4 ms·

United, Orbitz Sue Travel Site Over ‘Hidden City’ Tickets

16 points by Dawenster 12y ago

lsaferite 12y ago
“Purchasing a ticket to a point beyond the actual destination and getting off the aircraft at the connecting point is unethical, It is tantamount to switching price tags to obtain a lower price on goods sold at department stores.” Are they being serious? It's 'ethical' to charge more for (A->B) and less for (A->B->C)? Do they even think about these things before they say them?
- DanBC 12y ago
  I can't find it now but people who travel on Eurostar have similar restrictions. It seems to be something that makes sense to people providing travel services, if not to the people receiving them. (A site that helps you search for the stuff you can't find would be cool. Like "Google Answers" or whatever it was called.)
- lsaferite 12y ago
  Instead of editing my original, I will just add here. In response to the comment from the airline, no, it's like buying a pant & shirt combo set for $40 when the same exact pants sell for $70 and then throwing away the shirt. How is that unethical exactly?
drivingmenuts 12y ago
We've reached this point because the airlines wanted to promote lower prices and make up the losses with volume. If they don't want this situation, it's on them to change it. Their lack of foresight does not constitute a problem that I am required to solve, unless they want to pay me for it.
bko 12y ago
Does anyone know why this is even possible? Is it due to airport fees? I was surprised to that the UK imposes such a high duty on incoming international airplanes [0] [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Passenger_Duty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Passenger_Duty
- cozzyd 12y ago
  Ticket prices are based on demand, not cost of providing.
dark_void 12y ago
Is "promoting prohibited forms of travel" an actionable offense? Who prohibits this form of travel? Do private companies get to decide what is prohibited? Also, linking to their websites? I just don't understand how suggesting ways/ideas for consumers to save money is fraudulent. Then again, Southwest airlines threatened to sue me for checking people into their flights, so maybe I just don't get it.

16 points by Dawenster 12y ago

“Purchasing a ticket to a point beyond the actual destination and getting off the aircraft at the connecting point is unethical, It is tantamount to switching price tags to obtain a lower price on goods sold at department stores.” Are they being serious? It's 'ethical' to charge more for (A->B) and less for (A->B->C)? Do they even think about these things before they say them?

DanBC 12y ago
I can't find it now but people who travel on Eurostar have similar restrictions. It seems to be something that makes sense to people providing travel services, if not to the people receiving them. (A site that helps you search for the stuff you can't find would be cool. Like "Google Answers" or whatever it was called.)
lsaferite 12y ago
Instead of editing my original, I will just add here. In response to the comment from the airline, no, it's like buying a pant & shirt combo set for $40 when the same exact pants sell for $70 and then throwing away the shirt. How is that unethical exactly?

drivingmenuts 12y ago

We've reached this point because the airlines wanted to promote lower prices and make up the losses with volume. If they don't want this situation, it's on them to change it. Their lack of foresight does not constitute a problem that I am required to solve, unless they want to pay me for it.

bko 12y ago

Does anyone know why this is even possible? Is it due to airport fees? I was surprised to that the UK imposes such a high duty on incoming international airplanes [0] [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Passenger_Duty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Passenger_Duty

cozzyd 12y ago
Ticket prices are based on demand, not cost of providing.

dark_void 12y ago

Is "promoting prohibited forms of travel" an actionable offense? Who prohibits this form of travel? Do private companies get to decide what is prohibited? Also, linking to their websites? I just don't understand how suggesting ways/ideas for consumers to save money is fraudulent. Then again, Southwest airlines threatened to sue me for checking people into their flights, so maybe I just don't get it.