ELI5… Why do airlines offer super cheap tickets instead of leaving the plane empty?

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I’m considering getting one of those cheap tickets you see which is a direct round trip from MSP to Orlando for $60 including fees (it wasnt the date i wanted but it was cheap). How does that make economic sense for the airline? Sure the plane is making the trip anyway, but how can hauling my 200lbs of man meat 1500miles for $30 each direction not more than offset the fuel?

In: Economics

41 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Two reasons

One, the weight you will add is minuscule compared to the plane itself and everyone else who already booked the flight + their luggage’s (usually these tickets don’t let you get large check in luggage for that cheap price)

Two, you have to get back again (likely) so you will be paying to fly back and if the place you are flying from isn’t your home town or something you don’t have a cheap place to stay probably to skimp until a cheap flight comes along and will likely have to pay for a normal price ticket to go back

For places with cheap tickets for resort stays I’m not sure entirely but I guess they get a kickback from the other costs to make up for it

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