Document Type
Discussion Paper
Publication Date
8-1-2017
CFDP Number
2103R
CFDP Revision Date
May 1, 2020
CFDP Update Date
February 1, 2018
CFDP Pages
75
Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) Code(s)
L11, L12, L93
Abstract
Airfares fluctuate over time due to both demand shocks and intertemporal variation in willingness to pay. I develop and estimate a model of dynamic airline pricing accounting for both forces with new flight-level data. With the model estimates, I disentangle key interactions between the arrival pattern of consumer types and scarcity of remaining capacity due to stochastic demand. I show that dynamic airline pricing expands output by lowering fares charged to early-arriving, price-sensitive customers. It also ensures seats for late-arriving travelers with the highest willingness to pay (e.g. business travelers) who are then charged high prices. I find that dynamic airline pricing increases total welfare relative to a more restrictive pricing regime. Finally, I show that abstracting from stochastic demand results in incorrect inferences regarding the extent to which airlines utilize intertemporal price discrimination.
Recommended Citation
Williams, Kevin R., "Dynamic Airline Pricing and Seat Availability" (2017). Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers. 175.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/cowles-discussion-paper-series/175