Business class prices affect economy class loadfactor?

Hello,

Scenario: I have BC loadfactor 100% and EC loadfactor 100%

Now I keep raising the BC prices to squeeze the most money out of my passengers . I usually would expect, that at a certain point the BC loadfactor drops. But instead the EC loadfactor starts to decrease while the BC loadfactor continues to be 100% (at least until I raise the prices even more).

Maybe it is a bug, but if not I would be very interested in the explanation for this behaviour since I don't really understand it .

Thanks!

Its supposed to happen, you must have your Y class fares too high if you get <100% when C class is at 100%. Like irl, you wouldn't go for Y class if C class is not far off and the service is a lot better.

Thanks for your reply , but it is the other way round: I keep the Y prices constant so that I have 100% Y. I do not change the Y prices anymore.

Instead I increase the C pricess by lets say 100$. C remains on 100% but Y drops to e.g. 98%.

So C class is actually far off Y class, the prices for C class are at least twice as much. But still the Y loadfactor drops and not the C loadfactor. 

So while I do understand and agree with your point it does not seem applicable for this situation

My understanding is that the three service classes are meant to be completely independent of each other...

My understanding is that the three service classes are meant to be completely independent of each other...

That would make sense for me... in this case it seems to be a bug.

The classes are indeed independent, so adjusting C fares should not affect Y loadfactor as you described. I will have to look into this.

High prices might hurt your route reputation though, and there is only one route reputation regardless of class.

Price is not part of route reputation, and there is a different (but not fully independent due to legroom and other shared aspects) reputation for each class.

The classes are indeed independent, so adjusting C fares should not affect Y loadfactor as you described. I will have to look into this.

Here is an actual example, maybe it helps to find the problem:

Route: DUS Dusseldorf - TRI Tripoli

Frequency: 3 flights/week

Aircraft: A300-600R

No competition

Case 1:

Y: 399$ -> 100% (131/131)

C: 659$ -> 100% (6/6)

Case 2:

Y: 399$ -> 99% (130/131)

C: 699$ -> 100% (6/6)

Case 3:

Y: 399$ -> 98% (128/131)

C: 1049$ -> 100% (6/6)

Case 4:

Y: 399$ -> 100% (!!!) (131/131)

C: 1099$ -> 100% (6/6)

Case 5:

Y: 399$ -> 100% (131/131)

C: 1199$ -> 67% (4/6)

The only thing I changed was the C price. On some other routes the Y loadfactor decreased even more than just down to 98%.

However I did not notice before this explicit test that the factor rises if you keep increasing C prices   .

I hope this information helps to find the issue.

think it might because the server recalculates the routes each time you change price. Was there another airline on the same route? there might be some random factor that got triggered. Does it happen consistently at those price points?

No other airline on the route and yes, it is consistent. 

I believe that your competition is changing their prices. It happened to me a few times too.

I believe that your competition is changing their prices. It happened to me a few times too.

he said no others are on the route