Vikrant Shekhawat : Oct 22, 2024, 06:00 AM
Airlines System Work: With the onset of the festive season, air travel is becoming expensive for passengers. Airline companies are charging higher fares from passengers this season using methods like algorithms, dark patterns and drip pricing. You may have noticed that when you check the fare of a flight, after a while the same fare increases. What is the reason for this sudden jump and what can be the measures to avoid it? In this article we will answer these questions.How does the algorithm of airlines work?According to experts, the algorithm of airline companies works entirely on the principle of demand and supply. When more number of people search for a particular flight, the algorithm indicates that the demand for this flight is increasing, and hence the fare is also increased. In a survey report, it was found that 72% of the people confirmed that if they check the fare of the same flight repeatedly, the fare appears to be higher than before.The reason for this is the smart algorithm of the airlines, which keeps an eye on the activities of the users. If a flight is searched repeatedly, the system processes this information and increases the flight fare so that companies can make more profits.The game of dark patterns and drip pricingMany times airline companies use dark patterns on their website or booking portal. This means that they show you that there are only a few seats left in the flight and if you do not book immediately, you may miss this opportunity. This makes customers book tickets in a hurry, without doing much investigation. This strategy is to create psychological pressure so that customers book tickets in a hurry and pay more.Along with this, drip pricing is also a common process. When you see the flight fare, it shows an attractive price, but as you proceed further, hidden charges and other fees are added to it. These fees can be in the form of seat selection, baggage fees, and other additional services, making the final fare much higher than the initial price.How to avoid airlines' algorithms?Use incognito mode: If you are checking flight fares frequently, clearing your browsing history or using incognito mode will prevent the algorithm from knowing your activities. This can help you avoid sudden increase in fares.Search from different devices: If you feel that the fare is increasing due to frequent checking, then search from another device or mobile. Many times the algorithm increases the fare if you search continuously from the same device.Book in advance: The best way to travel cheaply by air is to do your booking in advance. As the date of travel approaches, the fare is more likely to increase.Use price alerts: Many websites and apps provide price alerts. You can set alerts for your favorite flights, so that you can get notifications when the fare is low. This is a good way to get cheap tickets.Compare different airlines: Always compare the fares of different airlines. Sometimes the fares on the same route can vary considerably between different airlines.How to avoid dark patterns?The most important thing to avoid dark patterns is that you do not make hasty decisions. When the website says that only 1-2 seats are left, act with a cool mind and check the complete information first. Apart from this, pay attention to every additional fee and charge while booking a flight. This can help you avoid hidden charges.ConclusionIncrease in airfares is common during the festive season, but it can be difficult to avoid the algorithms and dark patterns used by airline companies. However, if you are careful and book smartly, you can avoid these tricks and make your trip cheaper. Measures like booking at the right time, using confidential mode, and price alerts can reduce the burden on your pocket.