<p>cpt,
Nice analogy but not quite the same, because one can shop for better prices on the same airline by waiting it out and hoping for prices to come down, or canceling the higher ticket, paying the penalty, and still come out ahead with a lower cost. Also, the seat prices are not allocated by the airline’s preference for those deemed worthy of a cheaper seat. It is random, depending on timing, as to who gets the cheap seats.</p>