Why booking direct can be more expensive
The trend toward personalization in air travel, coupled with ancillary fees and complex seat selection options, can cause costs to escalate rapidly
Booking directly with airlines can be a challenging experience, filled with a myriad of fees, add-ons and complex seat selection options. The final price at checkout is often significantly higher than the original advertised price.
Key takeaways
- Airlines encourage customers to book directly through their websites or apps because they are more likely to spend more on ancillary fees;
- American Airlines recognizes that it generates significant revenue from these ancillary fees and is concerned that third-party providers may not be promoting them as effectively;
- Third-party services like Expedia take a different approach; they aim to simplify these options for customers, according to Melanie Fish, a spokeswoman for the platform.
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