By moving away from a set price for a ticket and toward AI-powered dynamic pricing, Delta Air Lines believes it knows the top amount you would be willing to pay for an airline ticket.
鈥淚 was like, “Oh gosh, this can鈥檛 be a good thing,’鈥� said , a travel expert with travel-based website . “However, this is not something new in terms of airlines trying to figure out how much they can actually charge somebody for a seat,” she said.
earlier this month that Delta was making a move toward eliminating set prices in favor of using AI to determine how much a traveler would personally pay for a ticket.
Nastro told 草莓传媒 she believes that there is a threshold, and consumers will walk away, even those who have been loyal to Delta.
鈥淒oesn’t matter if you’re top-tier medallion status or not. You have a threshold as to how much you’re willing to pay,鈥� Nastro said.
So, if Delta鈥檚 price does skyrocket, Nastro said she predicts travelers will head to other airlines, because air travel is one of the most competitive industries.
鈥淛ust for an example, on a flight from New York to LA, there could be 40 different flights in a single day,鈥� Nastro said, adding, 鈥淭hat’s a lot of different options for you as a traveler.鈥�
Nastro said this is a golden era of cheap flights, pointing out that June 2025 was the second-cheapest month ever, when adjusted for inflation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 become more affordable than ever in terms of costs, in terms of the amount of people traveling,鈥� Nastro said. 鈥淪o, airlines don’t make the majority of their revenue on the seat.鈥�
Nastro said airlines make money off corporate contracts, credit cards and loyalty add-ons, such as choosing the location of your seat, whether or not the seat has extra leg room and if your luggage is being checked.
鈥淭hink about how many upsells you get at every different point. But you as the traveler, you don’t have to buy that extra seat, that extra leg room 鈥� you don’t have to pay for a bag.
鈥淎irlines can afford to charge these lower prices for just that sort of basic economy fare,鈥� Nastro said.
On Tuesday, that three U.S. senators were seeking details about Delta’s plan to use AI to set personalized fares, citing privacy concerns.
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