RANT: Why do airlines....

[Maetryx]

Maetryx here, 😎

For the love of God, why do airlines run advertisements which quote the ultra cheap ONE WAY price for their shortest/cheapest route, but you have to buy a ROUND TRIP ticket to get "that" price (actually 2 times the price) but you don't get it anyway because you're not going from Fresno to Modesto (or whatever)?

Sale into fall with sale fares in select cities starting at $29 (USD) each way, round trip required. Book and purchase your ticket by September 17, 2003, and explore the Freedom Trail in Boston, relax on the beaches of Los Cabos, watch the Northern Lights in Fairbanks, or take in a cricket match in Vancouver B.C. Travel any time between September 4, 2003, and February 19, 2004. Additional restrictions apply.

It's analogous to a shoe store advertising the price of one shoe, or the grocery store publishing prices for a 1/2 pound of grapes. No one would stand for it! :|

 

[ThaGrandCow]

What's wrong with it? they state it right there that it has to be a round trip. Seems pretty obvious to me

 

[Ime]

I don't fly as much as I used to. Too much hassle.

I'm actually driving 12 hours to Indiana in a couple of weeks for my job instead of just flying there.

 

[Maetryx]

What I find wrong with it is the low brow technique that assumes that consumers are SO #$@!ing stupid or psychologically weak that they will simply buy whatever shows the lowest dollar amount, regardless of what that dollar amount actually buys. It's an insult.

It's akin to that other practice of selling things for $69.99 or gasoline at $1.59 9/10.

 

[brtspears2]

It's a common practice. Reasons why a store can't sell yougurt for 33 cents each but 3 for $1, people get all excited over it being a good deal. $29 got your attention, but when you found out from select cities, times, days, planetary configuration, the price differs.

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: Maetryx
What I find wrong with it is the low brow technique that assumes that consumers are SO #$@!ing stupid or psychologically weak that they will simply buy whatever shows the lowest dollar amount, regardless of what that dollar amount actually buys. It's an insult.

It's akin to that other practice of selling things for $69.99 or gasoline at $1.59 9/10.

Yes, it's a sad world....but the techniques work...


just like spam... everyone hates it but spammers still make a crapload of money from stupid people.

 

[FoBoT]

make it sounds cheaper/trick you into buying

 

[amnesiac]

When people stop being stupid, advertisers will stop exploiting them.

Check out any books by Robert Cialdini, especially Influence: Science and Practice

You'd be amazed at how many simple tricks can be used to manipulate people.