Everyoneknowsairlinepricingisbasedonsupplyanddemand.FaresaremoresexpensiveduringpeaktravelseasonslikesummerandtoprimedestinationslikeEuropeancapitals.SoifaflighttoRomecostsmorethanaflighttoMilanyoudthinkthatdemandforRomemustbehigherorsupplylower What’spuzzlingisthatyoucanpayahighpricetoagivendestinationbutadramaticallylowerpricefortheexactsameflightifyouagreetogoontoanotherdestination. TakeAlitaliatoRomeforinstancefortravelinAugustAround-tripeconomyflightdirectlytoRomeleavingJFKat10:05p.monAlitalia611onAugust5costs$1,655whenbookedonApril30Comparethatto$903foraround-tripeconomytickettoMilan(stoppinginRome)leavingJFKontheexactsameAlitalia611flightat10:05p.monAugust5.SowhyisAlitaliawillingtoflyyoutoRomefor$752lessthanitwouldotherwiseplusgiveyouanextraone-and-a-half-hourflighttoMilan? Airlineshaveincreasedtheirprofitabilityinrecentyearsbysegmentingthemarketforairtravelandchargingcustomersdifferentpricesforthesameproduct.Inthiscasethemarketissegmentedbasedondemandfordirectflights.Airlinesknowmostpeopleprefertheshortestroutetotheirdestinationsotheymakecustomerspayupfortheprivilegeofflyingdirect(Theyalsomakeitalittlemoreinconvenientifyoudon’tpayupforadirectflightinordertoencourageyoutoflydirect) Whenprocessbecomesoobviouslyillogicalitmaybetimetowhyairticketscan’tbetransferredorresoldjustlikeanyothernormalproductIftheairlinesareentitledtoexploitthefreemarketshouldn’tcustomersbeallowedtodothesamething? Accordingtothepassage,pricesarenormallydeterminedby____
A.the relationship between cost and demand B.peak seasons and prime attractions C.the relationship between supply and demand D.travel seasons and destinations正确答案A
