you are entitled to an upgrade or an “award” ticket…

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‘On the Fly’ Column


LATEST: Swiss Air overplays ‘mistake fare’ excuse

Airlines sometimes make mistakes when filing fares — it’s human and understandable. But when major carriers keep erring and then punish paying customers by unilaterally canceling tickets days or even weeks after their issuance, that raises questions about competence and responsibility. In late September, Swiss International Airlines filed a First Class…


BROWSE COLUMNS BY DATE

2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008

AUG 31: ‘Gardening’ your airline reservation

JUL 03: How airlines could make more money

JUN 19: Is the airline market really not working?

MAY 22: How to recognize and fight airline tricks

MAY 15: Why airline alliances are good for fliers

APR 30: American tries to entice top United fliers

APR 17: Rare airport luxury, almost wasted

MAR 27: Diplomats decry new United pet policy

MAR 07: Did United choose the best rez system?

FEB 15: Round the world in a week, without pain

JAN 17: Rethinking government air travel costs

JAN 09: DOT keeps false ‘each-way’ airfare ads

2011

DEC 20: Fighting airlines’ attempts to overcharge

DEC 14: FareCompare guts airfare search tools

DEC 07: Airlines still think customers are stupid

NOV 22: Questioning conventional airfare wisdom

NOV 11: India tries to blackmail Star Alliance

NOV 02: Carriers lose appetite for Tokyo Haneda

OCT 26: Airlines neglect non-flying experience

OCT 18: U.S. fares now filed four times a day

OCT 05: The benefits of non-airline credit cards

SEP 19: Consider options before giving up airline seat

SEP 14: How much slack do the airlines deserve?

SEP 06: Is the travel-agency model sustainable?

AUG 23: Is media coverage of air travel helpful?

AUG 08: Air India had no chance with Star Alliance

AUG 02: United steps up fake ‘direct’ flights

JUL 26: 17 hours of tax-free airline tickets

JUL 13: ExpertFlyer boosts airfare transparency

JUL 05: British Air, Iberia’s dysfunctional merger

JUN 21: My book ‘Decoding Air Travel’ is out

JUN 08: DOT cracks down on airfare advertising

MAY 25: Should airline booking codes be secret?

MAY 18: British Air loses bags on $12,000 ticket

MAY 04: American’s antiquated ticketing process

APR 27: Airlines, want better GDS model? Unite!

APR 19: Singapore Air’s inept agents, dark side

APR 14: What are your hotel pet peeves?

APR 07: American wins first battle in data war

MAR 30: Proper airfare advertising comes to U.S.

MAR 23: Hilton tries hard to lose my business

MAR 16: Kralev International launches website

FEB 24: Delta SkyMiles needs new leadership

FEB 14: US Airways denies StarNet blocking

FEB 10: GDS travel-booking model faces change

FEB 01: Wyndham today, Sheraton tomorrow

JAN 12: The risks of third-party airline bookings

JAN 04: When airfares jump on you for no reason

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