What about the inverse of this -- let's say I'm less than average height and don't mind at all if the person in front of me reclines -- can they pay ME, or can I get a cut, of the seat-recline fee? Let's say I'm a vegetarian, and those meals never run out, so it's not in my interest to bid on chicken -- maybe someone who wants chicken could pay ME to increase their chances.
There’s an idea called Coasean bargaining that says that if you have clear property rights and no transaction costs, you end up with socially optimal outcomes. I think your idea is almost a perfect example of the concept - not only can we pay you for the right to recline in your seat, you can sell a seat swap to move behind someone who needs your services. I think a full free market on the flight would be fascinating (and maybe a little chaotic)
Fun. When broken up into specific aspects of travel, I realize how little value I place on extra comfort and how much I place on better logistics. I love direct flights. I love efficient boarding (JSX domestically is fantastic). I don't care endlessly about first class. If your butt is too big for a coach seat than put down the fork. I do like Swiss' first class cabin because it is so small and quiet. I can take my family on it, take up about 1/2 that cabin, and sit around a common table for dinner before sleeping on a flat bed. Worth the auction (and one often gets lucky with stink bids): https://www.swiss.com/es/en/book-and-manage/swiss-choice/upgrade-options/swiss-bid-upgrade
I've never taken Swiss but you're selling me on it - a common table for dinner sounds amazing on a flight.
I love when airlines offer an auction for upgrades, but high minimum bids usually stop me from participating. I assume they don't want to devalue the upgrades, but it's kind of a bummer when the floor bid is $500. If they let me, I'd throw $150 in to see if I get lucky on more flights.
Of course, that would mean they'd sell out of upgrades every flight and nobody with status would get a surprise upgrade. Maybe a low minimum bid auctions make more sense for a budget airline with fewer business travelers?
It is just the four middle seats but they can be oriented to face each other with a big table in the middle. It isn't as stylish or fun as my favorite 1sty classes (Singapore / Emirates with honorable mention to Air France and ANA). It is a big... beige. Efficient and orderly but a hair boring (ie Swiss).
What about the inverse of this -- let's say I'm less than average height and don't mind at all if the person in front of me reclines -- can they pay ME, or can I get a cut, of the seat-recline fee? Let's say I'm a vegetarian, and those meals never run out, so it's not in my interest to bid on chicken -- maybe someone who wants chicken could pay ME to increase their chances.
There’s an idea called Coasean bargaining that says that if you have clear property rights and no transaction costs, you end up with socially optimal outcomes. I think your idea is almost a perfect example of the concept - not only can we pay you for the right to recline in your seat, you can sell a seat swap to move behind someone who needs your services. I think a full free market on the flight would be fascinating (and maybe a little chaotic)
Fun. When broken up into specific aspects of travel, I realize how little value I place on extra comfort and how much I place on better logistics. I love direct flights. I love efficient boarding (JSX domestically is fantastic). I don't care endlessly about first class. If your butt is too big for a coach seat than put down the fork. I do like Swiss' first class cabin because it is so small and quiet. I can take my family on it, take up about 1/2 that cabin, and sit around a common table for dinner before sleeping on a flat bed. Worth the auction (and one often gets lucky with stink bids): https://www.swiss.com/es/en/book-and-manage/swiss-choice/upgrade-options/swiss-bid-upgrade
I've never taken Swiss but you're selling me on it - a common table for dinner sounds amazing on a flight.
I love when airlines offer an auction for upgrades, but high minimum bids usually stop me from participating. I assume they don't want to devalue the upgrades, but it's kind of a bummer when the floor bid is $500. If they let me, I'd throw $150 in to see if I get lucky on more flights.
Of course, that would mean they'd sell out of upgrades every flight and nobody with status would get a surprise upgrade. Maybe a low minimum bid auctions make more sense for a budget airline with fewer business travelers?
It is just the four middle seats but they can be oriented to face each other with a big table in the middle. It isn't as stylish or fun as my favorite 1sty classes (Singapore / Emirates with honorable mention to Air France and ANA). It is a big... beige. Efficient and orderly but a hair boring (ie Swiss).