Ryanair prices - how does their algorithm actually work?

[chomalungma]

Looked at a flight to Greece a few months ago and put a price watch on it. When I first looked at it, it was £50. Ultimately decided not to go - but never got rid of the price watch as it was fascinating watching it fluctuate. It did go down to £20, then up to £300, back to £75 and not it's fluctuatiing between £150 and £205. The flight is about 2/3 full at the moment.

I would just love an insight into their algorithm. Are they playing a game of poker with people? I notice that sometimes the flight has gone down and then the next day, it's back up again.

The price watch email is a great tool though.

Dunno about the algorithm but if you search a flight and keep going back to it the price usually goes up. Clear your cookies and the price should come down again.

I’ve got no idea how their algos work, but could you please share which price watch tool you are using ? Thanks

Clear your cookies and the price should come down again

It's not me doing the search. It's a price watch site. AirHint alerts.

The flight is in 2 weeks time. I wonder if it will come down in the next 2 weeks?

Price has suddenly come down from £205 to £150 to £90 over the last 3 days!!

Still about 2/3 full!

But we have already booked our holiday. It's been fascinating watch it go up and down.

It's supply and demand, and as supply is fixed that means it is largely demand. Demand is tickets sold but also demand forecasting - number of searches for that route, changes in weather, a big event at the destination.

No different from any other airline. Traditionally they all worked to a yield management algorithm, x tickets at one price, the next x at another price and so on. Whilst that does still play a part, pricing can be far more dynamic with modern technology.