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Airline Ticket Pricing by Day of Week

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Abstract

This paper investigates whether airline ticket prices vary based on the day of the week passengers choose to fly. Using data collected from three major ticketing sources—Southwest Airlines, Expedia, and American Airlines—for flights between St. Louis and Salt Lake City, the research examines pricing patterns across discount carriers, ticket brokers, and mainstream airlines. The study finds that discount airlines maintain consistent pricing regardless of day, while mainstream airlines and ticket brokers adjust prices significantly based on specific flights, times, and day of the week, with fares ranging from $187 to $1,145 for the same route.

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What makes this paper effective

Uses real-world primary data collection across three distinct ticketing platforms, demonstrating empirical research methodology
Clearly compares and contrasts findings between discount carriers, brokers, and mainstream airlines, revealing business model differences
Focuses on a practically useful question—how passengers can save money—grounded in observable market behavior rather than speculation
Presents specific numerical evidence ($187–$1,145 range, $10–$20 fluctuations) that concretely supports claims about pricing variability

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper exemplifies comparative empirical analysis. Rather than assuming airline pricing strategies, the author collects direct evidence from live market sources and systematically compares results across three different business models (low-cost carrier, aggregator, full-service airline). This approach moves beyond hypothesis to grounded observation, allowing natural patterns in pricing strategy to emerge from the data itself.

Structure breakdown

The paper opens with a clearly stated research question and explains why it matters to consumers. A brief methodology section establishes the scope and parameters (two city pairs, non-discounted fares, timeframe). The middle sections present findings from each data source in sequence, each revealing distinct pricing behavior. A final comparative analysis synthesizes the results, showing that business model type, not day of week alone, is the primary driver of pricing variation. This structure moves logically from question → method → evidence → interpretation.

Introduction and Research Question

The central question this paper addresses is whether airline ticket pricing varies depending on which day of the week a passenger chooses to fly. This question is important because the answer will provide valuable data for passengers who wish to save money—assuming, of course, that they have the flexibility to travel on certain days. Given that most airline passengers pay significantly more for air travel than they would for almost any other form of transportation, the potential to lower travel expenses would appeal to the vast majority of air travelers.

It is reasonable to assume that airlines track travel trends and adjust their pricing accordingly. If data show that air travel demand is lower on certain days of the week, airlines would likely reduce fares on those days to attract additional passengers. This research examines available pricing data to determine whether this hypothesis holds true in practice.

Methodology and Data Collection

Data collection was conducted through airline websites and online ticketing agencies. The study focused on flights between two cities: St. Louis, Missouri and Salt Lake City, Utah, examining ticket prices across different days of the week. Pricing comparisons were based exclusively on non-business, non-discounted tickets to ensure consistency.

These two cities were selected because both represent heavily traveled routes, yet are not so saturated that pricing would become skewed. The ease of searching these city pairs across various ticketing websites made data collection straightforward and efficient. Pricing data were collected from three distinct sources during a one-week period in early January 2011, allowing for direct comparison across business models.

Discount Airline Findings: Southwest Airlines

The first carrier examined was Southwest Airlines, a discount airline. Data collected from www.southwest.com showed that for the months of December, January, and February, the standard non-discounted fare from St. Louis to Salt Lake City (and vice versa) remained constant at $396. Notably, this price did not fluctuate based on the day of the week or any specific month, indicating a consistent pricing strategy regardless of demand variation.

Ticket Broker Analysis: Expedia

The second source investigated was Expedia.com, an online ticket broker offering discounted fares. Unlike Southwest, Expedia displayed price variations across different days, though the fluctuations were modest. Fares on Sundays and Thursdays were $288 (one way), while Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday cost $298. Remaining days offered one-way tickets for $278. Interestingly, price changes correlated with specific dates and available flights rather than simply recurring on the same day each week.

Mainstream Airline Pricing: American Airlines

The third source was American Airlines, representing a mainstream, full-service carrier. American Airlines offered a wide range of pricing options depending on specific flights, departure times, and availability. For example, Sunday flights from St. Louis to Salt Lake City ranged from a low of $246 to a high of $1,145. Monday pricing started at $297 and reached $931, while Tuesday through Saturday fares spanned from $187 to $911. Return flights from Salt Lake City to St. Louis demonstrated equally diverse pricing patterns.

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Comparative Analysis and Key Findings · 114 words

"Business model type drives pricing variation"

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Key Concepts in This Paper

Airline pricing strategy Day-of-week fares Discount airlines Revenue management Ticket broker pricing Airfare variation Consumer travel costs Pricing transparency Airline business models