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

No idea what msp is but in europe you can buy loads of flights for $30 so yes it is absolutly possible to fly someone for that amount.

But to realy anwser your question. If they even make $1 more than they spend on fuel (they absolutly are) its saving them money because that dollar goes towards fixed costs like the pay for the pilots as this cost doesnt change if you fly with them or not, its better having you contribute a single dollar to that cost then nothing.

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