Large pricing change for South African Airways
Back to Forum- This topic has 16 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 24 Aug 2016
at 15:47 by AMcWhirter.
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Charles-PParticipantThis morning I was on the South African Airways website looking to book some tickets for a flight to Johannesburg, the price change between 0730 CET and about five minutes ago is truly remarkable.
At 0730 Four Business Class tickets were priced at GBP 1731 each
Five minutes ago the price had risen to GBP 2801 each with all other details exactly the same.
I of course appreciate that pricing algorithms are driven by factors such as demand, time of day, location of person booking etc but this does seem to be a very large jump. Anybody else seem anything similar ?
22 Aug 2016
at 10:04
Charles-PParticipant‘esselle’ – thanks for that tip, I remember my old IT manager saying the same thing a couple of years ago. My browser is set to never store the ‘cookies’ used by some sites so I am confident the system is unable to recognise me as a return visitor.
I have now booked four Business Class tickets on BA for the same trip at GBP 1325 each which I think is pretty good value. They use the A380 on that flight and the Business Class product on the BA 380 is in my view one of the best available.
22 Aug 2016
at 10:28
GivingupBAParticipantCharles-P said, “Anybody else seem anything similar?” – yes, I have several times, although not with such a large jump in price as you found. But quite a jump nevertheless.
I have learned to research prices on one laptop, and book flights on another laptop – preferably in a different building too – this removes the problem, for me.
22 Aug 2016
at 21:21
FDOS_UKParticipantI have seen changes of this order of magnitude on a number of occasions, in both directions.
Recently, I was costing a trip to the Middle East and one airline was quoting £1,800 return – a week later, the same company released some ‘I’ class availability and I picked it up for £900.
AS a matter of timing, someone looking at the fare and then seeing the ‘I’ class release 5 mins later would have been surprised.
23 Aug 2016
at 06:14
LuganoPirateParticipantI have seen these types of price jumps only too frequently. In fact is Hadleigh to me right now. A close on 30% uplift on my upcoming flight to Europe. I shall be patient as the price often reduces nearer the date.
23 Aug 2016
at 09:25
LuganoPirateParticipantOut of curiosity I checked SAA JNB – JFK in Business.
Rough conversion from Rand:
One way – £2,000
Return: £1850!23 Aug 2016
at 09:28
Charles-PParticipanticenspice – we are fortunate to all be flying privately courtesy of an old friend who is returning from safari at the same time to the US. From New York to London I will probably again use BA but I have yet to book as our travel plans are not yet finalised.
1 user thanked author for this post.
23 Aug 2016
at 11:21
icenspiceParticipantOMG, Charles. I think I am on the wrong forum!
Regarding your opening post: the other day I changed the date of a flight to Cyprus and while flicking through the calendar online, the fare difference rose within seconds. But nowhere near the jump you experienced.
23 Aug 2016
at 18:00
LuganoPirateParticipantSorry. Erratum. Hadleigh should read “happening”! Just noticed it but can’t see how to edit a post.
23 Aug 2016
at 19:37
MartynSinclairParticipant@LP, I think the edit function is now time sensitive. I think BT wanted to stop a poster deleting or even changing a post after a certain time.
With regards to research, I tend to research first on Kayak and then switch to the airlines website to book.
1 user thanked author for this post.
23 Aug 2016
at 19:47 -
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