Air NZ price for seat allocation

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alliao

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# 210379 24-Mar-2017 23:25

Some backstory, meeting up with missus and bub on their last leg of holiday up in Australia.

Then we're flying back together.

They've booked last year and I've decided to join them.

Looking through their bookings, we can see the seat next to them is empty.

So I thought, great, I'll just book and pick that seat.

Then I see Air NZ pulling a psychologist on me.

The initial price you see on the top right hand corner isn't really the full price, since you're being lead through this page where all seats starts at minimum of $10.

What's worse, the seat I can still see as empty when I look via my wife's login page remains "OCCUPIED"

So I can't even pick that seat.

Drip pricing at it's best....

[Mod edit (MF): subject changed)

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# 1747342 24-Mar-2017 23:34

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Perhaps that is their way of not putting people beside a kid untill the plane is absolutely full?

Richard rich.ms

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# 1747361 25-Mar-2017 05:50

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Do the painful thing and ring them...

sbiddle

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# 1747366 25-Mar-2017 07:31

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You need to pay $10 because you've not a HVC and have chosen a fare basis (seat only) that do not include the ability to select a seat for free in advance (you can select on the day). This has been standard NZ policy for S2S and domestic for around 6-7 years now and is no different to most other airlines. If you want to select a seat you'll need to select a fare basis that includes seat selection (works) or pay the seat select fee unless you fancy your chances on the day.

Just be thankful you're not on a Virgin flight where advance seat select of not available to anybody except HVC's and even at check-in there is absolutely no guarantee of a family being seated together, with many often split.

This certainly is not drip pricing.

tdgeek

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# 1747380 25-Mar-2017 08:43

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Misleading title, I thought it was about their pilots, very interesting, but its about a seat and $10.

alliao

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# 1747432 25-Mar-2017 10:10

It's about a seat that's available and not selectable, it's about not being up front about full cost of a ticket.

This is exactly the tactics used to exploit endowment effect, you are being lead through many hoops, before asking for that last $10.

It's no different to when you buy something, and at the very last second, they ask you for some extra "Shipping & Handling".

We get it the industry is facing fierce competition etc etc, it's like saying pricespy drove down the price by displaying prices publically.

But actually, what it does is drive out pricing instability. My personal hypothesis is that actually PriceSpy drove prices UP over all.

As no more retailers will employ loss leader tactics with such transparent pricing signals out there. But I digress.

Anyway, just thought that we already have JetStar didn't realise AirNZ does this as well.

I suppose there aren't that many variables for booking a flight, so why not make sure all advertisements for airfare must include

a seat and 1x 7kg luggage fits overhead compartment and nothing else?

And not allow to pester consumers for choice, for example they must untick some option on every page before it'd be unselected.

You ask once for every choice, and one confirmation dialog before you take the payment, with a tick box etc. And give any order 10min cancellation period.

Getting people to places efficiently enforces bonding between destinations, almost always does more good than harm, I see these sly tactics as unnecessary evil.

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# 1747437 25-Mar-2017 10:31

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Let me guess you purchased the cheapest airfare and now want all the extras free?

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sbiddle

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# 1747442 25-Mar-2017 10:46

alliao:

It's about a seat that's available and not selectable, it's about not being up front about full cost of a ticket.

This is exactly the tactics used to exploit endowment effect, you are being lead through many hoops, before asking for that last $10.

It's no different to when you buy something, and at the very last second, they ask you for some extra "Shipping & Handling".

We get it the industry is facing fierce competition etc etc, it's like saying pricespy drove down the price by displaying prices publically.

When you select a S2S fare type / fare basis on the main screen it's very clear that seat select is not an included benefit of a seat only fare. If you select a works fare you'll see that listed as a benefit and can select a seat for free.

You chose the lowest fare which does not come with seat select as a benefit. Many people don't care about luggage, a meal or where they sit on a plane to simply take the cheapest option available. As both other tickets have a seat allocated they either paid the $10 or chosen a fare basis such as works that included the ability to select a seat for free. If you want to select a seat you have a number of options available including selecting a fare that includes free seat select as a benefit.

This is not drip pricing - drip pricing is being forced to pay a booking fee to actually buy a concert ticket, and then pay a fee to print the ticket at home, neither of which are disclosed at the time in the main price. Drip pricing is adding on a *mandatory* fee on top of the advertised price that may be impossible to avoid paying. Nobody is forcing you to pay anything extra than the price shown on the main booking screen to complete the booking.

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# 1747455 25-Mar-2017 11:03

alliao:

It's about a seat that's available and not selectable, it's about not being up front about full cost of a ticket.

I'm pretty sure that's normal - most airlines explicitly block seats next to minors if you're a male. If you log in as a female, I'm certain that seat would suddenly become unoccupied.

If not, there's also the possibility she paid more for the seat beside Bub to be blocked out (which you can do). It's definitely showing as occupied in GDS though, so it's not some sort of funny business just to make you pay more.

As to the seat select thing, seriously. S2S fares below Works are specifically to be an LCC option on a traditionally full service airline - providing the option of getting a low cost fare meaning that Virgin Australia and Jetstar don't take all of Air NZ's lunch - and filling planes to make it more economical to avoid rampant price increases as well. You want seat select, food on board, and lounge access? You pay for a higher fare.

Also, they are pretty upfront about the price of a ticket. They tell you that seat select isn't included. You can either pay for the seat you want, or not pay and be assigned one at the airport. You don't *have* to pay for seat select, so it's not drip pricing.

alliao

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# 1748617 27-Mar-2017 11:35

Thanks for the suggestions all, I've gone and select "The Works"

The Works gives you the following items more than the "Seat"

-a meal

-movies

-Seat Select

Here's what the seat selection looks like when you happen upon Seat selection screen, on the left "Seat", on the right "The Works"

Seats costs $10 more when compared to The works, but you get more selection.

Both screenshots taken 1 minute apart. Interesting pricing strategy.

afe66

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# 1748626 27-Mar-2017 11:58

I flew Dunedin Brisbane on Virgin codeshare ANZ on Works.

First time hot meal, Samsung Galaxy Tab.
Second time no tabs but got hot meal.
Third time, no tabs, no hot meal as Dunedin not a catering airport.

Fourth time, won't be works....

A.

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# 1748630 27-Mar-2017 12:05

Thats a whole new layer of issues when going the higher tiers.

Works purchasers are usually at the very front of the plane (a320) or grouped together for the best 'experience'. Faster boarding, faster meal service. (Seat gap may be more) No cabin crew running around as they know they are grouped.

Which is why I suspect you find the middle blocked out when choosing works. Unless they also got the works, won't be put in one of those serviced areas so people don't jump seats and get someone elses meal or movies :)

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# 1748640 27-Mar-2017 12:31

alliao:

Thanks for the suggestions all, I've gone and select "The Works"

The Works gives you the following items more than the "Seat"

-a meal

-movies

-Seat Select

Here's what the seat selection looks like when you happen upon Seat selection screen, on the left "Seat", on the right "The Works"

Seats costs $10 more when compared to The works, but you get more selection.

Both screenshots taken 1 minute apart. Interesting pricing strategy.

I'm not sure what point you're actually making. Preferred Seats and exit row seats always cost extra - they're not selectable as part of a standard seat select, and even HVC's have to pay if they want them.

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# 1748646 27-Mar-2017 12:36

afe66: I flew Dunedin Brisbane on Virgin codeshare ANZ on Works.

First time hot meal, Samsung Galaxy Tab.
Second time no tabs but got hot meal.
Third time, no tabs, no hot meal as Dunedin not a catering airport.

Fourth time, won't be works....

A.

It's not that Dunedin has no catering - Virgin don't have meals for Air NZ customers and haven't done for quite a while. You can only select Seat or Seat+Bag fares when booking on NZ for travel on a VA JV service.

Likewise tablets were a VA HVC benefit that (many years ago) were given to all economy pax and then narrowed to VA HVC's. They removed these last year so there are now tablets carried as most customers carry their own devices for WiFi entertainment.

Both of these are the reason The Works is only available on NZ metal and not sold as a product on VA JV flights.

afe66

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# 1748648 27-Mar-2017 12:44

Picked Works specifically because had small child who needed feeding. (as have done for last 3 years)

Flew last month to Brisbane and over the intercom, they said "For those who have selected the meal option we are only able to serve cold snack as Dunedin isnt a catering airport". Where upon a stewardess came down to us with a passenger list and gave us the " meal"

Got hot meal on return flight from Brisbane to Dunedin though!

It just left a bad taste. Other half who arranged tickets to include meal said service was poor and what was the point of her laying extra.

A.

jonb

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# 1748649 27-Mar-2017 12:47

It certainly feels like drip pricing, even if it technically isn't.

For example the online check-in, all the UX is designed to encourage you to select a seat, and only afterwards does it mention the fee for this, and it is unclear how to proceed without paying it.

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