Qantas says UI trial, not algorithm, behind seat price variations

Qantas confirmed that it experimented with a revised user interface (UI) for fare searches in its mobile app, but the trial was not implemented, and the original UI was reinstated. The airline responded to concerns raised by a mining executive, Mark Bennett, who noticed discrepancies in seat options between the app and website. Qantas clarified on its official LinkedIn account that it does not target pricing based on specific customer attributes and initiated an internal investigation. The airline explained that the trial involved a new UI for a limited number of flights, allowing customers to view fares through a drop-down menu. The trial lasted two weeks and has since been discontinued. Qantas apologized for any confusion caused by the technical issue and assured users that pricing is not influenced by customer data points.