机票价格大跳水，出现20元的机票到底怎么回事？

Group 1 - The core point of the article is the significant drop in domestic flight ticket prices, with some tickets being sold for as low as 20 yuan, which has sparked curiosity about the reasons behind such low pricing [1][3][4] - In September, flight prices from popular tourist cities like Shanghai, Wuhan, and Nanning have decreased dramatically, with some routes offering tickets at 1 to 2 times the original price [3][4] - The phenomenon of extremely low ticket prices is attributed to various pricing strategies employed by airlines, including price discrimination and differential pricing to maximize profits [6][7] Group 2 - Airlines implement price discrimination by offering different prices based on consumer segments and booking conditions, allowing them to capture varying willingness to pay [6][7] - The pricing of round-trip flights can be influenced by the passenger flow on both legs, leading airlines to lower prices on outbound flights to fill seats and balance passenger numbers [9][10] - Airlines face seasonal fluctuations in demand, with significant profit differences between peak and off-peak seasons, prompting them to use low-priced tickets as a marketing strategy during slow periods [10][12] Group 3 - The marginal cost of selling additional tickets can lead to extremely low prices when the fixed costs are already covered by higher-priced tickets sold to business travelers [12][13] - The presence of multiple ticket price types on the same flight allows airlines to cater to both high-end customers and price-sensitive travelers, optimizing aircraft utilization and profitability [13]