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Airlines Face Crack Down on Use of 'Exploitative' Algorithm That Splits Up Families on Flights (independent.co.uk)

Posted by msmash on from the closer-look dept.

Algorithms used by airlines to split up those travelling together unless they pay more to sit next to each other have been called "exploitative" by a government minister. From a report: Speaking to a parliamentary communications committee, Digital Minister Margot James described the software as "a very cynical, exploitative means... to hoodwink the general public." She added: "Some airlines have set an algorithm to identify passengers of the same surname travelling together. They've had the temerity to split the passengers up, and when the family want to travel together they are charged more." It's an issue that will be looked at by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, launched by the government this week to identify and address areas where clearer guidelines and regulation are needed in how data is used. Passengers first started noticing they were being split up from their party if they didn't pay more for allocated seating in June 2017, with Ryanair most commonly associated with the practice.

5 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. Southwest cattle call by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Make airline boarding more like the old Southwest system or like a commuter train. Board handicapped people first. Other than that, those who show up earlier get to board first and pick seats first.

    1. Re:Southwest cattle call by PPH · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The first flight I ever took as a kid was when I was 6 years old. Back during Eisenhower's presidency. Years later my parents told me that when they purchased my ticket, the airline asked if I was well behaved. They reserved the right to refuse to carry small children due to the 'discomfort' that they might cause other passengers. I was OK and got to spend 10 minutes in the cockpit during the flight.

      [Sigh] Those were the good old days.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    2. Re:Southwest cattle call by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

      A couple years back, I was taking an overnight flight to Germany, seated in business class. Next to me was a nice woman. Late 30s maybe, but still had it going on. Next to her was an empty seat. We talked, had a few drinks, and before long, we were making out, I was finger fucking her and she sucked me off. Twice. (She had a petite body and must have been a former gymnast). Later I asked if we could meet up again and have a proper fuck. She laughed and said her asshole husband was in first class - he used their miles to upgrade himself.

  2. "Crack Down"-Should be Forced Rebates & Penalt by mykepredko · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Seriously. This is just about the most abusive use of public information that I can imagine.

    "Cracking Down" doesn't even approach what needs to be done - the airlines identified should be forced to list all family groups who have travelled together since, I dunno, 1947 and pay back (with interest) all the exploited families.

    Anybody not complying should be subjected to something equal to or or worse than public hanging.

    Identification of airlines and, perhaps, public shaming just isn't appropriate here.

    --
    Mimetics Inc. Twitter
  3. We need an Airline Policy Standards Act by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Fixing intentional family split-ups should be part of a bill that gets rid of a number of abusive airline policies that passengers can do nothing about:

    1. Fees shall be for features of a flight that are optional, such as meals or a second checked bag, rather than for items that you need on every flight. There shall be no extortionate fees for fixing a name typo or making a schedule change months ahead of time.

    2. There shall be a minimum seat width and pitch, as determined by flight safety professionals;

    3. All tickets which are non-refundable shall be transferable, with the cost limited to the above non-extortionate name change fee. A seat sold is a seat for which revenue has already been collected. Airlines will discover that no longer having to deal with special exceptions and notes from doctors is well worth the lost revenue from selling the same seat twice.

    4. The auction buyback system for oversells shall not be capped or limited in any way. If you really want a seat for that deadheading crew member at the last minute, you have to find a pax willing to give up his seat at the market price.

    5. For any ejection or denied-boarding of a passenger not coming under the oversell rule, the carrier must file a report with the FAA detailing the situation and attaching signed statements by all crew and passengers involved. No more ejecting a passenger because "somebody felt uneasy about this person."

    6. Passengers shall have unlimited right to film or record confrontations that occur during a flight, with the stipulation that a copy be submitted as evidence with any report the airline has to file in (5).

    7. Carriers shall be required to use real math, rather than 'airline math' in calculating rebates for downgrades from higher classes of service that a passenger paid for but which cannot be provided at flight time.

    The effect of such a set of minimum service standards will be to push revenue from extra fees, etc. into the base fare. Good, because this is the one number on which airlines compete. The reason for policies like charging people $5000 for fixing a name typo is to pull standard features of a flight out of the base fare, making it look artificially low. If a decently hu,mane level of service adds 20% or so to the base, then we will still be better off. Less air rage and fewer instances of "I'll never fly with you again!"