Experts are indicating travelers should get ahead of summer travel by booking now to find the best price as AI’s dynamic pricing affects deals. Travel expert Barry Choi told Global News that there are rarely last minute deals for travel anymore as AI factors in dynamic pricing.
Dynamic pricing uses AI to predict consumer demand based on supply changes, and consumer activity. Nowadays airlines are using AI to track fliers’ activity and personal history when searching for flights, meaning prices can be tailored to individual fliers.
Choi says this means even if you’re searching for a flight for spring break next year, you’ll already be paying a premium, even if no seats have been sold yet. As a result, waiting until the last minute won’t benefit fliers as it did in the past as pricing is based on previous demand instead of moment to moment changes.
Another travel expert, Claire Newell told Global News that travelers who will benefit from these changes are those who are “flexible” with their travel plans. Global News also suggests travelers look to travel agents to get deals and book popular attractions far in advance to guarantee a spot in famous museums, historical sites, and more. And using flight tracker sites is recommended to track when airfare prices drop.
Last fall, Delta announced it would be rolling out AI-pricing, a move that created backlash around the world as travelers worried for their personal data privacy, according to Travel + Leisure. “What both Delta and Fetcherr have expressed is that the AI pricing technology will be more like a super analyst taking into account not just market demand and revenue management, but rather outside forces that can impact demand like the economic climate, weather, seat availability, schedule changes, and more, in real time and exceptionally fast,” expert Katy Nastro told T+L.
To help avoid AI-driven dynamic pricing, experts have advised using incognito browsing mode, clearing your cache, comparing prices across different devices and browsers, and using guest checkouts to prevent personalized tracking.
