Can airline websites raise the price of tickets when they think you're just about to buy?

Question

This has happened to me a number of times. I'll enter the information, go through the booking process, give the credit card info and right then *pouf*: "system down - please retry". Of course, after I reenter my information, the ticket price has magically risen! Am I being paranoid, or is the software designed to magically "fail" and then recalculate a higher price when I try again?

Answer 1

That does sound suspicious, but I'd have to say no.  Any legit site couldn't do that , and if it did someone would have exposed it by  now, which would make the company look really bad in the media, so i don't think it's a conspiracy.

It's probably just the normal price fluctuations.  Air line tickets change constantly, every hour sometimes, or less even.  So it's probably a coincidence.  Or maybe the site wasn't updated when you tried to purchase in the first place, which is why you had to go back and redo it.

Answer 2

I would think not. I'd be trying another airline or web booking site!

Answer 3

I think they are trying to s***w you.  I don't think you are paranoid.

If possible, I would try to print the page with the first price, next time you book, so that you will have a piece of paper showing the price quoted.  Then tell the airline that you had that price quoted.  If they give you any trouble, then just tell them that you will take this up with whatever the name is of that govering board that controls airlines.  It's not the FCC, but something like that.  Hey, look, I'm getting old and can't remember everything anymore!   Is it the FAA?  

Oh, and if you do use this method, you would of course need to contact the airline immediately, so that they couldn't claim that you were just acting like you were booking early, yet not making a decision to buy a ticket yet.  So, I would call the airline immediately after this happens.

Answer 4

YES! Whenever I book tickets on aircanada.com, it always happens. For example, next week, i am going to toronto. There, i booked tango. 260$. Back, the cheapest was 560$ for tango plus, tango was full. Then, tango suddenly appeared for 200$, now its for 350$......But my favorite. Vancouver. They will have coach at 600$ one way, with executive at 370$......

Answer 5

Actually, I just believe the prices are going up THAT fast.

I don't blame the airlines at all.

I still consider it VERY cheap travel.

Cause I ain't taking a bus 2500 miles, I'll tell you that.