Comments on: Geek Data - Shows The Cheapest Day to Travel http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:53:05 GMT http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Michael Dieterle http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-1861 Michael Dieterle Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:39:57 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-1861 These seem to be all for domestic travel. Do you have tips on the cheapest days for travel to or from Europe. I think they are probably different. These seem to be all for domestic travel. Do you have tips on the cheapest days for travel to or from Europe. I think they are probably different.

]]> By: Don Szachta http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-1850 Don Szachta Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:11:53 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-1850 I do not agree with your wed, tues or sat as the cheapest days to fly. I am flying on northwest to west palm beach florida on thursday march 13th from detroit and returning thursday march 20th. These are the prices as of today nov 8th. Thursday $247, wed and tues $307, sat $472. Your theory may be true on some airlines sometimes but it is clearly not the case with the numbers i have shown I do not agree with your wed, tues or sat as the cheapest days to fly. I am flying on northwest to west palm beach florida on thursday march 13th from detroit and returning thursday march 20th. These are the prices as of today nov 8th. Thursday $247, wed and tues $307, sat $472. Your theory may be true on some airlines sometimes but it is clearly not the case with the numbers i have shown

]]> By: Rick Seaney http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-1013 Rick Seaney Fri, 21 Sep 2007 05:24:33 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-1013 <blockquote> Hi Ian, Demand is definitely a critical driver in the argument, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the slowest (demand) weekdays, but are similar in demand, otherwise the airlines would not file Tuesday/Wednesday only cheaper airfares. If you will notice all the airlines have pretty much the same supply on Tuesday and Wednesday except Delta, which has a very unusual drop in seats. A few of the other airlines also dip slightly on Tuesdays. What this tells me is that apples to apples the airlines are doing a better job of setting supply and demand in their favor on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and not quite as good on Wednesdays -- and thus cheaper. </blockquote>

Hi Ian,

Demand is definitely a critical driver in the argument, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the slowest (demand) weekdays, but are similar in demand, otherwise the airlines would not file Tuesday/Wednesday only cheaper airfares.

If you will notice all the airlines have pretty much the same supply on Tuesday and Wednesday except Delta, which has a very unusual drop in seats. A few of the other airlines also dip slightly on Tuesdays.

What this tells me is that apples to apples the airlines are doing a better job of setting supply and demand in their favor on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and not quite as good on Wednesdays — and thus cheaper.

]]> By: Rick Seaney http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-1012 Rick Seaney Fri, 21 Sep 2007 05:18:07 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-1012 <blockquote> Hi Sue, Yes this is the number of seats in the air to be flown the week of Oct. 15 -- total seats regardless of passengers. </blockquote>

Hi Sue,

Yes this is the number of seats in the air to be flown the week of Oct. 15 — total seats regardless of passengers.

]]> By: Seva http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-993 Seva Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:48:54 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-993 To Ian Turner. The airlines can't adjust the number of seats flown to exactly match the demand. There are two primary reasons. They need to maintain reasonably attractive schedule, and to move the aircraft in, what they must think, is the most efficient way. This may be irrelevant to this particular topic, but here is something one can't possibly explain solely from supply/demand point of view. Every weekday Northwest flies two DC9-50s from Memphis to Detroit just two minutes apart. It would certainly be cheaper for them to either fly a larger aircraft, or to have just one flight on DC9-50 instead of two. It just appears that Northwest needs both aircraft in Detroit by 4:30pm. To Ian Turner. The airlines can’t adjust the number of seats flown to exactly match the demand. There are two primary reasons. They need to maintain reasonably attractive schedule, and to move the aircraft in, what they must think, is the most efficient way.
This may be irrelevant to this particular topic, but here is something one can’t possibly explain solely from supply/demand point of view. Every weekday Northwest flies two DC9-50s from Memphis to Detroit just two minutes apart. It would certainly be cheaper for them to either fly a larger aircraft, or to have just one flight on DC9-50 instead of two. It just appears that Northwest needs both aircraft in Detroit by 4:30pm.

]]> By: David http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-984 David Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:10:16 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-984 You show us supply, but what is the demand? You show us supply, but what is the demand?

]]> By: Ian Turner http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-969 Ian Turner Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:22:01 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-969 Wouldn't the number of seats flown, however, be connected to demand? If the airlines have fewer flights on Tuesdays, that seems to poke a pretty big hole in your argument that there is equal demand on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I think if you want to make any conclusions about the best day to buy tickets, you'd need to look at the fare and availability data, not the timetables at all. Wouldn’t the number of seats flown, however, be connected to demand? If the airlines have fewer flights on Tuesdays, that seems to poke a pretty big hole in your argument that there is equal demand on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

I think if you want to make any conclusions about the best day to buy tickets, you’d need to look at the fare and availability data, not the timetables at all.

]]> By: Sue http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-956 Sue Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:05:38 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-956 The graph is titled October 15, 2007. Is that the # of seats they are selling for that day (since it is in the future)? The graph is titled October 15, 2007. Is that the # of seats they are selling for that day (since it is in the future)?

]]> By: Rick Seaney http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-943 Rick Seaney Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:42:50 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-943 <blockquote> Hi James, I added a more clarifying title at the top. Now that I look at it I can see where I can be confusing. It is the total number of airplane seats in the air (regardless of number of passengers). Rick </blockquote>

Hi James,

I added a more clarifying title at the top. Now that I look at it I can see where I can be confusing. It is the total number of airplane seats in the air (regardless of number of passengers).

Rick

]]> By: james elwood http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-941 james elwood Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:00:09 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/13/geek-data-shows-the-cheapest-day-to-travel/#comment-941 does the term "daily seats flown" mean empty seats? this is a bit confusing if it doesn't, heck it's even confusing if it does. Or, does it mean the number of seats filled or unfilled that are in the air on any given day. Anyway, is there a better way for you to explain it. Soryy for being the dumb one in class. thanks does the term “daily seats flown” mean empty seats?

this is a bit confusing if it doesn’t, heck it’s even confusing if it does.

Or, does it mean the number of seats filled or unfilled that are in the air on any given day. Anyway, is there a better way for you to explain it.

Soryy for being the dumb one in class.
thanks

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