Regulator demands companies explain how and why they charge different prices for the same product or service

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is demanding some of the US’s biggest airlines, ride-share companies and retailers divulge how they are using algorithms and loyalty programs to target customers and drivers with different prices and wages.

Nine companies – Delta, United, JetBlue, Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Target and Walmart – were named in the inquiry, which comes after investigations and lawsuits alleging consumers are charged different prices based on their buying histories and drivers paid different fares based on their personal histories.

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[–] 14 points 1 day ago* (6 children)

It's almost like airlines don't make sense as for-profit businesses. The margins are razor thin, they go out of business regularly, they are vital for society to function... so who does it benefit for airlines to be run for profit? Nationalize em.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 day ago (3 children)

    Air travel isn't a necessity, though. Society existed for a long time before it.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)

    Society has changed a lot since air travel was invented

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  • [–] 1 point 1 day ago (1 child)

    Haven't any of the many bailouts we've given them done that? They should have.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 day ago*

    In a functioning society maybe that's how it'd work. In our society? No it's basically just a way to funnel our tax dollars to corporations which in turn are incentivized to extract maximum profit from those same taxpayers without giving any ownership to the government representing those taxpayers.

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