If you’ve ever tried to get multiple seats for a group bookings and noticed that the price is higher than what you see for a single seat, you’re not alone. Whether you’re planning a team gathering or a corporate retreat, coordinating travel for a group can quickly become a logistical headache. 

The challenge isn’t just finding the right seats; it’s also about managing fluctuating prices, limited availability, and the complexity of group bookings. Here’s why this happens and what you can do to simplify the process.

1. Limited seats at the cheapest price

Airlines only offer a small number of seats at the lowest prices. These cheap seats sell out fast. When you search for one seat, you might find that last cheap ticket. But if you try to buy 50 seats, there likely won’t be enough of those low-priced tickets available. So, the system bumps you up to the next price level where there are enough seats for your group.

2. Everyone in the group gets the same price

When booking for a group, airlines make sure everyone pays the same price. They won’t mix different price levels within one group booking. So, if there aren’t 50 seats available at the lowest price, the airline will charge everyone the higher price that has enough seats available.

3. Airlines want to maximize revenue

Airlines use complex systems to maximize how much they earn from each flight. A group of 50 people is a big chunk of a plane’s total seats, and airlines know that people booking for a group might be willing to pay a little more for the convenience of sitting together. So, they often won’t offer the absolute lowest price when you’re buying a large number of seats.

4. Group rates are different

For very large groups, airlines sometimes offer special group rates. These might not be the cheapest possible fares, but they often include added benefits like more flexible booking terms or the ability to hold seats without full payment upfront. These benefits can be valuable but might mean the fare isn’t as low as the one for a single seat.

In a nutshell

When you buy one seat, you might snag the last cheap ticket available. But when buying 50 seats, the airline has to find a fare that can accommodate your entire group. Since the cheapest seats are limited, you often end up with a higher price per ticket. The airline also tries to ensure that it maximises its revenue, so they’re less likely to give away a large number of seats at the lowest fare.

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