Aer Lingus pricing of flights

M

mollser

Registered User
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...so we have been trying to organise a ski holiday for the last 5 weeks, checking the AL flights daily to ensure they hadn't moved from their €105 each way. Eventually i booked the flights, €266 return, and when I go to select the seats I note there are only 10 people booked on the plane. A group of approx 25 are going.

As more of the group have booked, the price has now dropped to €13 going out, still €105 back, a not inconsiderate drop of €92.

I thought the arrangement was the earlier you book, the cheaper you get it?? Obviously not :mad:. This kind of sh!t pees me off, the more organised you are the more you're punished!
 
There is nothing online to lead you to believe that the arrangement is the earlier you book the cheaper it is, this is a common misconception.

There is also a seperated group booking facility linked off the main page which offers discounts.

http://www.flyaerlingus.com/cgi-bin...efecfigdffgdfkh.0&P_OID=-536880173&Category=3

Planning a family reunion, wedding, shopping or golfing trip? Whatever your reason for getting together with a group of 6* or more traveling together, take advantage of our flexible payment rules, our everyday low fares and our friendly service. And now, when you book more, you'll save more. For every passenger above ten who travel on Aer Lingus as part of your group, you will earn $15* for use on your group's itinerary.
Click to expand...
 
I recently went to book flights with Ryanair as soon as one of their sales were announced. I held back for a couple of days and lo and behold there were far more of the cheaper seats later on in the saler than there were on the first day of the sale. However this is not always the case. Sometimes you are lucky and sometimes you are not.
 
mollser said:
I thought the arrangement was the earlier you book, the cheaper you get it?? Obviously not :mad:. This kind of sh!t pees me off, the more organised you are the more you're punished!
Click to expand...
The earlier you book has nothing to do with the flights being always cheaper.
Aerlingus/Ryanair check how much seats are left on certain flights, if they feel the flight isnt moving they reduce seats to push people to choose that flight over another earlier/later flight.
 
Bluetonic said:
There is nothing online to lead you to believe that the arrangement is the earlier you book the cheaper it is, this is a common misconception.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know there isn't anything online, I would love to know how the airlines price their flights though. First few expensive, next bunch cheap, close to date and/or last few seats expensive?? Or is it just random, as it seemingly is?? I note they're having a sale from yesterday, but these seats weren't reduced in the last sale 2 weeks ago! Its so frustrating to just chuck money away like this!

Bluetonic said:
There is also a seperated group booking facility linked off the main page which offers discounts.
Click to expand...

Never heard of this before, and still can't find this on the site anywhere!
 
momomo said:
The earlier you book has nothing to do with the flights being always cheaper.
Aerlingus/Ryanair check how much seats are left on certain flights, if they feel the flight isnt moving they reduce seats to push people to choose that flight over another earlier/later flight.
Click to expand...

oh right, that makes some sense. Next time I need to book pricey flights, I'll check the seat planner and work it out from that. Works for AL, not Ryanair tho. Lesson learnt!

edit: In fact, this seems akin to gambling :)!
 
Bluetonic said:
www.aerlingus.com

Right hand side of the screen, the 4th picture/icon/ad down.

Couldn't be clearer, it has 'Groups' displayed on it
Click to expand...

The homepage changes according to what country you've selected in the dropdown at the top - the groups link is there on the US page, but not on the Ireland page.

If you click on "Services & Frequent Flier" tab at the top, groups is in the menu on the left
 
M O'L said on in an interview on one of the british tv channels a year or so ago that a certain % of the seats were at certain price ( think he quoted £19.99 and then the next % was at £29.99 and the next % at £39.99 etc. exact figures escape me now but it was something like the first 4% is bottom price, next 15% is second tier next 15% next price and when he has over a certain percent sold the price goes to the maximum price for that flight. thus people booking ryanair at the last minute usually pay more than those booking earlier. A/L do have some brilliant prices at the moment (did you ever think you could fly A/L to Rome for €13?) but those prices are relatively short term ie Jan/Feby wheras Ryanair are easier for later dates. when booking Ryanair it usually pay to break the group up into smaller batches to 'catch' whatever is left at the lower rates. from the above post this does not apply to A/L
 
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