“Could the airlines have a new trick up their sleeves?”

I love a good conspiracy theory as much as the next consumer advocate. So when Eric Smith contacted me with evidence he said suggests the airlines are trying to pull a fast one, I paid attention.

Better yet, this one’s a 9/11 conspiracy theory.

Smith explains.

I came across something strange in my Travelocity Fare Watcher. Might interest you.

Here’s the story: I’m planning a trip from BWI (Baltimore) to MOB (Mobile, Ala.). Dates are 9/12 through 9/21.

Here’s the problem. I’m not getting any alerts from the fare-watcher system. Why? Because American and US Airways published a one-day fare, $228 round trip from BWI to MOB.

Now here’s the strange part. To get this fare, both legs of the round trip must be flown on Sept. 11. You would have no more than six hours in Mobile before you would have to fly home. I’ve never seen a round trip fare like this. Have you?

Could it be that the airlines have figured out that by offering a low-ball fare, on a trip no one in their right mind would take, they can interfere with fare-tracking systems?

Could the airlines have a new trick up their sleeves? 

What do you think?

Interesting. So if I understood this correctly, the airlines were somehow manipulating Travelcity’s fare alert system to generate undesirable itineraries.

A few days later, Smith followed up with another email.

Continue reading on elliott.org

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