United wants to sell your seat to someone else for more money

This week, United Airlines is quietly unveiling a new technology platform that it will use to manage the problem of oversold flights—and, in the same breath, turn them into a profit opportunity. With the help of its new Flex-Schedule Program, the airline is piloting a way to buck the trend of involuntary bumping without necessarily offering four-figure payouts to passengers at the gate, or curbing their practice of overselling inventory. Instead, it’ll simply offer buyouts earlier—up to five days in advance. The upside for United? The chance to resell your ticket at a wider profit margin. In partnership with Volantio, a third-party aviation technology startup based in Atlanta, United will soon begin sending e-mail newsletters with subject lines such as “Are You Flexible with Your Travels to Los Angeles?” Inside, travelers will have the option to sign up for potential rewards—so long as they’re willing to budge a little on their flight itineraries. Only those who book on United.com and opt in to receive marketing messages will be eligible for the sign-up offer—and signing up doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be asked to change your flight. If it’s looking like your seat has turned into a hot commodity, though, you’ll be offered the chance to tweak your itinerary in exchange for a travel voucher up to $250. And tweak is the key word: You’ll never be asked to change dates or airports, and your seat preferences will carry over, with clear indicators if you’re taking a downgrade from Economy Plus to regular-old Economy. <br/>